“A year from now you will wish you had started today.” – Karen Lamb
In my recent post, I shared with you my story about achieving my initial income goal within my first year of working for myself. Have you ever accomplished something that at first seemed impossible? If so, then you know how I’m feeling right now. Hopeful. Motivated. Optimistic for the future. And the best part is that now I have the opportunity to develop new goals for my life and business.
Now, I have the courage to play an even bigger game.
Right after I wrote that post though, I got an email from a reader that I wanted to share with you in case you might be struggling with the same thing. Or you may have some additional advice for our sister in the comments!
Hi Rosetta. I have been following your blog for a while now, and I really enjoy it. You are definitely an inspiration as far as entrepreneurship. I read your post today and I have been wanting to ask you, where did you get your training to be a life coach? I have been looking into several different programs, but I’d love to hear of where you got your training.
I actually get quite a few emails from aspiring coaches asking where I got my coach certification. I always make it clear that I am NOT certified, nor do I plan to be anytime soon. Most people don’t know that you DON’T have to have any type of certification to be a coach. None. It’s not required and the programs are usually quite expensive.
Here’s what I told her:
You are not required to have formal training to be a coach. I have successfully helped my clients for over 2 years without it. I am not certified, nor do I plan to be anytime soon. I will, however be taking my first-ever coach training course later this month in DC with acclaimed coach, speaker and author Valorie Burton.
We had a great follow-up exchange after that as well.
How did you start coaching people? I have been so incredibly hesitant to launch coaching/advice services on my site because of lack of training…I keep feeling that because I have not been actually coached to coach, I may not know enough to truly help people in their personal situations. Is it just my fear that is stopping me? What were the first steps you took and how did you know you’d be able to successfully serve people?
I love questions like this. They are the questions we already know the answer to, but that our lizard brain won’t let us see for ourselves. That’s why sometimes it takes confirmation from someone else.
Yes, it is mostly fear and not fully trusting in your own gifts. Your heart has already shown you that you are ready to serve…now it is up to you to listen and act. To answer your question, I just…started. And then the people showed up. I wish the same for you.
And YOU. Start now. Today.
I know. It seems so easy for me to say, right? Well, that’s honestly the very best thing I can say. Get going. Because the sooner you start serving people, the sooner you’ll be able to start learning along the way – what you need and don’t need. What you’re good at and what you’re not. There is never a “perfect time” to begin. There is no way you can or ever will know everything first.
Also: Don’t fool yourself into thinking more education will automatically make you successful in your business. Action plus results trumps all.
You, gifted? Talented? World-changing? Yes. You. Our greatest gift is often the source of our greatest fear.
This is why we procrastinate. This is why we play it safe.
But remember that the only way to honor your gifts is to share them. Offer them up to the world. You never know where they will take you.
Today I wish you the courage to honor your unique gifts by sharing them with the world. Know that you are enough. You do not need anyone’s permission to follow your dreams.
Today’s Assignment
Share your responses to the following questions in the comments:
- What do you want your life to look like a year from now?
- What limiting belief are you holding onto right now that’s holding you back from taking action?
P.S. If you’d like to be coached by me, I’d be happy to serve you.
Rosetta Thurman is a nationally-recognized author, speaker, mentor and coach dedicated to helping women create their ideal lives.
Rosetta,
I don’t know how I overlooked this post, but it is a great one! As a matter of fact, can you just retitle this one with my name?? :) Two things stuck out the most for me in this: “honor your gifts” and “you don’t need anyone’s permission.”
Thank you again for sharing your life experiences and inspiration!
This article resonates with me. I have been determined to find my way to economic independence and become an entrepreneur. Last year, I finally created a business plan to reach my goals. It has been a fulfilling experience. It’s so amazing how the simple act of saying yes can have a profound effects. I am seeing the manifestation of my dreams right before my eyes because I have said yes to myself and to my potential. Thanks for sharing. Live well and prosper.
Hi Rosetta, I’ve subscribed to your newsletter and have been reading your posts for a while now. I’ve been very inspired by you. I’ve just set up my own blog for women and I hope I will be able to inspire other women like you. As I’m just starting out, I will probably learn from trial and error, but I will hang in there and take some tips from you.
Thanks for your contribution.
Love the name of your new blog, Junie! You’re definitely on the right track – trial + error is the BEST way to learn. Looking forward to your success!
Thank you SO much for this! (My blog post tomorrow will be something similar to this). I am VERY anxious to start my business, but as the young woman who e-mailed you, I feel that my lack of classroom experience/training are a hindrance to me. A year from now, I would LOVE to see myself financial stable and successful in a career (not just a job), and running a successful business.
Keep the great advice coming; I think you’re excellent at what you do!
Rosetta, this is awesome and so true!! I feel this is a time for major manifestation, and just wrote about this same thing last week! http://www.lovejoneslifestyle.blogspot.com
I’m stepping out and offering my services, and encourage ALL of the talented and gifted women out there to do the same. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for”
Congratulations on your success, and thank you for the continued motivation!!
Hi,
I enjoy your blog a lot. Have been following you from January of this year, good work.
To answer you 2 questions:I’m actually in the same position as Kjen! I have put of Graduate school for years now, but now that I have been accepted I’m afraid to go ahead with it.
Also, I keep putting off starting my business. I know I can do it by starting small, but I just procrastinate on taking that FIRST step!!
In answer to your two emailed questions –
I want to be back in school – graduate program. I have been accepted to a good program, but now I am afraid that I will not be able to pay for it after all, so I kind of put all school associated activities on pause.
This is certainly great advice. And yes, you certainly should not overrate your education!
I just read an awesome book, Riches in Niches that I think is a must read for anyone attempting to brand themselves as an expert.
Rosetta I think you would really like it!
-Shannon
Rosetta,
I’m so excited to hear your thoughtful, confident, celebratory reflections about your first year in business as “CEO of Me!” I recently revisited a favorite essay of mine by John O’Donohue entitled The Question Holds the Lantern, about the moment we make the turn you so often speak of. It is a great essay and I thought I’d share it in celebration of your successes! What a beautiful expression of intention and where it takes us:
http://www.johnodonohue.com/words/question
Excerpt: “Once you start to awaken, no one can ever claim you again for the old patterns. Now you realise how precious your time here is. You are no longer willing to squander your essence on undertakings that do not nourish your true self; your patience grows thin with tired talk and dead language. You see through the rosters of expectation which promise you safety and the confirmation of your outer identity. Now you are impatient for growth, willing to put yourself in the way of change. You want your work to become an expression of your gift. You want your relationship to voyage beyond the pallid frontiers to where the danger of transformation dwells. You want your God to be wild and to call you to where your destiny awaits.”
Tara – thank you x 1,000 for posting this excerpt! I’m so happy I took the time to read the essay today. It was beautiful + affirming. I’m so glad you’re here :)
Super cool! I just finished one of Valerie’s books. Her words, much like yours, are very relatable…very inspiring!
I agree that there is no better time to get started & that everyone has a gift to share with the world. Well said:)