I thought I’d done all the “right” things.
With a 20-year corporate career behind me, I got to work on my business.
I hired a website developer. I invested in multiple business coaching & networking programs. All I had to do was follow the program’s approach. The clients would come rolling in, and I would have a thriving life coaching business…
…right?
I mean, I diligently completed the business coaching programs, revised my website multiple times, created offers, and expanded my network, but the only thing that really changed in my business (and grew my e-mail list) was that I began offering, hosting, and facilitating online and in-person events.
Most of these events were free to the community (and from my heart’s expression, so why not?) with the intention of growing my e-mail list where I could share my insights and offers,…
…but while I did meet potential clients at these events, my efforts didn’t result in the business and income I needed, or expected, to support myself financially.
I knew I needed to become more visible online.
Writing a newsletter worked for awhile, but when it came to promoting myself and my events on social media, it always felt like something was blocking me physically—brain fog, fatigue, lack of inspiration, and confusion.
Coaches would say that I should just create a bunch of posts anyway—eventually, my nervous system would adapt. That made sense logically, and that might have worked, but every time I intended to create content (especially a video), my nervous system would go into freeze. It just felt too overwhelming, if not impossible.
Not only was my body not cooperating, but I wasn’t clear on what I wanted to say. Even when I felt like did have some clarity and wanted to share, it immediately triggered thoughts such as “That’s not what the successful marketers are doing…” and “No one will pay you for that…” and I knew that inner conflict would come through my posts and reels.
So, after developing several events and paid programs, and learning all of the tips needed to market myself, I decided to change the question I asked myself—from “Will I at last be able to make enough money in my coaching practice to support myself?” to “What if I could build a successful business in a way that allows me to be seen sharing who I am, joyfully offering and expressing my gifts?”
Can you feel the difference between the two questions energetically?
For me, the first feels like pressure. The second is full of possibility. There is a bit more curiosity, playfulness and creativity inherent in the question—so this is the one that I will be exploring in my Substack publication, The Visible Working Woman, and for those who have opted into my monthly newsletter at https://www.kellycmullen.com.
Would you like to join me on this journey?
If this resonates with you, please follow along and feel free to comment!
Thank you,
Kelly