Earlier this year one of our peer group members, Kristi DeLima, told us she had stage four breast cancer.
Later in the year she told us she beat it… What?
I interviewed Kristi (founder of Snips Landscape, ON, Canada) on my podcast, and she shared how she used Visualization to beat the bastard.
She proves that there is no challenge too large that cannot be overcome with your god given powers of spirit and vision.
Her journey is miraculous. (Podcast here).
Who Uses Visualization, And For What.
Visualization is a technique used by successful athletes, business leaders, actors, musicians – and landscape entrepreneurs.
Many use is to keep performing at a high level, and others use it to overcome huge business challenges.
A great example is Olympian, Michael Phelps. He would mentally rehearse every detail of his races, including the feel of the water and the sounds of the crowd.
1. Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt:
The entrepreneurial journey is rife with uncertainty, especially when you are building something new or untested.
Early on, I personally used visualization and journaling to help me build my coaching business.
No one showed me the way. There were more naysayers than helping hands. I had to figure it out myself.
I used visualization to overcome my fears (public speaking, cold calling, marketing new services) and to persevere in all the pivots I needed to take.
2. Lack of Clarity and Focus:
A common obstacle facing entrepreneurs is overcoming the sheer volume of their tasks and decisions.
Without a clear picture, it is easy to get lost in the day-to-day operations.
Visualization can help you stay aligned to your bigger goals.
I would urge you to Visualize your 10X (Big Hairy Audacious) Goal each morning, to refocus “on the gold.”
This will help you prioritize your time, the only truly limited resource you possess.
3. Staying Motivated Through Setbacks:
Building a business has plenty of set backs, low points and even stagnation.
Maintaining motivation and resilience is critical.
Your team should not see you sweat – at least not for long. Try this three-part approach:
- Meditate to lower stress and calm your brain
- Focus on your current successes to shift into a joyful state
- Visualize where you are headed, in detail, in order to move you to action.
It is the last point (#3) which is key.
You need to have a clear vision in order to visualize the details.
(Part of what we do in consulting and coaching is to help owners and their teams gain crystal clarity on what they are building: the whole and the pieces.)
Once you have clarity, you will be unstoppable
4. Creating a Customer-Centric Experience:
Understanding the evolving needs of your customers is crucial.
Yet, it is easy for an owner to get disconnected as their job moves them further away from the front line.
In this case, use visualization to stay connected.
For example, don’t just visit a client, then rush back to the office to get to work (on a bid or something).
Take time to meditate on your clients’ words, views and wants – and bring those back to your company.
As owner, be the “ambassador” for your client, their representative as you design the future processes and products of your business.
Your Challenge: Take time (this holiday season) to slow down and engage your inner vision.
My friend, Krist Delima, was forced to slow WAY down when she got sick.
She decided she would stay positive and use her “vision” to find her way back to health.
She used her inner vision to imagine the outcomes and how she would act, think, and feel once she was better.
For the rest of us, we need to make a conscious choice to do the same – just like any Olympian athlete stays focused on the gold.
The New Year is a wonderful time to seclude yourself from the noise and reestablish your vision and bring it to life.
Happy Holidays and Good Luck.
Regards, Jeffrey Scott
P.S. We offer a 1k holiday discount for those who sign up for our peer group or coaching before year end. Go here for more info and to get started.
