Start where you are

January 11th, 2016

Eleven days in to 2016 and I still haven’t written the “What are your goals for 2016?” post. Just in case you’re worried that this will turn into a 19-step process for getting everything you want in 2016…

You’re in luck: this is not that.

I figure everyone else and her sister has got that covered, so presumably you’re good to go with goals for the now 11-day-old year. Either that or you’re not, and as far as I can tell, either way is just fine.

Lost of folks have been asking for updates on my Dad’s health.

In case you don’t know what’s been going on, here’s a link to part 1 of the story, with a couple of great pictures of me & my Dad.

The short version is that my Dad was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in June, started chemo treatment in July, then stopped treatment and entered hospice in August. At that point the doctors suggested he would live another month.

It’s now 5 months later and he’s still plugging along—doing pretty well, in fact.

Yesterday when I talked to him he asked about how the story slam was going and said “Well maybe we’ll take a drive out there later this spring and come to one of your slams.” I plan to be in Ohio with him in a couple of weeks to help celebrate his 89th birthday.

Oh what a mystery this living & dying thing is.

When my Dad entered hospice, I pressed pause on my business and made spending time with him and my family a priority, which has been a huge gift.

AND I’m happy to say that my business has continued to grow, even in the face of this pause.

What this means is that apparently it IS possible to run a successful business without the urgency and push of “Gotta do the next thing! Gotta watch that teleseminar! Gotta expand my market! Gotta work harder! Gotta make six figures!”

It IS possible to build a business that sustains you, and serves others, and leaves room for you to tend to the things in your life that matter most.

This is where YOU come in. I’d love to know how the last few months have been for you and your business. (or your change-the-world mission, as the case may be.)

What’s up with you and speaking?

Is that signature talk still rattling around inside you? Or have you been out there speaking the good word with gusto?

Are you still shaking in your boots when it’s your turn to talk? Or have you figured out how to transform those nerves into power?

Are you pushing like crazy to get your business off the ground, but it’s just not happening? Or has your business taken flight?

How bout those things that matter most? Are you tending them well?

I believe that the first step in setting goals for the upcoming year (or month, or week, as the case may be) is to start where you are, not where you think you should be, and go from there.

So where are you? I’d love to hear an update. Here are a few fill-in-the-blank questions to helps you take a moment of pause and reflect on the current state of affairs in your business, here are 4 questions to provide just that for you:

The most awesome thing I pulled off in my business (or creative project or change-the-world mission) in 2015 was _______________.
When it comes to my business, it would be A-FREAKIN-MAZING if I could: ________________.
The one thing that consistently gets in the way of me getting in front of people and speaking my truth is: ________________.
If I could sit down with you, Johanna, and pick your brain, I would ask: ________________.

Your responses can be related to speaking or not. I may use them to kick-off some writing projects that I will share with you later this year.

So have at it.
Tell me everything.
Ask me anything.

In the meantime, I hope your 2016 is off to a rip-roaring start.