To the First Clarity, Clients & Cash Graduates of 2015.

You know who usually gives commencement speeches?

People we see as inspirational or talented, someone unexpected with a message that brings tears to your eyes. It’s a hoopla, a remembrance of the struggles and victories you’ve faced while pushing through countless obstacles.

Yet, sometimes, these motivational speeches don’t resonate after we flip our tassels to the other side and toss our caps away, watching them intermingle in the air. By dinner, we’re thinking about the future again: the last chapter has closed. The fear comes back.

How can I apply every lesson I learned without my guide to remind me? Damn, I wish I would have been able to talk to them today.

That’s how it goes for me, at least. Because while it’s awesome to hear from someone with great success or an impeccable sense of humor, these people didn’t live through or feel the same as you, and – often – they’re quoting someone else, not even giving you their full experience. While the speaker might have gone through another course like yours, they didn’t sit next to you reading the same material or hearing the same conversations on conference calls.

Only you and me and the rest of the CCCers did that, gang.

Our last call was Wednesday April 8th, and I missed you the second we hung up. Some of you left kind messages in our group and others send me emails, yet there was no hoopla, no event or celebrations given from my end.

That’s simply because I needed a few days to process exactly what I wanted to say to you.

In 2013, Oprah spoke at a Harvard commencement.

“It doesn’t matter how far you might rise. At some point you are bound to stumble. … If you’re constantly pushing yourself higher … the law of averages, not to mention the Myth of Icarus, predicts that you will at some point fall. And when you do I want you to know this, remember this: There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction.”

Maybe you were behind in the program for the majority of it. Maybe you’re still working on clearing blocks. Shit, maybe you resigned yourself to “failing” CCC long before this email made it to you. If there is one thing I want you take from your entire experience with me, it’s that your past performance can’t determine your future unless you stop trying.

No matter how impossible something feels, how long the road appears before you, or how much money you’re going to have to come up with to take your business to the next level, know the Universe has your back. That your effort doesn’t go unnoticed. That not only are the big U and CCC alum there to remind you you’ve got this, but so am I.

You might reach a breaking point again. You might change your entire business model (I did). But that doesn’t matter as much as choosing to continue down the path, to face the fear and keep going.

CCC was designed so that you could use it over and over again, even when you fall.

What I’ve seen of each of you – your determination and bravery, your authenticity and bravery – prove to me this program worked for you, even if you haven’t realized it yet.

I’ve done a lot of things in my career. I’ve won awards in many areas of my life, but the most rewarding moment comes from completing the first round of CCC and knowing that you, my friends, are heading exactly where you’re supposed to be.

What a gift you’ve given me in seeing you succeed.

Thank you for being a part of my journey too.

XO,

RTD

 

Ling Abson
Suzy Ashworth
Elaine Bacio
Siobhan Barnes
Lisa Cherry Beaumont
Jennifer Blanchard
Kim Bowen
Rochelle Callen
Lisa Carpenter
Manja Cha
Stacie Coleman
Tennile Cooper
Deborah Corbin
Deanna Corso
Meryland Cuevas
Tania Dakka
Shelley Davidescu
Drema Dial, PhD
Kelly Dawn
Chichi Eruchalu
Mel Faulk
Heather Fein
Clare Fielder
Lindsay Fischer
Barbara Foxworth
Tiphanie Gadonna
Noelle Goggin
Rebecca Grainger
Marin Graves
Delora Guignion
Christy Hall
Sherry Hemstreet
Maria Christina Hinton
Lisa May Huby
Lisa Jacobs
Marialuz Jimenez
Sharonda Johnson
April Julson
Erin Kelly
Sarah Liddle
Maria Lironi
Caitlin Lyon
Morgan MacDonald
Kristin Marvin
Siobhan McAuley
Erika McMillon
Jacqueline Miller
Star Monroe
Phoebe Mroczek
Andrea Joy Nussinow
Melissa Opie
Vickie Payne
Alla Petcheniouk
Molly Pinney
Jill Porter
Danielle Raine
Moj Razmi
Shauna Sanders
Jenn Scalia
Hillary Schneider
Renee Schofield
Jennifer Scott
Anna Seabourne
Crystal Shae
Ann-Marie Sosnowski
Sean Stewart
Shari Teigman
Patricia Thompson
Mui Tsun
Jen Turrell
AnYes Van Rhijn
Carolina Velasquez-Gomez
Brigid Ward
Jennifer Wald
Heather Weiss
Greer Wignall
Clarissa Wilson
Annelise Woitulewicz
Krisha Young

**Check back often as we’ll be updating the graduates websites as they come in.

Stop Lying To Yourself and Leap

Entrepreneurs have a lot of shit on their plates. And maybe that’s an understatement. As a former writing coach, I know “a lot” is vague.

Anyone in business for themselves is already shaking their head in agreement. It’s those of you who are on the sidelines I’m talking to. You, the lady stuck in a corporate job trying to build her business while still earning a steady salary. You, the woman who leapt into business ownership but works a bridge job to make sure her bills are paid (and does very little to build the business she wanted). And you, the woman who feels her throat tighten as you wait for me to call you out in your exact spot, wherever you are that makes you unhappy.

This post is for the non-believers and the ladies addicted to fear.

It’s time to stop lying to yourself and take the leap, dammit.

If you’ve ever said:

“My husband won’t let me quit my job without showing I can truly earn money as a coach first.”

“I know I need additional support, like a ghostwriter or CPA, and I can’t afford them right now.”

“I’m afraid I’ll fail.”

“The market is full of other really great coaches who do exactly what I want, so why bother?”

It’s time to face the fear and leap anyway. Because while all of those excuses might seem completely factual in your mind, they are only blocks, only things to keep you from facing the fact you don’t feel ready to do it solo.

So what’s it going to take for you to feel ready?

  • A steady income from clients?
  • The approval of your spouse, partner or family?
  • 100% certainty that you won’t fall on your face?

The bad news? You’re never going to have exactly what you want before you begin.

The good news? You’re never going to have exactly what you want before you begin, so you can start at any-fucking-time.

See, the truth is, nobody who goes into business for themselves has all of their shit together when they start. A perfect plan isn’t what makes successful entrepreneurs money. Instead, it’s their ability to take the leap, watch what happens when they do, and respond to whatever happens. A good startup includes being proactive in your approach, noticing what earns you money and what doesn’t and then modifying your plan.

The plan does not determine your success. Your flexibility does.

One of my very favorite videos to show people enrolling in services with me (whether it’s 1:1 coaching or CCC) is by ZeFrank. It’s not because he says anything other than what I’m telling you now, but it’s because he does it in such a simple, beautiful way that people can get on board.

Jump the shark, ladies.

Use metaphors.

Give yourself the grace and forgiveness you show to others, especially when they fail.

At 1:55 in the video, ZeFrank talks about perfectionism (don’t worry, I’ll link it at the end). About how we hate the quality in others, yet we expect it in ourselves. If there is one thing you should know about entrepreneurship, it’s that nobody has everything figured out. NOBODY.

Not me, not any other big names in any industry. We’re all just doing our best to stay two steps ahead of our clients, so we can better serve them (and they’ll continue needing us). When you think about it that way, it’s not as scary, is it?

All you need to do to take the leap, is make sure you’re two steps ahead of the people you want to serve. If you can stay there, you’ll never have to worry about finding people to help or providing value to your clients. Ever.

This fear we let choke the courage out of us? It’s normal, but it becomes detrimental when we let it stop us.

So, if you’re sitting at home reading this, shaking your head in agreement (like my fellow entrepreneurs were up top), then it’s high time you stop allowing your fears to dictate your life.

Instead, let your dreams take a shot at it.

If you need help, you know where to find me. I’m always here or on Facebook in Entrepreneur Incubator.

Enjoy new beginnings. They’re always a little scary, but they’re so damn worth it.