Listener Question: “Why Can’t I Stick To My Business-Building Plan?”

Ever struggled with turning your business ideas into actions? You’re not alone. The roadblock might be rooted in self-doubt and the comfort of staying exactly where you are. We unpack these stumbling blocks and shine a light on why diligently following a business plan can sometimes feel like a Herculean task. It’s not just about wanting your goals bad enough; it’s about your commitment to the journey that takes you there.

Next, we delve into the potentially harmful workings of self-doubt, and its knack for breeding procrastination and inaction. But don’t worry! We’re on hand with effective strategies to break this cycle. Lastly, we introduce an exciting concept – the Flow Business Personality Type. Imagine a business plan customized to your strengths, weaknesses, and core values. Sounds great, right? Take our quick quiz and discover how understanding your unique business personality can lead you towards creating a business you’ll love. So, ready to overcome these barriers and propel your business to new heights? Join us on this enlightening episode!

“’Do you want it bad enough?’ Ask yourself that question and be open to the answer, it might be no, and that is a really awesome thing to know about yourself too.” – Shawn Mynar

“You get to decide what stories you tell yourself, what stories you believe, what stories you keep in, what stories you want to take out and remove forever. You have the power over that.” – Shawn Mynar

“Do it anyway. Nothing will make that block go away faster than to push through it and take action anyway.” – Shawn Mynar

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Chat with me on Instagram >>> @SHAWNMYNAR

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FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT BELOW:

Hey, hey there, friends, Welcome back to the Flow Business Podcast. I’m Shawn, your host, and this is your place to build a business that is fun, feels good and flows with you. Today I’m answering a listener question that came in last week. If you get my emails, then you know that last week I sent out kind of at the end of the email I sent out a request for questions and topics that you would like to be covered on the show, and so we’re going to be working through some of those over the next couple of weeks, Super excited for that Great question. Thank you to everyone who submitted a question, and if you have one and you didn’t get a chance to submit that question, then the best place to do that anytime always is over on my Instagram at Shawn Mynar is where you can find me there. Just send me a DM and let me know your question. I’ll let you know if it’s a good idea for the show, if it’s just something that we want to talk about over the DMs or whatever. So send anything and everything there and we can chat. So this question comes from Mara. I’ve been listening to your podcast for several months and am loving it. I feel like I’ve done some really great work around figuring out what I want my business to look like, what’s important to me and my why for wanting to transition full time to my business. I’ve even created an action plan of what I need to do to get there in the next six months, but I still find myself not doing it. Why can’t I stick to my plan, even when I really really want it? Oh, this is so good and I know that a lot of you can relate to Mara, and that is why I wanted to bring this question to the show this week, and you know the answer to this question. I mean, there’s so many possibilities, there are so many reasons why you’re not sticking to your business building plan, even when it’s something you really really want. I do want to kind of hone in on one potential option when it comes to kind of this inaction, this place of inaction, because I know Mara a little bit and I think this might be the answer for her. But, yes, there are a lot of other possibilities, and so I want to kind of quickly go over some of these options for you, If this is something that you can relate to, and so you can maybe figure out what’s at the root of this inaction or inability to stick to the plan? First of all, it could be because you’re comfortable where you are and really what this is deep down is that it’s just not painful enough to change. So we all know that change is uncomfortable. It can be scary at times, it can be overwhelming. There’s a lot to do, there’s a lot to think about, there are a lot of decisions, there’s a lot of emotion, there’s just a lot going on, particularly when you’re trying to build a business and then when you and from I can tell you because of what I know from Mara she already has a small business going but it’s kind of on the back burner because she still has a full-time job but she wants to take her business full-time in the next six months according to this plan. So in this kind of scenario, or if you are building a business from scratch right now, you know there’s a lot to do, there’s a lot to feel, there’s a lot going on and that can feel I mean this isn’t the best word, but I’m going to use it that can feel painful, more painful than it is to just stay where you are, do what you’re doing and kind of be in your comfort zone, which we talk about a lot here on the show, so it’s more comfortable where you are. Even though, yes, you want this business, even though, yes, you don’t love what you’re doing, or you want to make more money or you want more free time all these things you want it’s still not painful enough, where you’re at, to move, to change, to try the new thing, to make all of these things happen, to get your business going. So that’s one option. For some people it could be because you don’t want it bad enough. The idea of it is exciting, but then actually doing it is another story which kind of goes along with. It’s not painful enough to change in a way. But this is just like yeah, you hear all these people talking about having these businesses and how much freedom they have and flexibility and get to do all these things and they make all this money and they get to work in their pajamas all day and all these things, which is true. That is what they’re doing. That’s what a lot of people are doing these days. That is a very real way that you can have a business and make money and have a career, and so you see that and it looks appealing. So it’s like, yeah, that is great, that is exciting, I do want that. But then, when it comes time to actually do the things that are required to get there, you don’t want it bad enough. And I think that’s a really important question to ask yourself if you are kind of stuck in this place of inaction Mara included is do you want it bad enough? So Mara says I really, really want it. I really want to get out of my full time job in the next six months. That’s what she said in her question. So I’m assuming yes, she does really, really want it. But that is what you need to figure out too. Do you like the idea of it? Does it look exciting? Are you kind of like taking in what you’re seeing from other people and kind of surface level thinking that’s what you want? But then when you really really get to brass tacks here and really think about it, is it what you really want? Are you really truly committed to that? Because, yes, it’s work, it’s effort, it’s decisions, it’s fear, it’s emotion, it’s all that stuff to get you there. Do you want it bad enough? So ask yourself that question and be open to the answer. It might be no, and that is a really awesome thing for you to know about yourself too. That will take so much confusion, potentially, or disappointment or just all of these emotions you may be having of thinking you want this thing but then not doing anything to get there can really get you into this kind of emotional spiral. But if you just realize and recognize that maybe it’s not what you really truly want, then that’s a good thing to know about yourself too. Other possibilities it could be just because you’re not prioritizing it. It hasn’t made its way onto your priority to do list yet. It still is very much second nature to kind of do the things you’re used to doing in your everyday life and those are the things that take priority. And you just kind of have to wiggle in the business aspect of things in your priority list, your business building plan, into that, which then legitimately just takes you getting out your calendar, getting out your planner and if you don’t have one, get started now and put time to work on your business, to work on this plan, into your everyday life. That is really the only way it’s going to get done for anyone, including myself. This is my full-time job and I still have my Asana filled with all the things I have to do for that day, and if it’s not filled, trust me, I can find all kinds of other things to do. It is the only reason I know what I’m doing in my business that day is because I planned for it. I put it in my planner. It could be because you’re legit busy and you don’t have the time right now. That is a valid reason. If it’s just not the right time to work on this business building plan of yours, that is okay. That happens. That is life. We have busy seasons and hopefully a little less busy seasons, although I think those are becoming shorter and shorter. But this is still kind of this place where, first of all, going back to some of the other things we’ve talked about, making sure this is really truly what you want, like you want it bad enough, and it’s not just the idea of it that is exciting, but it actually doing it is also something you’re willing to do. So make sure that that is the case and then also start putting it in your calendar, even if it’s an hour a week. And if you’re too busy, even do an hour a week right now, that’s okay, but then look to the future, maybe a couple months out, maybe when you know things are changing, like your kids’ schedule changes or it’s less busy at your job at a certain time or whatever it is. Plan ahead and put work on business in your calendar for that time. Otherwise, it is very easy to continue to be in this I’m too busy cycle and it becomes less of a reality and more of an excuse and more of just this way that you’re not prioritizing it, you’re not thinking about it, you have too much to do all the time and you never get to it. So again, planning works really well, even if it’s well ahead of time, even if you are legit too busy right now, understandable. But then find that place where you aren’t busy and even if you are, do you have an hour? Because if you have an hour you can still build a business on an hour a week. You can. Yes, it will take longer. Will it be your full time thing in six months? Maybe, if you have an hour a week? Let’s see. That’s like 24 hours? Probably not, but maybe in a year if you have just one hour a week. So let’s make sure we’re using busy as a reality and not an excuse, and see when you have a bit of time coming up in the future where you can put business building on the calendar. Now let’s get to the main reason I want to talk about today, Because I think this is like I said. I think, knowing a little bit about Mars’ background, I think this may be what’s going on for her and maybe for a lot of you, and that is that you’re talking yourself out of it. Now, this may be subconscious, so you may say, no, I definitely want this, I really really want it. I’ve created this plan, I have this vision. I know exactly what I want it to look and feel like I’ve done all this work, like Mara said. But subconsciously you’re still talking yourself out of it and that is typically in a big part because you don’t truly believe it’s possible for you. So, AKA a lack of self-belief, AKA self-doubt. So you’re doubting yourself, you’re doubting your abilities, you’re doubting your business, you’re doubting that it could be your reality, that you really could have this thing be your full-time thing in the next six months. In Mara’s case, you don’t truly believe that is possible for you. So the definition of self-doubt is lack of confidence in oneself and one’s abilities. So you don’t believe you can actually build it. You don’t believe you’re capable of making it work. You don’t believe people will want it, will want to work with you. You don’t believe you can make money doing it. You don’t believe you can help people. You don’t believe you’re smart enough to run a business. You don’t believe that kind of money is possible for you. You don’t believe you can make money without sacrifice. You don’t believe you’re organized enough. You don’t believe you’re tech savvy enough. You don’t believe you’re funny or charismatic enough for your audience. You don’t believe it is possible for you. No matter how many other cases, how many other people you see that have done what you want to do, there’s still something about you that makes it not possible for you. So then, when it comes time to work on it, there are suddenly a million other things you need to do. Or your brain stops working and you have this like quote unquote, content creation block, or you legit forget about it. Like, even if it’s in your calendar and you’re planning to work on your business this entire week, you’ve been planning for Saturday afternoon and then you legit forget about it, or you start doing busy work instead of the things that will actually move the needle, you talk yourself out of it. And keep in mind let me remind you again this is all most likely done subconsciously, on a subconscious level. This is not you consciously saying it, although you may kind of notice some actions or thoughts you’re having on a conscious level that are going against this business building plan. But so much of this is done subconsciously. And so there you are, in Mara’s case, not sticking to this awesome plan that you had for your business, not meeting that six month goal that you set for yourself, not staying in an alignment with what you want, and the cycle continues over and over and over again. And you will never break the cycle until you actually come face to face with this idea that you are talking yourself out of it because you don’t believe it’s possible for you. You have this self doubt deep within and that means you’re self sabotaging, you’re sabotaging your business, you’re sabotaging your success, you’re sabotaging your dreams, all these things, everything that you’ve planned for, everything that you’ve been wanting and envisioning and really creating this idea of what you want and how you want it to look and how you want it to feel. It’ll never happen because you don’t believe it will happen. So we have to break that cycle. And the very first step to do when you are trying to break this cycle and really any sort of limiting belief, false story, this mental chatter, these things that you’re doing, these blocks that you’re experiencing you’ll know, if you’ve listened to this show for a while, you will know what I’m about to say, because it’s always the first step and that is to bring awareness to it. You have to bring it up from underneath the surface. That’s kind of how I like to think about the subconscious mind and subconscious programming is it’s like underneath the surface and when you bring awareness to it, that brings it into the conscious mind, into your conscious space, and that is kind of bringing it up to the surface, and that’s what we need to do here. So always, it always comes with this need for questions. You just got to start questioning yourself instead of just taking it for what it is you doing what you’re doing and thinking what you’re thinking and acting the way you’re acting and saying what you’re saying, Instead of just doing it on autopilot, start questioning it. So, for example, good question to start with why can’t I stick to my business plan? And you might think, yeah, it’s overwhelming, I don’t have a lot of time right now, I sometimes feel lost on the next steps to take all of these very conscious answers, conscious things that your mind is thinking and you can easily kind of reply back to that question. But what else? You have to keep going. That conscious answer isn’t it, and that’s always where we get stuck. We think that’s just the answer and so like, okay, well, I’m too busy, so all right, I guess, never mind, and that’s not it, there’s something else. There is always something else. So what else is there? Well, I guess maybe I’m a little scared it won’t work. And, just as you can tell, I’m kind of role playing here with myself. Pretend this is Mara saying I’m scared it won’t work. Okay, well, why do you think it wouldn’t work? Because I don’t know if anyone would buy it and I’m not very good at selling or sales, so I don’t know how to get people to buy it. I’m not super tech savvy, so can I even set all of that up? I’ve been really fearful to get going on the tech part of it. So you know, here we go, fake Mara, having this conversation. This is all done with you and your journal. You could have other people in the conversation, kind of asking you questions about some you know your sticking points. That could work too, but you can also do this with yourself in your journal, but then we can see even though that’s still it’s like a one level deeper or a little underneath the surface with those answers. But you can start to see how there is some self doubt going on there where, yeah, she doesn’t feel tech savvy enough, she doesn’t feel comfortable selling and marketing, she doesn’t know if anyone will buy it. Like there’s a lot of stuff coming up that’s a little deeper than just I don’t have time, I’m busy, and so now we can really start to see that, yes, there is some self doubt, there is a lack of belief in oneself. That will continue to feed it over and over and over again. So you constantly stay in this cycle. So just building awareness around it, bringing it to the surface, means that you know so much more about yourself, you have so much more information that you can then do something about and break that cycle. So once you kind of have this conversation with yourself and you go deeper and really figure out what is really going on here, then be compassionate with what comes up. First of all, because there’s a reason that you have this self doubt. You weren’t born with it. You didn’t come out of the womb doubting yourself and your abilities. You picked it up somewhere along the way and then your mind made up this story based on this past experience or experiences, which means it’s a story. It’s not true. It’s just a story and you get to decide what stories you tell yourself, what stories you believe, what stories you want to keep in, what stories you want to take out and remove forever. You have control, you have the power over that. So that’s really where that compassion comes in, and just seeing it as this story that you can absolutely throw in the trash and never look at again, if that’s what you want. So then, in order to do that, of course, you may know again, if you’ve been listening for a while, that my favorite thing to do to kind of stop our limiting beliefs or false stories in their tracks is to prove them wrong. Whatever your story is, I can guarantee you have proof of that not being the case at some point in your life. So when in your life were you able to help someone else? When did you build something great? When did you learn something new, tech wise. When did you attract money without working hard for it? Any story you have, you have proof of the opposite happening in your real life and you just didn’t notice it at the time because it went against your story, so it didn’t really register or resonate to change anything. But now that you have this awareness, now those examples mean something because you can prove that story wrong. That is now brought to the surface. And then my personal favorite, which I always tell you guys and I know it’s harder to do than some of these others, but just seriously works so well, always, always, always works, and that is to do it anyway. Nothing will make that block go away faster than to push through it and take action anyway. So, whatever it is, whatever you’re currently not doing. So in the case of Mara, it’s like she has this whole plan, she knows she really, really wants it. She has this six month goal but isn’t sticking to it, isn’t continuing to do the work to get there. So the first thing in Mara’s case, and maybe yours too, like I’ve already mentioned, put it in your calendar. And this is something I say all the time. But there’s repeating and I will continue to repeat. This is not just something that goes on your calendar is like cool, it’d be great if I did this today. This is like a client appointment. Would you not show up for a paying client? Would you not show up, or would you not go to a session of something that you paid for? Treat it like that. Put it in your calendar and it is something that you cannot miss. It’s something you cannot forget and it’s something that you can’t just keep moving around and never really actually do. Treat it like you are meeting a client on that time, at that day, for that particular period of time, and maybe it would even help if you had a partner that you really were meeting up with to do some work. Now, this can’t be like a date, like a friend date or a partner date, where you’re kind of talking and then sometimes you work or whatever. No, this is like co-working, keeping each other accountable. Let’s get together, not talk, and just work for this amount of time to hold each other accountable. That’s an option too, but it has to be something that you really commit to and you make it super, super important. And then, when the time comes for that appointment, notice the resistance, Notice the block that’s coming through, Notice the desire to do something else, potentially, or feeling like you have this content creation block, or wanting to do busy work instead of doing the real work. Whatever it is, however, it shows up, Notice it because now you’ve brought it to the surface, Now you’ve built awareness, so now you can see it in action. You can see how it’s showing up and then you kind of have the answer to your own question of why can’t I stick to this plan? Well, now you can see what you’re really doing, how this story is coming into your actual life, into your actions and showing itself, and you don’t need to be annoyed with yourself or be mad at yourself for doing that or for that tendency or for this being how your story kind of shows itself. You don’t have to have any emotion around it at all. But also don’t ignore it either. It is something to recognize and see in yourself and just know that. That’s what it is, that’s what you do, that’s how you cope, that’s your mechanism and that’s okay. You can just let it be, sit with it, bring awareness, acknowledge it and then continue on with your appointment, with yourself and your business and your plan. And when you do, when you take action and actually do the thing that you have this block around. Like I said, there is nothing that will dissolve that quicker. The second that you build anything, that belief of I don’t believe I can actually build it is gone, Even if it’s not your entire business or your entire program or whatever. Say you put together a freebie for the first time ever, the belief that you can’t build something is gone If you don’t think you’re capable of making it work. Having the first person sign up for that freebie or sign up for your paid offer, whatever it is like, just having one thing happen tangibly in your life that goes against that lack of belief will dissolve it entirely immediately. You just have to do that one thing. It doesn’t have to be this like we’ll have to have this entire business booming and super successful and making all this money and have everything all set up before I believe in myself, Absolutely not. All you need is just the littlest bit of confirmation, the littlest bit of proving it wrong in real time right now, with what you’re doing, to dissolve it entirely. So, as hard as it is, as much as your mind wants to stop you, as an emotional as you get when trying to do that thing. That will be the thing that gets rid of this self doubt. But it has to come after the acknowledgement and the awareness, or else you don’t really know what you’re thinking, why you’re having this block, what you really don’t believe is possible. You know all these things that are going on underneath the surface. We’ve got to get it up into your consciousness first. So really see if you can do some work around that and see what comes up for you. And I’d love to know, send me a DM and we can talk about that too. I’d love to know what’s really underneath the surface and this self doubt that you may be carrying around. I think it’s really common and that’s why, as soon as Mara sent me this question, that’s what really came up for me, not just for Mara, and I don’t even know if that’s truly the problem, but something for her to think about. But for a lot of you and you’re not alone, and it’s a very common place to be when starting a business I think that’s really important to recognize and a really powerful to know and to have awareness around. But also, if we’re not careful, that can be the thing that stops you, that can be that thing that keeps you from your dreams and we don’t want that either. So we have to be really conscious of it, really aware, and see it through and see what you can do to dissolve that. All right, my friends, that will cover it for today. Thank you, Mara, for the question and, like I said, if you have a question you would like featured on the show, send me a DM at Shawn Mynar on Instagram and I will put it on the air. And until next time, take care, hey, wait up before you go. Do you want to know the biggest reason why your business may not flow? Because it’s not in alignment with your personality type. Building the right business for you means knowing your strengths, weaknesses, energetic expression and what’s most important to you, so you can build your business accordingly. Before you spend one more minute working on your business, let’s make sure it’s the right business for you. I’ve created a fun two minute quiz to discover, to discover your flow business personality type. With the results of this quiz, you’ll know exactly what to prioritize in your business so you can feel confident knowing your building a business you love. Head over to shawnmynar.com/quiz right now to find out your flow business personality type and once you find that out, hop over to Instagram and let me know what you discover. Again, that’s shawnmynar.com/quiz. As always, the link is in the show notes.