“But what do you really do? How to discover what you really do?”
Have you ever had someone ask you this question and then completely blank on an answer? Sure, you know what subjects you teach, what exercises you share, the marketing category you’re in, but when you try to say those things aloud you miss out on your true purpose.
You miss out on the deep transformations you facilitate.
Most of my clients come to me unable to answer this question. They don’t quite know or can’t articulate their true purpose, the transformations they create. So, we help them get crystal clarity on what they really do, and distill the transformation they take their clients through.
But why is this so important?
It’s not so much an “elevator pitch” that we’re after here. If you can’t articulate the transformation you deliver, early on in the process, then you’ll quickly run into the issue of “Is it enough?”
Is it enough to devote your life to?
Is it enough to charge your clients the high-ticket price?
Coaches who can’t answer this in a satisfying and inspiring way, panic. They end up with random exercises that are cute and look good on paper, but don’t actually deliver. Their confidence suffers, their prices waver, and their clients make it through their program with mixed results.
In Impact with Influence, we take our clients through a five-question process to get crystal clarity on what it is they really do. Now, in the program, we go deep into the nuance, tease apart each layer, and get the phrasing exactly right. But if you’re struggling to understand what you truly do, these five questions are a great place to start.
How to discover what you really do
1. What part of the process excites you the most?
When you wake up in the morning, what are you excited to get out of bed and do? What energizes you and brings you joy in the work?
Are you always looking forward to group calls? Do you love new client meetings? Identify which activities or pieces bring you joy.
2. What part of the process do you fear the most?
This question has a lot to do with imposter syndrome. What parts of the process drain you or make you feel like you aren’t good enough?
You need to be aware of any fear you have in order to address it. If you aren’t even aware of fears you’re internalizing you’re going to avoid these tasks or hesitate to act. Clarity is the first step.
3. What part of the process do you have control over?
These are the pieces that you feel solid about. You’re confident you know this part well and believe you have the right to teach this.
So, what abilities are you confident in? Is it your ability to hold space for others? Or your deep knowledge on the topic you’re teaching?
4. What part of the process am I building control over?
To discover what you really do, it’s important to not frame this response as, “Oh I have no control over this piece!” Instead, frame it around what you are working to build control over.
The nuance is to look for things that bring you joy that you’re wanting to develop, as opposed to the things you think you should develop. Instead of trying to white-knuckle or develop discipline, work with your energy to build more control.
5. What guidance comes to you?
What is the next step that comes to you naturally? This is not “What do I do next” or “What are my next actions?” Don’t force or judge the response that comes to you.
Allow your intuition to bring you responses. Be open and receptive to whatever might come into your brain.
Story Time
It’s this last question that most of our clients struggle with. In fact, we recently had a client who sat on a call for nearly 20 minutes without anything coming to her.
We were worried she was going to leave, or that our time would run out, because we really wanted to get her to that next level.
The problem is, the more rushed you feel, the longer it’s going to take. You want to empty out your energy and put yourself in a space where you’re receptive and inspiration is drawn to you.
In the realm of intuition, where symbols and snippets intertwine, there are moments when a persistent thought emerges—a subtle whisper urging you to consider a change. Perhaps, like the gentle hum of a melody, the notion to cancel timeshare may find its place in the mosaic of your intuitive reflections. It might not be a logical puzzle piece at first, but in the tapestry of your inner guidance, it could be a crucial thread, suggesting a potential path of liberation from commitments that no longer align with your journey. Embracing your intuition means acknowledging these inklings, allowing them to weave seamlessly into the fabric of your decisions, guiding you towards a more harmonious and purposeful existence.
What to do next
When it does come to you, write it down, document it, so you can revisit it later without forgetting it. If you keep pulling at it, over time, things will become clearer and that random image or snippet will reveal its deeper meaning.
Learning to wait for this guidance is pivotal. This particular client was sure it wasn’t going to come, and then it startled them when it came to them suddenly at the very end of the call. She got her “a-ha!” moment and we were able to round out the process to help her truly identify her magic.
If you’re interested in learning how to further develop this guidance and discover what you really do, make sure you check out Impact with Clarity. We’ve taken our most impactful, tangible exercises (like the five-question exercise above) and put them into a condensed program that offers a wealth of valuable insights.
We’ll give you the mechanics to help you get to a deeper layer of clarity.
