Do you ever put a cap on your own success?
Do you see a ceiling on how well you can do in life or business?
Are ready to finally move past those limitations?
There is one simple thing you can do to rise above that ceiling and defy your own odds.
It’s also one of the fundamental concepts I teach my clients:
Set goals that make you uncomfortable
Here’s what I mean.
If a client asks me what she should charge for her services, I ask her:
What feels reasonable?
She gives me a number. Then I ask:
Now, what feels just out of reach, but if you went for it you’d feel over-the-moon excited, giddy like a little girl, and terrified at the same time?
She gives me a number. Then I reply:
That’s what you should charge.
She proceeds to have a mini freak-out, full of excitement, fear, and “Can I really do that? Can I?”
To which I say:
Oh, yes you can.
Taking my own advice
Now you may be wondering if I practice what I teach. Do I push myself past my comfort zone? Do I reach for things that scare me?
I do, but not without the aforementioned freak-out.
When Scott Harrison, found of Charity Water, spoke at the 2012 World Domination Summit and asked each attendees to give up our birthday for his organization, I agreed.
When I started my campaign, I thought, “I’ll shoot for $3400. I can do that. I can find 100 people to donate $34.”
As I was confirming my commitment, a little box on the Charity Water website popped up. It said, “If you raise $5000, you can give water to an entire village.” Without further thought, I agreed to raise $5000.
Then I freaked out. “Can I really do that?!” I asked myself.
There was no “back” button. I was committed.
I was going for something that scared me and made me really excited.
Going for it
I was filled with incredible doubt for weeks after I committed to raise $5000. No, it’s not a monumental amount, but I wasn’t sure I could make it happen.
Also, I’m a planner. I had no plan for how I would raise this money. My birthday was so soon after Scott’s speech that I didn’t have time to plan the campaign. How would I do this?
Without a plan but with my commitment to go for it, I started to brainstorm.
I could simply ask people. (What a novel idea?!)
I could host a free class and ask the attendees to contribute.
I could hold a giveaway, asking friends and colleagues to donate digital products to those who donated to the campaign.
I could give away coaching with me to someone for making a huge donation.
When I did them all, things came together.
Last Friday, I surpassed the goal. There is still a month remaining before the campaign closes.
It’s NOT about effort
Making this campaign work wasn’t about putting out a lot of effort. It was about finding the inspiration to make it work effortlessly.
Not that a lot of work didn’t go into reaching this goal. It certainly was work. It just didn’t feel hard.
I set a goal. I took action. I did what felt fun and easy.
And you know what? It worked.
You’d defy your own odds not by setting impossible goals or working your ass off. Not by doing things that are hard.
You defy your own odds but committing to something that’s both scary and exciting. You commit. You go for it. You know you can fail, but you move forward anyway.
Thank YOU
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for donating to the campaign.
Thank you for donating products to the Giveaway Extravaganza.
Thank you for you support.
Thank you for witnessing me doing something I wasn’t sure I could.
Thank you.
Your turn
I want to hear from you.
In the comments below, tell me about a time when you defied your own odds.
What did you do? How did you make it happen?
If you haven’t pushed your own limits, what’s stopping you? How can we help you make that next leap?
I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got.
I’ve been defiant twice this year.
#1: I closed the Pagan supplies shop I didn’t want to keep up anymore, and tuned into the “multi-creative, heathen witch providing guidance, awareness and healing through the Pagan arts”
#2: I raised the price on my art considerably, to reflect the amount of work I put in. The prices are not astronomical, but fair now.
I don’t know how I did, because #1 was done in May, so I haven’t seen the results yet.
Great examples, Linda! Thanks for sharing!
I stage managed a musical and had to google what being a stage manager meant. It only got more frightening as I realized what I’d gotten myself into. But I survived, the show was great and I learned tons, at a time in my life when that’s exactly what I needed. You know it’s time to change when you’ve stopped learning, and there is nothing like drinking from the fire hose to remind you that learning is where it’s at (even if it’s a little scary). Great post and congrats on your fundraiser, inspires me to do something for my favorite charity next b-day!
What a great story! That’s exactly how it was when I first started doing VA work. I didn’t know a dang thing but I learned a lot fast and had fun doing it. It’s paid off in so many ways.
You’re totally right: Learning is where it’s at!
Love this post! And it’s so true, uncomfortable goals are the best. And in the end, making sth. happen against all odds, or even the journey itself will give you a great sense of empowerment, and the feeling of owning your success.
The first time I realized this was when I organized an educational event at a Chinese University, and told everybody I would get us lots of media attention by inviting high-ranked diplomats (even though these people usually don’t do such events) and get us some NGO-funding (even though the NGOs in question usually don’t do funding). In the end I made it all happen, and it turned out a great event 🙂
Wow, Carolin! Such an inspiring story. I love how other people know “that won’t work” but when we don’t know better… we totally prove them wrong 🙂 Thanks for sharing that here.
So true Jenny. It’s like that saying if your goals don’t scare you they’re not big enough. Good on you for going for it. My scary moment was raising the bar on the minimum prices I charge. It’s a lot more than it was before, but helps me attract clients I gel with and can help the most. Thanks for being an inspiration Jenny! I am a huge fan.
You got it, Laurel! They should scare you or they aren’t big enough.
Good for you for raising the bar on your prices and going for it. It is funny how raising rates also attracts a higher caliber client. I’ve always had that same experience and it’s a great reminder that going bigger helps others go bigger, too.
Thanks for sharing your insights here!
My husband and I started bike riding in June this year and got completely hooked. We registered for a fundraising ride to take place in September. The choices were 16, 32, 56, or 77 miles. From the beginning I wanted to do the 56, although it seemed so completely out of reach. I worked and trained all summer, pushing my fears, pushing my body, pushing what I thought was possible for a 52 year old woman that hadn’t been on a bike since High School. In July I rode 32 miles for the first time and by August I was averaging 100 miles a week. About a month out from the ride I did a 42.5 mile ride, and thought I was not going to make it home. It was a real crisis of faith for me. I shared my fears with some friends who reassured me that I could do it, I just needed the right support for my body. I set out to learn about sports nutrition, specifically about electrolytes, and reaffirmed my commitment to my goal. Sept. 15th my husband and I completed the ride together. It had been modified to 51 miles because of road construction, but nonetheless it was a huge accomplishment for us. There aren’t words to describe how energizing this has been in my life, and the confidence it has brought me.
Wow, Lisa! What a great story!! Congratulations on your big ride. That is an accomplishment.
I got into long distance cycling about 10 years ago so I can really relate to your journey, both with mileage and learning about sports nutrition for endurance events. I love how committed you were to making it, reaching out and finding the support you needed to make it happen.
Congratulations, and thanks for sharing your journey here!