Strategic Coach Resources

Some entrepreneurs experience life as an incredibly fulfilling, rewarding, self-guided adventure with ever-increasing meaning and purpose. Others feel trapped by circumstances, worn out by complexities, and frustrated because they can’t seem to get to where they want to be. What we’re talking about here is really a spectrum of entrepreneurial experience. I get to see entrepreneurs at both ends, and it’s pretty clear which experience is better.

Interestingly, most entrepreneurs I meet who feel fulfilled, focused, and excited about their lives today became that way because at some earlier stage they realized something had to change. That realization, in many cases, led them to The Strategic Coach®.

As I have said for years, all those things that seem to oppose our goals are actually the raw material for achieving them.

This issue of COACH gives you a picture of what it means to transform your experience as an entrepreneur, allowing your activities to support the expansion of all your life’s possibilities. It’s a big picture approach that evolves as your vision of what you want in your business and your life develops. Having this as a context for your growth provides a different perspective on everyday business issues and challenges. It involves constantly eliminating complexity while at the same time deepening your commitment to, and alignment with, your most important goals and values.

The quality of life this focus delivers over the long term is second to none — nothing short of living your dreams. While these dreams are as unique as each entrepreneur, the process of transformation is quite similar, even for entrepreneurs in completely different industries. In this newsletter, we identify five key transformations that seem to be critical for any entrepreneur to move along the spectrum from frustration to fulfillment. As you go through this list, think about opportunities you have to transform your experience as an entrepreneur to take advantage of all it can deliver.

1. Complexity transformed into simplicity.

For many entrepreneurs, life has become so complex that it takes all their energy and resources just to keep things going. This makes it impossible to focus on the best opportunities. New strategies, structures, and perspectives can help transform this complexity, creating a simpler and more effective existence where there is enough time for everything. It may seem paradoxical, but with the right habits and support systems, your life can actually become easier to manage as you become more successful and productive. Simplicity means not being overwhelmed by emails, deadlines, messes that need to be cleaned up, unfinished business, and other demands on your time. It means, instead, having systems and structures in place to handle everything as it comes up so you can focus on creating the greatest results for the business. It also means you'll have the time and mental energy to devote to what’s most important to you outside your business, allowing you to be fully present in all areas of your life. The other aspects of your entrepreneurial transformation all rest on this key ability to turn complexity into simplicity.

2. Rugged individualism transformed into Unique Ability® Teamwork.

When starting a business, entrepreneurs often want and need to do everything themselves. However, at a certain point, this becomes a limitation. As the business grows, the entrepreneur can increasingly benefit from drawing on the diverse talents and strengths of a team of aligned individuals. Not only does this allow the entrepreneur to focus on what he or she does best, it also harnesses the creativity and passion of a whole team. Ideas and innovations can be implemented without a huge effort on the part of the entrepreneur, who, in turn, is freed up to focus more on the big picture. With a great team in place, you can take time off, guilt-free, and know that your business is in good hands. When you have what we call “Unique Ability Teamwork,” great things happen in your company without your direct involvement. Others take what you create or envision and build on it to further the company’s goals.

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