See if any of the following are keeping you from success

Roadblock #1-Future Shock

Future Shock is a term I use for focusing on the end result instead of on taking that all-important first step. For example, many people who want to change careers, end up worrying about whether or not they’ll be able to apply their skills to a new field. Focusing your attention on this “potential” obstacle will most likely keep you stuck. Instead, focus your attention on a possible next step, like meeting with a career counselor to explore your options.
I see the same thing happen with people who want to start a business. Too often they focus on points Y and Z, without giving enough attention to points A and B. For example, if you’re a waitress (we’ll call this point A) who wants to open your own health food restaurant (point z), focusing on how you’ll put together the right menu or find the right location will most likely make you feel overwhelmed. Why not get to work on steps b, C and D, like visiting restaurant association websites, reading a small business handbook, or finding a mentor who can help lead the way. The big picture almost always looks intimidating from a beginners point of view. Reel your mind in and focus on the action you’ll take today.

Roadblock #2-Assumptions

Making assumptions will stop a dream dead in its tracks. You’ll know you’ve come up against this roadblock when you hear yourself say things like:

ß I’d really love to get a new job, but I’ll never be able to make the kind of money I make now.
ß I’d like to be in a intimate relationship, but it will be so difficult to find someone at my age.
ß I'd love to start my own business, but I’ll never get the funding.

Why not give your dreams a fighting chance! When you make assumptions, you give you power away to fears and concerns that may not even turn out to be valid. I’m always amazed at how “insurmountable” dreams can turn into reality with a little faith and elbow grease. For example, my client Maura wanted to start her own interior design studio, but she made the assumption that she couldn’t begin without a retail storefront and the proper funding. When I challenged her to focus instead in getting her first client, her business took off. Soon after, a corporate client came along, and with the monies earned from this big job, she was able to fund her startup. Replace your assumptions with facts. And, remember the old saying—“Where there’s a will there’s a way”

Roadblock #3-Fear

It’s easy to think that the fear we feel when starting out will stay with us or even worse, increase over time. But, with every positive step in the right direction, your courage muscles get stronger. And, here’s another important thing to know: excitement neutralizes fear. As you take action to fulfill your dreams, every success that you experience, big or small, will fuel your enthusiasm to forge ahead and accomplish even more challenging goals. With this enthusiasm in place, you’ll work your way through challenges with more ease. For example, if you finally decide to go back to school, you’ll probably find that your excitement about learning something that’s of interest to you will outweigh the heavy load of homework you were worried about handling in the beginning.

Roadblock #4-Going it alone

When you feel frustrated or unsure of your next step, ask for help immediately. For most people this takes practice. Give your assumptions a litmus test by sharing them with someone you trust (preferably an optimist) if you’re not sure where to begin, brainstorm with a few friends. I saw a great example of this during a workshop in June when a woman in her mid 50’s said that she wanted to be a ski instructor, but felt she was to old. When I asked the group to help refute this assumption by brainstorming ways in which she could fulfill this dream, she got a whole lot of great ideas including creating a class called “Skiing for Chickens” (geared towards those over 50). The support from others moved her from a place of inaction and disbelief to a place of excitement and motivation to get started.
Over the years I’ve been blessed to work with some amazing clients who have taught me that dreams become reality when you focus on the steps just ahead of you. So get going! As I often say, the Universe will support your efforts once you make your intentions clear!