I am walking in the forest. Meanwhile, I get inspiration for a new article.
Nature recharges my batteries and gives birth to new ideas.
Muddy footprints are left behind. My traces of where I walked are still visible. Partially covered by leaves, since it is autumn. The time of the year where nature lets go of things. While keeping a steady foundation. So that it prepares for growth in the next season.
Just like trees, humans also have a stable base from where we grow. As solo-entrepreneurs, in a human-centred business, our inner nature is at the core of our business. We grow by letting go of things that cost energy and are not aligned to our heart.
In a previous article, I wrote about how Human-Centred Design can help you to understand the worldview of your clients and how it can benefit your coaching business. So is understanding yourself and what makes your heart tick.
In my own life and heart-centred business experience, I discovered my four pillars. They form the base from where I keep designing and creating my future proof business that gives energy.
I help heart-centred entrepreneurs with structuring an online program. So that they can keep their personality and values, while tapping into what they do best.
Getting to this point was because I searched for clarity and on the way. I discovered how these pillars helped me. Based on these learnings I also created a signature system for helping my clients.
The things you do so damn well, without effort
The first pillar are your born talents. You know, those things that you do so damn well, without effort. They give you energy and put you in a state of flow, where time seems to disappear.
I experimented with my mix of talents. I realised that I was not happy when I was not able to use my limited set of talents.
I was a freelance digital solution expert, solving digital challenges by coming up with scalable solutions. It was a great activity for developing my problem-solving talents. It was energy draining at the same time because I was not able to use my talents of connecting with people and strategic insight.
When you feel that empathy is part of you, then you need to do something with that. It gave me purpose to realise that I now can use most of my talents.
Purpose is rooted in past emotions and events with great impact. Talents make a good source for passion. Do you also feel more passion and energy when you do something great without effort?
Gaining experience with what you do so well
Think about the last time you tried something new and enjoyed doing this. It was a blast! Didn’t it give you so much energy?
The next time you are in a similar activity, you will still remember about what and how you did it and what feeling it gave. So, you will become better the next time you do a similar activity. You have grown.
That is why the second pillar is experience. When you gain experience in doing activities with your talents, you will be able to grow and develop those talents. Not only will you get more knowledge and/or better skills, you will also remember the positive feelings and thoughts of these activities.
Are you able to be yourself?
Ask yourself: can I be myself when I am working with mr(s) X? Can I still do things I am passionate about and that are aligned with my talents?
You grow, when you develop your talents in the right circumstances and environment. This is my third pillar: choose your audience well. Create or work in an environment that stimulates your talents.
In a company I was working for, I saw the bigger picture on how the company could save a lot of money and time by changing some processes. The change would also benefit people, because it was causing frustrations.
I shared a plan on how to transition. Nothing ever happened. Neither did they appreciate it, because It was not part of my job description… I was discouraged to do similar things again. I let them be and eventually left the company.
Work together with people who appreciate who you are as a person. Keep looking for the right audience where you like spending precious time with. Choose for your talents. Even if it’s difficult and requires change.
Challenges that are worth solving
The last pillar is focusing on challenges that are worth solving and that are easy for you. Doing this work gives a deeper purpose to what you do. You create impact in the lives of others.
Take time to investigate what kind of challenges. Talk and connect with your audience. Sometimes they are hidden. This can be done by using Human-Centred Design.
Create a business masterpiece
The combination of all four pillars, will create a business masterpiece. As you build something valuable for your clients. A product or service that solves a challenge of people you like. They will also enjoy working with you.
What you do, will give you energy and purpose. So that you experience more fun and joy. You will keep on growing, by learning from the experiences.
Now, I will continue walking through the forest. I still have a long way to go. Who knows what else comes on my path?
Steven Poelmans
Steven Poelmans has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs and companies to build scalable products and grow meaningful businesses. He decided to restart his career and founded The Freedom Story Academy to support impact-making coaches and entrepreneurs worldwide to rewrite the way they work, live, and breathe and help them to structure and launch online services.
Steven Poelmans
Steven Poelmans has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs and companies to build scalable products and grow meaningful businesses. He decided to restart his career and founded The Freedom Story Academy to support impact-making coaches and entrepreneurs worldwide to rewrite the way they work, live, and breathe and help them to structure and launch online services.
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