What would you incorporate into your "Fence of No"?
Have you ever played that game where you imagine scenarios and ask yourself how far you’d go against your beliefs or values for something? You know, things like, “If you were offered $1m to do X, would you?” I remember playing some sort of conversation card game with friends years ago on a surfing weekend and it causing ALL sorts of debate. Questions that forced us to identify with what we REALLY believe in versus what we might purport to believe in or value...it caused a frenzy of discussion that lasted well after we’d put the cards away.
I’ve been thinking about that weekend and about what we say “no” to in business a lot this week, following a wonderful chat with Beatrix Bakes founder, Natalie Paull on my podcast (listen to the full episode here).
During our discussion, Nat shared: “One of the greatest things I learned is that you build a Fence of No, and then within that Fence of No, you can say yes to anything you want, so long as you’re not jumping out of that fence.”
In my first year in business I said yes to many jobs and clients that I didn’t feel completely aligned with who I was and what I was trying to create. I diluted my fears about them by telling myself I needed the money or security etc. But as I move into my sixth year in business, I can honestly say that I know what I will and won't accept.
So I thought why not use today’s article as a reminder to you to spend some time asking yourself what you will and won’t accept for your business? What is inside — and outside — your own fence of no? 2020 was a MASSIVE learning year and I know many small biz owners have changed things in how they run their business and what they will / won't accept for good, as a result.
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What are the non negotiables for you in 2021?
What will you absolutely stop doing?
What will you absolutely keep up (even when time and financial pressures may be stacked against you)?
What will you perhaps start doing, which, until now, you haven't felt the confidence or courage to do?
Examples from some of my clients and students include things like:
· START: making time for exercise
· KEEP: Sticking to my prices and not decreasing them through fear people won’t buy
· STOP: Comparing myself to other business owners on social media
· STOP: Working weekends
· KEEP: Working on my own education and self-improvement
· START: Turning my phone off when I'm with kids / family / loved ones
· STOP: Answering client emails after hours
· STOP: Procrastinating before producing
· START: Putting myself forward for awards, events and podcast interviews
· STOP: Buying online courses I don’t finish
· KEEP: Making time each week for working "on" my business, not just "in" it
· STOP: Meeting people who want to “pick my brain” for free
· START: Charging more
· STOP: Saying I can’t do XYZ because of who I am, how I look or my lack of experience
From the hundreds of small business owners I have coached and taught, almost all would say that freedom and having some level of control over their lives was a part of why they started their own business. If that’s so, then shouldn’t we be in control of what we will and won’t accept? This may well start by you taking the time to decide what is ringed inside that Fence of No, Natalie talks about, and what is absolutely outside of it. If you need help with this, my free Start, Stop, Keep Planner will help.