By the beginning of this year, I had achieved each of the big goals I had set out to achieve with my business:
- Earn enough to stay at home with my daughter.
- Earn a full-time salary.
- Earn enough to allow my husband to quit his job.
- Earn $100,000 in a year.
The first two goals always seemed doable. By the time I started working towards the third, the outcome was already in sight. Frankly, the fourth one crept up on me without my noticing its tip-toe steps.
When I reached that point, I felt a little lost.
Overwhelmed.
Out of my element.
Fearful of stagnation.
Not to mention, those are all earning goals and – whilst I love making money beautifully – there’s more that I want to accomplish with my business!
Sure I could keep producing, keep earning more bit by bit, keep serving my clients… but what was I working towards?
Ease? Elegance? Comfort? Yes.
But I suspected I could do that and still work towards something bigger than I’d ever dared to dream of before.
I posed this question to several of my business models & mentors in the first quarter of 2011:
How do you set new goals when you’re completely outside the realm of your experience?
The people I asked – Danielle LaPorte, Marie Forleo, Amanda Steinberg – they all offered solid answers. But still, I felt lost.
I could feel my power tingling like magic on the tips of my fingers. But I didn’t know where to channel it, where to cast the spell.
How do you move forward when your goals are behind you?
As a solopreneur, my business relies on ME for its vision & execution. My experience is all I have to go on. My brain, all I have to rely on.
That’s limiting.
What I really needed was a team to hold my vision and push it all around the edges, expanding it to the point – maybe, past – of bursting.
But a team full of employees, a physical location, a list full of others’ needs… that’s limiting too.
What I created was a whole new (to me) approach.
Instead of either trying to go it alone or hiring a team, I created relationships – both formal and informal – that could hold and expand my vision without weighing me down.
Carrie, formerly my “virtual assistant” is now exercising her own expertise as my personal Business Manager and Assistant Editor for Scoutie Girl. We “meet” weekly to discuss my ideas, work out systems, and discover new ways to execute my mission. She’s working on everything from scheduling to communication management to event planning.
I’d say she offers me the use of an extra brain – but it’s so much more than that since she brings her own outside perspective to this business.
She believes in what I’m trying to accomplish and knows that she’ll be better off in her own business the more I’m able to achieve in mine.
I’ve also been busy cultivating informal relationships. My bubble-bursters include other entrepreneurs, thinkers, and activists who want me to succeed every bit as much as I want them to succeed. I suppose, really, we’re mutual bubble-bursters. We help each other push past what is on the surface to more fully realize our complementary visions.
These are not just people I rely on to promote my products or retweet my posts. These are people I trust with my mojo and momentum. I trust them to challenge me, not just stroke my ego.
I’ve met my bubble-bursters through Twitter, my blog, random emails, conferences, and referrals from clients. Potential bubble-bursters are all around you but you have to do the work to build trust.
If you struggle to find your voice & vision outside your beginners’ bubble, it’s time to sure up your relationships with those in & outside your business. Make sure they understand your passion and the change you want to make in the world. Ask them to push you when they see you settling – and sometimes, even when you’re not!
What can you do today? Set up some Skype or coffee dates with people who you already consider in your circle and just talk shop. It’s not so much about asking for advice as it is becoming aware of how your bubble-bursters react to your ideas & concerns. It’s about allowing someone else to hold a bigger dream for you than you can imagine – and creating big dreams for your friend in return.
"wonderful blend of heart and soul
Kick Start Labs is a New Economy microbusiness community. 
Imagine your business at the next level of success. Insight Intensives are for coaches, authors, designers, and others. 
Startups: turn your big ideas into profitable business models & compelling outreach. Email us to learn more: general@taragentile.com.
"The
Bursting the Business Bubble – or – thinking bigger than you thought you could http://t.co/f5P6ZeQ via @taragentile
are you willing to burst your business bubble? #itsagoodthing #promise http://ht.ly/65ipS
RT @taragentile: are you willing to burst your business bubble? #itsagoodthing #promise http://ht.ly/65ipS
so true!
I’ve started making monthly goals (instead of year-long ones) for the exact same reason… I’d meet the year-long goal in June and think, ‘now what?’ I now set monthly goals that keep me going!
Hi Stacey! That’s awesome! I just want to encourage you to still make long-term goals. That’s actually been another thing that’s come out of finding the right people to be my bubble-bursters. Instead of only focusing on the short-term – what can I accomplish NOW? – I’m able to see further into the future and create longer arcs of action.
Good luck!
Great post
“@taragentile: are you willing to burst your business bubble? #itsagoodthing #promise http://t.co/RhFuW80”
I just sent a thank you to the names that popped into my head as I read this article. They offer me support on different levels but each is such an important part my growth and the growth of business.
Bursting the bubble definitely hit home with me. I started thinking of people I respond well to and why they were successful business people. It definitely opened my eyes to what I’m not doing to achieve my goals. I thought of the characteristics they possess and I know I have the same ones. I’m just not using them. It’s as if I have to “grow a pair” when it comes to my business. Thank you for verbalizing what I was starting to feel inside. I’ve started to write down my goals and it has helped me focus.
awesome tara!! RT @taragentile are you willing to burst your business bubble? #itsagoodthing #promise http://ht.ly/65ipS
are you ready to burst your business bubble? POP! http://ht.ly/662p7
I agree with everyones comments. I have a few close friends (though none not close) who know to nudge me when I seem to be faltering.
Last year I purchased a domain name, which I now own for 5 years. This month I found a host site & am working towards setting up my own website, with all the bells & whistles that go with it.
So if you hear a high-pitched sound & no one is around, it is only me – venting as I figure out the next step.
RT @taragentile: are you ready to burst your business bubble? POP! http://ht.ly/662p7
Congrats on accomplishing those four milestones!
While it is important to develop a network of people and resources that keep pushing / nudging you forward, it is equally as important to shed the nayersayers that attempt to steal your joy, waste your energy and undermine your dream from one’s life. People that lack vision for their own lives put down those of us who have the courage to dream big and fortitude to overcome obstacles.
–Joe Breunig
author/poet, Reaching Towards His Unbounded Glory
RT @taragentile: are you ready to burst your business bubble? POP! http://ht.ly/662p7
I am so ready to burst out!
The first course I took by Tara, I eagerly signed up due to my being so all over the place with no ideas where I should be. As a result of that course which ended a mere three months ago, I not only shifted my goals, but accomplished much more than I even ever knew I would prior to taking the course.
The result? – I opened up an art boutique representing over 14 (and growing everyday) artists whose goods and art are selling in a cool town. I am gaining recognition in my community as the place to go to sell your art and wares and people are interested in the coming workshops I will provide this fall.
If all of this happened as a result of just one course with you – I cannot even imagine what will result with this new program!
Tara just rocks your creating working world! *lights lighter and puts hand up high in the air*
Tara – this is such a great post. The idea of finding a team of bubble bursters is SUCH a great way to express the importance of having your group of supporters (and truth tellers). It’s taken me quite some time to find the 2 people who give it to me straight, but also hold me up as I reach for my goals.
What can I say other than this post really struck me – inspired me to be on the look out for other potential bursters. Thank you.
The informal mastermind of sorts is exactly what’s been pushing me and the people involved to go beyond ourselves and into something bigger and better.
It’s fantastic to have regular sessions where we all get a chance to “talk shop” like you say and shoot the breeze about anything that’s on the brain.
For anyone looking to start their own, here’s a couple pointers from experience.
1.) Get someone to record each session whether it’s via Skype or Google+ Hangout. Either record the screen or grab the audio. Then, everyone can receive a copy to look back on for reference.
2.) Make sure the people you surround yourself with are willing to meet at regular intervals. Make it weekly or monthly and don’t deviate. Stick to it. This makes a big difference.
3.) Have a private place online to meet and share info/resources outside of the regular meetings. We use Google+ again for this. Just make a private circle with all the members in it and now you have your own mini-social network for your group.
Take the time to assemble a dedicated and motivated circle that will challenge and push everyone to excellence.
Great job Tara on bringing up this important question.