Episode 52: Are you afraid to ask for help?

00:51 Welcome to Unfrazzle, a podcast for solo business owners with a big vision who are ready for a kinder more sustainable approach to productivity. I'm Louise Miller and each week i share bite-sized insights to help you step away from the hustle stop faffing and stay focused so you can make your brilliant ideas happen and make a bigger impact in the world So grab yourself a cuppa and let's get started I'd been looking forward to my first session with this fun and inspiring client for weeks. I was buzzing with energy, itching to get going excited that i get to spend the next 90 minutes doing the thing that I love helping her figure out her priorities for the month and create an action plan that's going to keep her on track so we met in Zoom notebooks and cuppers at the ready and I asked how are you feeling? Terrified she replied! I'm excited to get going but terrified of you seeing the mess that I'm in

01:43 So tempting as it may have been, I don't tell her that there's nothing to be scared of. My clients' feelings of terror are valid they are very welcome along for the journey because i know that this is how people feel when they ask for help. I know how much shame and embarrassment people can feel around their productivity and I really do understand where that comes from right? I felt it myself when I was drowning in a sea of scraps of paper and post-it notes and the never ending barrage of emails that you know accompanied my last job But can I tell you the truth? The mess that you perceive yourself to be in is rarely as bad as you think. And i know that it feels like it from where you're sitting because you're bogged down in it, you're weighed down by it feeling all the emotions of it how can you possibly see things clearly when you're stuck so deeply in the weeds and that's why it's so helpful to speak to someone with a bird's eye view someone who can see where you are and has a clear view of where you're going

02:39 I consider it a privilege when a client joins me in the treehouse, when they allow me behind the curtain of their business. Sharing their goals and sharing the truth about how things are right now that takes vulnerability and it takes real courage So I never kind of approach clients who are feeling like that with raised eyebrows or kind of judgment about how they've let that happen. Instead, I always approach it you know with excitement and a kind of how can we move things forward sort of mentality because helping a client see what might be possible when we get crystal clear on their priorities is incredibly satisfying and more importantly it gets them motivated and ready to crack on and by the end of that first session

03:18 My client who was terrified told me she was now feeling inspired and excited. And you don't get to experience any of that if you stay stuck in the terror and embarrassment, and you don't ask for help! So I completely understand how uncomfortable and actually even painful it can be to face up to our reality and realize that we can no longer go it alone. But, its empowering too right? Not to mention a relief! And thats been true of my experience. I've worked with coaches, I've joined masterminds because I have blind spots in my business that I simply cant navigate alone. And believe me, Ive spent alot of time trying But the support, know-how and accountability of being in those spaces with those people around me has made a massive difference to me. So how about you? Have you ever been too scared or embarrassed to ask for help even when you know deep down it would make all the difference? Perhaps you're even feeling that fear right now so take a moment to imagine what might change for you when you accept that you don't have to be brilliant at everything and you don't have to go it alone could you feel the fear of asking for help and do it anyway

04:24 So what support do you most need right now? Is there something you're holding back from asking for help with? What's the next small step that you could take to get yourself that support. As always I hope this helps and look forward to seeing you again soon! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who needs a dose of calm productivity in their life. And I'd love it if you could leave me a rating and review as that will help more people discover this podcast! If you would like to hear more from me – to help stop faffing and take back control of your time – You'll find the link to join my mailing list in the show notes and I would really love for you to join us! Thanks so much for your support and look forward to seeing you next time