Topic: Mindset

The 12 Month Planning Workshop saw a shift in performance this year, selling 60% of available spots compared to previous sell-outs. Rather than pushing for more sales, a conscious decision was made to accept the results with gratitude for the participants who did sign up.

Planning is redefined as a tool for making thoughtful decisions about time and energy rather than a quest for a perfect, rigid schedule. Humans are not robots and will inevitably face energy fluctuations or forgotten tasks, making the "pass-fail" view of planning counterproductive. Effective planning involves identifying obstacles, reflecting on capacity, and prioritizing progress over perfection to allow for flexibility when life changes.

One of the hosts describes a personal tendency to reflexively decline opportunities due to perceived lack of time or energy. Examples include initially turning down an invitation to the National Coaching Awards and a request to create ceramic candle pots, only to realize later that both projects were feasible with proper scheduling.

The first strategy for overcoming procrastination involves "lifting the lid" to identify underlying issues such as imposter syndrome, fear, or a lack of clarity. By stepping back to understand what is happening under the surface, individuals can select the appropriate tools to counter specific mindset hurdles.

Small shifts in language can bypass the brain's "BS detector" and set the stage for improved performance. Instead of absolute negative statements, using phrases like "I am getting better at" or "I would love to give myself more time" helps the subconscious work toward a desired reality. Choosing empowering stories over those that cause distress leads to long-term confidence and behavioral change.

A 12-month plan should be viewed as a work in progress rather than a rigid document. Success comes from looking at the plan frequently to inform daily actions while remaining willing to tweak and adjust the strategy as circumstances change.

Reversing the traditional to-do list by tackling important projects first—either on Monday mornings or during the first hour of every day—prevents busy work from consuming all available energy. If these productivity shifts fail to create space, it may indicate that the underlying business model needs to be redesigned. The episode concludes with a call to join the mailing list and leave a review to support the show's growth.

A recent meeting of The Only Network prompted members to discuss whether they successfully achieve their goals, revealing a wide spectrum of experiences. While some participants reported high confidence in meeting objectives, others shared struggles with long-term planning, over-commitment, and the difficulty of finishing started projects.

Business owners often face a harsh inner critic when they fail to meet self-imposed goals, such as committing to a weekly blog and failing to deliver. This psychological pressure can lead to feelings of inadequacy, but these thoughts are categorized as logical fallacies rather than reflections of actual ability.

A period of low energy and irritability led to a realization regarding the mental burden of unresolved tasks. Rather than over-analyzing the mood, the focus shifted to identifying "loose ends" in business and personal life—such as uncollected glasses and pending research questions—that were causing subconscious stress.

The seventh mistake is using an unfulfilled plan as a reason for self-criticism or feeling like a failure. Plans should serve as supportive guides for recalibration rather than sticks to beat oneself with when life events interfere with productivity.

Many individuals turn to Netflix or podcasts to drown out daily noise, yet this form of escapism often prevents the mental stillness required for strategic thinking. Business owners must find time for their nervous systems to settle to avoid "doing mode," where they remain busy without making actual progress on significant goals.

The strategy of performing "imperfect on purpose" actions is proposed as a way to break the cycle of perfectionism. Suggestions include making minor, harmless mistakes like deliberate typos in emails to demonstrate that small errors do not result in catastrophic consequences.

Entrepreneurs often face a paralyzing fear that no one will purchase their new courses or products, leading to concerns about looking foolish. This phenomenon is linked to "upper limit problems" described by Gay Hendrix in the book The Big Leap. These psychological barriers frequently emerge when a business owner is on the verge of reaching a new level of success or stepping outside their comfort zone.

Shifting focus from potential failure to the best possible outcome can help entrepreneurs overcome the emotional hurdles of running a business. Visualizing a sold-out program, waiting lists, and transformative results for participants provides the motivation necessary to finish and launch projects. This mental reprogramming is essential for building the emotional fortitude required to move past the "shiny object syndrome" that leads to abandoned projects.

The Three Is framework—Inspiration, Information, and Implementation—serves as the foundation for business owners to make a significant impact. Success requires balancing creative ideas, the knowledge to execute them, and the discipline to follow through, all supported by a positive mindset.

Plans should serve as supportive guides for recalibration rather than instruments for self-flagellation when tasks go unfinished. Many entrepreneurs experience guilt and feel like failures when they do not complete every item on a list, but such outcomes are often just a part of being human. Shifting the relationship with planning toward self-compassion allows for a more sustainable and less punishing work environment.

A long-term client successfully navigated a six-week school holiday period without guilt by pre-defining what "enough" work looked like. By making a conscious choice about essential tasks rather than attempting to maintain a standard schedule, the client achieved higher productivity through clarity. This shift from feeling like a failure to making empowered choices demonstrates that mental preparation is key to enjoying seasonal breaks.

Sales coach and author Melina Abbott joins the program for a special takeover episode highlighting members of the Make It Happen Club. Abbott is the author of Sacred Selling, a work that emphasizes the intersection of practical sales steps and internal mindset work. The segment notes that enrollment for the Make It Happen Club closes on June 14, and listeners are encouraged to connect with Abbott if they find sales challenging.

Melina Abbott describes the philosophy behind her book, Sacred Selling, which combines the "nuts and bolts" of sales with spiritual transformation. Drawing from 20 years of business experience, Abbott explains that practical steps like overcoming objections are ineffective if the entrepreneur is too afraid to pick up the phone. The discussion highlights the "dance" between internal patterns and external actions, advocating for levity and fun when dealing with the pressures of lead generation.