I see and Coach a lot of Entrepreneurs and Leaders who have a Goal to Grow in their Careers.
You "Should" Grow in Your Career.
In their Desire to Grow, there is typically One Place where everyone begins.
Self-Development.
In many ways, it is a Needed Step.
Most people are Not Given All the Tools they Need to Succeed in their Youth.
I Know I Did Not.
Even though I had Incredible Teachers, Family, and Role Models, I still was Missing a Lot.
So, We Must Go on a Journey to Discover what's Missing.
That is the Easy Part though.
It is Also the Trap of Self-Development.
We Live in a Society that Teaches Us We Lack from Birth.
Every Turn.
Every Step.
Every Hint of Movement.
We are Reminded...
We Are Not Enough.
We Will "Never" Be Enough.
Now, that Is Not True, but it's an Unconscious Belief that We Often Hold that is "Incredibly" Subtle.
Even When We "Tell" Ourselves we "Are" Enough, the Unconscious Belief is There.
Hinting.
Whispering.
It ties into something that I've talked about in the past.
We Do Not have "One" Growth Mindset, but Rather a Multitude of Mindsets that are a Mix of Growth and Fixed.
Which is where this Unconscious Belief becomes Tricky.
We may begin to "Gain" a Growth Mindset around Being "Enough" in "One" Aspect of Our Lives...
But the Unconscious Belief the We Are "Never" Enough will settle into a "Different" Aspect of Our Lives.
I see this play out in Many Ways, especially for Entrepreneurs.
They will say I "Am" Amazing at My Primary Craft.
But the Lie of "Not Enough" will Settle into other aspects of your work.
Into Your Sales.
Into Your Marketing.
Into Your Content.
In the 8 Stages To A Quality Career, this becomes a Trap in the "Learning" Stage.
You are "Learning" other Aspects involved in a Successful Career.
But You Always Feel You Haven't Learned "Enough".
Not "Yet".
When I Learn X It will "Be Enough".
Then it becomes After Learning Y...
Then Z...
Then 9...
It is "Never" Enough.
Because, Subconsciously, We "Believe" We Are Not Enough in "That" Area.
We "Believe" We are "Just" Learners.
I frequently Read Content from Entrepreneurs and Leaders.
At this "Learning" Phase, it sounds like this...
"Expert Sally Sue says that A, B, and C are Important, which is Why They are Great!"
That "May" be True.
What Sally Sue says may be Incredibly True.
Exceptional and Amazing.
But here's the Problem for the Entrepreneur.
If "I" wanted to Know About Sally Sue, I'd just go Find Sally Sue's Work.
"I" Do Not Need a "Middle Man" to Translate Sally Sue's Work to Me.
Which then, as a "Potential Client" makes me think, "I Need Sally Sue to Solve My Challenge!"
Where does that Leave You as the Entrepreneur?
Building Someone Else's Business, but Gaining Nothing in Return.
Now, this does not "Mean" you Can't Say Sally Sue is Awesome!
Sally Sue probably "Is" Awesome!
But for "Your" Future, you must "Stop" being the Learner, and Start Becoming the Expert.
How does this work?
I can Explain with my Own Work.
I am Happy to Tell you about John Maxwell, my Original Mentor in Leadership Development and Leadership Coaching.
His work Truly is Amazing and I would Absolutely Recommend it to Anyone.
John's Work is a Testament to the Skills that Leaders Should Develop for Success.
I have Used John's Work in my Own Life to Succeed at Higher Levels.
However, most Leaders often have a Challenge that prevents them from actually "Using" those Skills.
The Problem?
Their Psychophysiology.
Usually, that will "Prevent" them from Using their Leadership Skills when they Most Need Them.
This is Why when I work with my Clients, I begin with their Psychophysiology before Focusing on Leadership Skills.
Now, can you "See" what I did there?
I Honor John because he has "Earned" that through his Incredible Career.
At the Same Time, I tell you that "I" have something both "Different" and "Necessary" for Your Success.
I am Telling the Reader that "I" am a Different Type of Expert that they would Benefit from.
This is How You Escape from the Self-Development Trap.
What You've Learned is Incredible.
Honoring Others is Wise.
With these, You Must Also "Prove" that You "Are" an Expert.
When I read an Entrepreneur's Piece, I want to Know "They" are an Expert.
It is Great to "Begin" as a Learner, especially if you are trying to Find Your Style of Content.
But Eventually, You Must Graduate.
It is also Alright (and Necessary!) to Continue to Learn throughout Your Career.
But You Must Move "Beyond" Being "Only" a Learner.
People are "Looking" for Experts.
So Recognize You "Are" Enough.
Speak with Authority.
Understand You have Learned Enough to be an Expert.
Start Giving Yourself the Credit You Deserve!
This is "Your" Time!