I’m a big proponent of taking messy, imperfect action. Stop overthinking, get your work out there, and know that you can fix it later. This can feel a little disorienting in the process– like building a bicycle while you’re riding it. But I’ve found that I get successful results so much faster when I just GET MOVING and make refinements based on experience instead of guesswork.
Today I want to tell you about 3 things I started before I was 100% ready. I could have easily talked myself out of each of these choices, but taking action before I was totally ready brought so much more benefit than I could have imagined.
I sold my services before I was 100% prepared.
My Canva template package is a great example of this take-messy-action belief in action.
My first Canva template customer came to me in an unexpected way. She was looking for some help with social media, but she wasn’t financially ready to hire that level of support.
So what could I do?
Instead of turning her away, I down-sold her to a package of custom Canva templates and hashtag research. I didn’t have a system, workflow, or a whole lot of prior experience. But I offered it, she needed it, and the project was a success!
A couple of months later, I got the opportunity to sell a custom Canva template package again. I found this client on Upwork, and her request was simple, “I’m looking for a graphic designer to create 7 social media templates.” I immediately knew this job was for me! Having one sale under my belt helped me to be ready for and aware of this great opportunity.
If I hadn’t taken action before I was ready, I might not have even SEEN this next step in the journey.
After that, I was unstoppable.
Today, I’ve sold over 15 completely custom Canva template packages. I have refined my process and made it a much higher-touch, richer experience. The price tag nearly quadrupled. I remember thinking I could never sell it at the new price- it felt SO scary, but it also felt SO justified. And now it’s normal.
But the point is: I couldn’t start there. I had to start at the bottom. I had to just GET started and try it.
I sold my expertise before I was 100% confident.
My Design & Messaging Audit was born out of a challenge from my business coach. I talked about my big dreams of working with coaches and emerging thought-leaders on a monthly cycle, partnering with them to strategize and create all their marketing graphics. I find it so scary to claim to be a strategist!
Of course, I share my expertise all the time. Not too long ago, a woman in my network was looking for advice on her lead magnet, and I showed her all the design tweaks I would make and why. Well… I guess I do have opinions! I just needed to get better at articulating them.
So my coach challenged me with this: conduct 8 free Design & Messaging Audits in the next month. She called this getting my reps in. By repeating this process and flexing this muscle, I’d be able to quickly learn how to do it better. I’d get to see that I DO have expertise to offer. People ARE looking for my help.
I wasn’t ready to step into the role of an advisor! But I did it anyway, and it helped me to gain confidence in my unique skills and outlook.
I asked for help before I 100% needed it.
Reaching out to a bookkeeper is quite possibly the most profitable decision I’ve made in my business. (Either that, or joining Andréa Jones’ Thrive Mentorship Program!) And not just for the benefit of having clean, organized books come tax season!
I know I’m talking about taking messy, imperfect action here, but at heart, I am a person who wants to get things right from the start. This is why I chose my business name, started my instagram, bought my domain name, registered my LLC, and opened a business bank account within the first 2 months of deciding to start my business.
But after doing all that, I still wasn’t sure how to keep my bookkeeping straight. All I knew was that scary tax season would come eventually, and I didn’t want to find myself in trouble!
So I came across Beth Blaney in a local networking group on Facebook. I reached out to her and I recall saying something like, “I don’t want to waste your time, and I know I don’t need to hire you yet! I was just hoping you could point me in the right direction.”
Her response: “Just book a call with me anyway! Let’s chat.”
Beth knew something I didn’t know yet: meeting people is EVERYTHING to a small business.
Not only did I end up with priceless advice from a trustworthy professional, but I also was ushered into a whole network of women who run small businesses just like mine. Little did I know, Beth had already spent years building a strong group of brilliant, amazing business owners. Being invited in has opened more doors than I ever would have imagined.
(This is why I wholeheartedly believe in voicing your struggles– by doing so, you invite solutions into your life.)
What are you not quite ready to do?
You’re following your calling of sharing your heart and your message with the world. You are helping your people reclaim their power and return to their most authentic expression of self. You’re putting ripples of change into the world.
You have a lot going on! You work with clients 1:1 and in group settings. You often teach or give presentations. The work feels aligned and expansive. But all of the tasks of being a business owner are piling up. You’re beginning to need help, but you say “I’m not quite ready to hire someone.”
You might start by making a list of all the things you do in your business. After writing it all down, start to categorize each task. Use a star ⭐ to mark tasks that are your calling (the CORE of your business, the role you love to take, the one thing you feel truly called to do), a heart ❤️ for tasks you enjoy (the tasks that are actually energizing for you, but aren’t exactly tied to your calling in the world), and a frown ? for tasks that you are indifferent about or dislike.
Your ? frowny tasks are the most obvious ones to delegate to someone else. It probably won’t take too much convincing for you to agree you could use help in this area. In fact, I’m guessing you might already have an assistant taking care of some of these tasks.
But your ❤️ enjoyed tasks are the ones that are a little hard to let go of. You don’t think you’re ready for help because you CAN do these yourself. But, my friend, if you’re ready to fully step into the life-changing role of thought leader in your industry, you’re going to have to start letting go of these tasks before you’re quite ready.
How I can help
If graphic design is one of your heart ❤️ or frown ? tasks, I’m excited to tell you that it’s a star ⭐ for me!
I’m Leanne, and I help emerging thought-leaders like you get back to being a leader and creating ripples in the world, by helping you promote your message and your offerings through share-worthy, branded marketing graphics.
Together, we can make sure your coaching and programs are being promoted in a way that is authentic, on-brand, and immersive.
Want to learn more about how I can help you and see if we’re right for each other? Book a discovery call with me today!
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