This is my biggest realization in 13 years of business coaching. Most people who want to start a small business and don’t – completely misdiagnose what’s stopping them.
They think it’s because they don’t know enough about how to start a business … but that’s not it.
Or they think that the economy or the competition is stopping them but that’s not it either.
Often they hesitate out of the fear of losing the security of employment. That’s getting closer to the truth. But it’s not really what stops them because deep down they know that being self-employed actually provides greater security.
When self-employed your destiny rests with you.
But this misdiagnosis doesn’t only apply to those who want to start their own business and haven’t yet. The same thing goes for those already in business, who need to make an adjustment to earn more money or realize greater fulfillment.
Both groups tend to look outside of their own wisdom for answers. They look to experts who appear to be more successful than they are. But that’s looking in entirely the wrong direction. Some proven methods universally produce results but the real reason that people succeed in business is found within and is unique to each individual.
Success is uniquely created simply because each of us has a very unique set of gifts that must be expressed and fears that must be released.
Here is the correct diagnosis for success. Look within. Look within to see clearly what you want. Then do everything in your power to create it using methods that work for you.
Accomplished artists of all walks know that success is created just like art. Marketing guru Seth Godin believes that completing and shipping our creations is the key to success. He, like The War of Art author Steven Pressfield, believes that resistance is self-sabotage that keeps us from completing and from business success.
On their blogs and on the blogs of other productivity experts, they often use terminology that sounds like it was written by a Nike advertising team. We are told to do battle with resistance, to suck it up and just do it.
But I know there is an easier, more natural and more effective way than doing battle with resistance. What we resist persists right?
The Heath brothers in their excellent book Switch, How to Change When Change is Hard, tell us that self-control (discipline) is an exhaustible resource.
We run out of discipline. It can’t be maintained and when it runs low resistance rushes in. Resistance wins when we quit early, avoid or make excuses when we seek relief.
The title of this post promises a new way to business success and here it is. This new way doesn’t beat resistance it simply operates in a zone that resistance will not visit.
Just like fear cannot exist in the presence of love, resistance cannot exist in the presence of inspiration. You can’t run out of inspiration either. I’m talking about a special vein of inspiration that is tied to right action. Inspiration is so powerful that I created this product creation system to tap into it and use it.
I’m talking about eagerness. Right now think of something that you are eager to do. Does any resistance come up at all? I didn’t think so. Here’s a powerful distinction for you.
The relief or avoidance of resistance is, running away from what you want.
The inspiration of eagerness is, running towards what you want.
When you find and engage your natural eagerness it’s easier to get what you want because a natural flow takes over. Here are my principles of eagerness that will tie it all together for you.
- Eagerness leads to willingness which leads to action which leads to success.
- Eagerness is a natural response to authentic desire and only exists in the absence of fear.
- The fierce and passionate qualities of the heart are more prevalent when we are actually doing something, so the more active the experience the more authentic the desire.
- Two of our most basic desires are to create and to connect. When we are creating or connecting we have already moved from eagerness, through willingness and into action.
Can you see why the most certain route to success begins within?
Would you like me to coach you in the discovery of your eagerness free of charge?
Then listen to this powerfully effective Eagerness Teleseminar audio.
This free seminar is sponsored by Authentic Abundance and is the first call of three in this Turn Your Core Calling Into Cash series.
Tom Volkar, founder of Authentic Abundance, is an authentic business startup coach.



Running toward what I want is what I want.
Just going a little deeper within may be all that I need to do what I was meant to do all along.
Thanks for this valuable tip. Heck, it’s more than a tip. It’s a valuable insight.
Hey Dee, that’s what I like about you. Your wonderful enthusiasm to talk about and go for what you want. Have an outstanding 2012!
Tom,
Your words of wisdom -
“Two of our most basic desires are to create and to connect. When we are creating or connecting we have already moved from eagerness, through willingness and into action.”
Most of the time, I have been ‘reacting’ vs. ‘creating’ and I find it curious that both words contain the same letters. But, creating is so much more valuable than reacting.
Thanks for a great post AND for the stimulus that you created on the Eagerness phone call last week. Awesome!
So much so that I created and launched my blog/website – http://www.thecambridgecafe.com
It is a humble beginning but at least it is a beginning & furthermore it is ACTION !!
I love it! Thanks for your kick in the pants!
John
@John,
Congrats on your action. Action even when a start leads to other actions because now you can see opportunities that you were blind to before the action.
You’re right reacting is a slow and ineffective way to live.
Hi Tom,
Inspiration is the pull factor, Motivation the push factor. When one has a big enough ‘pull’, the path begins to clear. I am glad that you have raised the ‘looking within’ scenario…..we often look elsewhere for guidance/motivation/spark/ideas etc when often we already have these tools…..just got to wake them up. Thankyou.
be good to yourself
David
@David,
Well said. Pulling is always easier. I’m reminded of the distinction of being behind a wheelbarrow or in front of a garden cart. Out in front pulling we can see better and have greater balance. Behind while pushing our attention is too much on the weight and the balance is precarious. Thanks for your comment.
Every single person on the planet has stuff to share with others that they are not sharing. To the extent that each of us does this, we keep the world impoverished. It is not a right, nor a privilege to share who you are and what you can do for and with others. It is an obligation. Other people need you and what you have to share more than you know. Don’t cover your gifts! Uncover them and share generously. This is what is turning things around. This is what is healing the world. This is what brings life. Be the gift to others that you are. Don’t do it for yourself. Do it for me, because I need you to share your being with me so that I am fully-empowered to share my being with you and with others more effectively. Do it for anyone else you really care about and for those you don’t even know yet who might be touched by what you have to offer of yourself. Peace.
@Bill,
Powerful share my friend. I agree when we express authentically to enrich the lives of others we complete the sacred contract assigned to us when we were uniquely created. Intention is everything and the intention to be, share and give as only we can give is powerful beyond measure.
The first call was great! This call may end up being even better!
@Bill,
It was transforming for me as well because minds like yours were present. Thank you!
Great post Tom. I’m eager to make changes in my website and social media strategy. I have begun the action–nothing like clearing a bolder out of the road to build confidence that will lead to avenues of new business. I have to believe it will happen!
Hi Mary,
Yes belief and faith are great nudges to get yourself moving in that direction. Having stated the desire – it’s actually already in motion. Just follow-through and whistle while you work.