Unstuck = Unstoppable

In my recent Certification Workshop to train Action Plan Marketing Coaches we spent some time each day working on getting unstuck.

It must have worked. In the first week after the Workshop, the participants had enrolled a total of ten new clients (a record for the Certification Program).

I made a note to myself: "Keep using the Unstuck Process!"

The more I do this process, with my coaches and with other groups, I become convinced that getting unstuck is the secret marketing weapon that virtually nobody knows about or really understands.

What is being stuck anyway?

Being stuck is a bit like being asleep - in the condition of "stuckness" your options are very limited.

When we're stuck, we are being and acting in a constricted or limited way. These ways might include: Apathetic, Confused, Discouraged, Disorganized, Distracted, Frustrated, Hesitant, Impatient, Overwhelmed, Perfectionist, Self-Conscious, and Worried. (Any sound familiar?)

If you've experiencing any of those ways of being when you are trying to market your services, I promise you, you're stuck! And when you're being that way, the most observable thing is that you are avoiding marketing activities.

It's a powerful step to acknowledge that you are stuck:

"This is something I want to do or accomplish..." (put any marketing or business goal here) and, "what's preventing me from having that result is that I'm being discouraged, confused and worried." (Pick your particular own ways of being.)

Hardly anybody says that. We don't own our stuckness and observe the real cost of being stuck - not getting what we want, not experiencing fulfillment. Instead, we tend to make up excuses such as, "This is something I want to do but I don't have time." This only leads to more stuckness.

The second step is to realize that there is a clear alternative. If it were impossible to be that stuck/constricted way (no matter the circumstances), how would you prefer to be instead?

You could choose the polar opposites of being stuck. I call these expansive or unlimited ways of being such as: Enthusiastic, Clear, Encouraged, Organized, Attentive, Successful, Decisive, Patient, Centered, Excellent, Self-Confident and Peaceful.

If you're experiencing any of those ways of being when you are working on your marketing, you are engaged and creative, and making things happen. In this state of being, marketing is actually fun, even exhilarating.

Most of the time we don't see that we have a choice. When we are stuck, choice isn't even in the picture. You need to see the clear contrast of these two ways of being at the same time:

Stuck: Being constricted, limited, fearful, avoiding

"What this looks like is I'm avoiding the marketing, and feeling bad about it. I'm also feeling frustrated and making excuses about getting around to it."

or

Unstuck: Being expansive, unlimited, fearless, engaged

"What this might look like is that I see the opportunity to communicate about my business and I take the next step in my plan to offer speaking engagements to groups."

Now choose. Then act.

I invite you to attend one of our upcoming events to experience the Getting Unstuck Process for yourself (I can only convey this in a limited way in writing). Come with a goal, some specific result you want that you don't have now, and that you are stuck or struggling with or blaming someone (or yourself) for.

San Rafael details: www.actionplan.com/ftwkpintro.html

TeleClass details: www.actionplan.com/ftwkptc.html

*

The More Clients Bottom Line: Working at getting unstuck is perhaps the most important work you can do. After all, when you are stuck, you are ineffective, not getting what you really want and not feeling great about it. On the other side of this you are unstoppable and having the time of your life.

*

Share something you did in your marketing when you got unstuck. Please share on the More Clients Blog.

Comments

[Don Ball]

This reminds me a lot of some of the concepts and language used by Landmark Education, which I have participated in. That was a good thing for me, because I was able to diagnose my "stuckitude" immediately. You're right, though. It is exhilarating when you're engaged and taking action. Glad I found your blog!

[Judy Murdoch]

Interesting. I just read the 2008 edition of What Color is Your Parachute and Richard Bolles wrote a fascinating chapter on the topic of getting unstuck.

Basically it's a war between the left (protection) and right (experimentation) brain. The left brain almost always wins because protection is so strongly linked to our survival.

Bolle's antidote (and I agree) is to engage your right brain as much as possible by creating an environment that the right brain responds to (playing music, inspiring images, humor) to break the left brain's hold.

It works. When I get stuck (gerbil on the wheel thinking) I take a break, go for a walk, and stop trying to solve the problem. I've yet not to have some insight that comes out of the blue that helps bust up the impasse and gets me going again.

[Dana Suazo]

It seems small business owners get stuck from time to time; so good information.