My Story, My Uniqueness

This really is my story – not your usual puff piece!

I want you to think about what it was like sitting in my plush corporate office 20+ years ago. The walls were covered in silk wallpaper, one wall was floor to ceiling windows, the furniture was custom made.

I had achieved my goal of being a C-suite executive with all the perks including club memberships, multiple 6-figure income plus bonuses. Yes, I had arrived.

And I was miserable…. I felt empty inside… I woke up each day filled with dread.

Have you ever experienced that feeling?  Waking up each day in despair?

Weary of the struggle, it was time to make a change so walked away from it all without a plan. No idea of what was next. No strategy other than sitting on the patio, feeling the warmth of the morning sun and enjoying my morning coffee. Taking in the beauty of our gardens, listening to the birds and simply savoring the moment.

Colleagues and friends started reaching out to me saying “I know you’re taking some time off, while you’re deciding what you want to do next, could you help us out with a project?”

And just like that, I had my own business. That was 2001.

It was amazing and so easy – I was off and running. I had several advanced degrees in business and management.  In my corporate experience, 5 offices in the US reported to me so I had a large staff, I knew how to delegate and effectively manage remotely.

I knew what I was doing.

Within a couple of years my income surpassed by corporate salary and bonuses and all the perks.  In 2007, my income was 300K. 

And then in 2008 the financial crisis hit and everything came crashing down.  Within a matter of weeks, I had no clients, no prospects, and no income.

Rather than have a consistent income stream, money started gushing out of my bank account. All of my leads disappeared overnight. I wasn’t able to connect with anyone. My website had no activity.  It was devastating and I have to tell you, I was super embarrassed. I was this person that was known for being good at business. 

I had no idea what to do.

Can you resonate with this? Feeling the utter bewilderment! Knowing you have to do something yet are totally clueless as to what that might be?

Since I didn’t know what to do, I started buying courses. I hired a coach, actually, several coaches!  I joined masterminds. I did all of the things the “experts” tell us to do. 

Have you done that?

Over the next three years, I invested over 150k on courses, coaches, consulting, masterminds with a fevered intensity to get my business going, out of the red and back in the black, to reverse the cash outflow to cash inflow.

I was willing to try anything to resurrect my success.

Every day I woke up thinking “I’m supposed to know what to do to be a successful business owner.”  Laying there, listening to that voice of my inner critic made it harder to get out of bed.  I felt debilitating shame and it was horrible.

My worst enemy was living between my ears and that’s the only voice I heard. When your inner critic has you in it’s grips, it’s the only voice you can hear, right?

I’m a smart woman, several advanced degrees, experience galore, and yet, doing what everyone else was doing, imitating others, wasn’t working for me, wasn’t giving me the results I wanted and was taking me further into the pit of despair.

And then, in the spring of 2010, I woke up one day and said Enough. Enough of trying to replicate what others were doing. 

Have you ever experienced a flash of thought that zings through you and you know, with absolute certainty, that it is the truth, it is the pivotal moment that shifts everything for you?

That’s what happened – this flash of insight or brilliance or dazzling truth was this: I needed to do business my way – my way, not everyone else’s way.  I felt it through and through.  At that time, I didn’t know exactly what that looked like but I knew that I wouldn’t get it from more business coaching or training.

And so I stopped everything – no more training or programs, no more thinking if I just try this….  And most importantly, I stopped beating myself up. I stopped listening to that inner critic and started asking very different questions…. Questions that started with why and what rather than how.  Questions that took me inward to connect with my higher self, my intuition, and the knowingness that each of us has. 

Questions that connected me with my natural energy, flow and alignment.  Quieting the mental chatter and listening with different ears, gave me a new perspective and enormous respect and appreciation about me, my business, who I wanted to serve and why.

I evicted my worst enemy and invited a new resident to move in.  I tuned into my inner knowing, my higher self – the voice that invites me to be what I how think of as my super-self.

 

Here’s what I know today.

 

We’re all on a journey, our own unique adventured called life. Your experiences have brought you to where you are today and that’s exactly where you need to be.  

You are unique. Your business is unique. 

That’s why I work with women just like you – because you are unique and your uniqueness matters. It’s what sets you apart, helps you stand out above the noise.  Your business is an extension of you so yes, I’m here to tell you that you have a unique business and when you try to replicate what someone else is doing, you’re diluting or discounting your uniqueness, your genius, your brilliance.   

Every person’s business is unique to you and when your business is designed your way, you’ll be amazed at how easy and simple it is. Here’s the 4-pillar framework I use to tap into your super power and create your business your way. 

Susan Bock 4-Pillar framework

Your business works for you rather than you working for your business.

Here are some examples of having my business my way – I don’t schedule client calls on Mondays or Fridays – those two days are reserved for admin, creation, research and exploration.

I’ve set up my business with the systems and structure in a way that serves me.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday is all about my clients – I’m totally present and available to them.

Weekends are reserved for fun, freedom and time with my husband – a walk on the beach – lunch with friends, or spending time in my gardens – yes, I love getting my hands dirty!

Marc and I cherish our time together – enjoying each other and not stressing about paying our bills, not worrying about where leads are coming from.  My business is not running my life because I know the secrets to having my business work for me….

….  having a successful business that scales and makes multiple six figures.

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, then let’s talk.  My promise to you is at the conclusion of our time together, you will have a different perspective – and appreciation – for who you are and uniqueness of your business.

Why?

Because your dream matters.  Your business matters.  You matter.

 

Your partner on this amazing adventure of being an entrepreneur, 

 

Susan Bock Your Business Your Way Coach