A funny thing happens in my business. Every so often a client who left a session totally energized, on fire to reach her goals and thriving in her newfound commitment to her own success, will approach me a week or two later a bit downtrodden.
“My husband thinks that looking at office space in xyz town will change our lives too much.”
“My sister-in-law told me she thought it was too high-stakes for me to invite the press to my art opening.”
“My mentor says I’m paying the graphic designer too much for my new logo.”
Thanks for sharing, Folks.
In my Create Your Own Future workshops and retreats, and with coaching clients as well, I include a proviso: Be careful who you share your dreams with. Often and surprisingly, the very people we think would be the most supportive are the ones who may subtly sabotage the dream. They don’t do it intentionally.
However, when you’re on your path, working towards your vision, the status quo is going to get rocked. Family members and close friends may not want to have that altered. The way they create “Don’t Change!” will look different in each case. But the effect on you, the visionary, can be devastating.
The solution? Share your go-up goals, as Zig Ziglar calls them, only with those on an equally committed path to success–your goal buddies, Mastermind Group colleagues, coach and business allies. The others? When they ask about what you’re working on, just smile and say, “You’ll see…”


8 comments
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November 3, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Karen Hodges
Jane:
I wholeheartedly agree with you. You may remember that a few weeks ago I arrived at our MasterMind Group and shared that I had gotten my tag line during my 2-hour drive to Westport. My new tag “Adventures in Transformation” was a major breakthrough -something I had been wrestling with for a while.
What you don’t know is that when I got back home on Friday I excitedly relayed my new tag line to my husband Rother. His comment was “well, that’s not what I would have chosen”. I felt exactly like the little guy in the photo – deflated – for 2 seconds.
And the good news is that I quickly bounced back sure in the knowledge that this tag was exactly what I had been searching for.
Best,
Karen
November 3, 2008 at 8:07 pm
janepollak
@Karen
It’s really surprising when a spouse, parent or child is not as helpful as we’d like. Glad to hear you coached yourself out of the deflation. Two seconds is not bad! Thanks for commenting.
November 4, 2008 at 9:29 am
Denise Costabile
“Be careful who you share your dreams with. Often and surprisingly, the very people we think would be the most supportive are the ones who may subtly sabotage the dream”
Jane — that nugget is printed out in a large font and has a prominent place in my office next to “The universe is conspiring to help me move forward.” Denise
November 4, 2008 at 12:46 pm
janepollak
@Denise
I LOVE structures for keeping what’s important to us front and center. My screensaver says, “Breathe” so I’m a believer in reminders.
November 10, 2008 at 10:00 am
Julie
Affirmations are a MUST! I like your screensaver. My screensaver says, “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” It has been my mantra for the last few years. And although I often fall short, I’m getting more and more into the new habit of seeking my heart’s true desire…. my “calling” if you will. Yea!
And thanks to your blogs and tips, Jane, I feel connected and no longer alone in my quest! There are no Mastermind groups locally that I have found. My sister (who lives about five hours away) and I talk often and try to keep each other encouraged and goal-focused. That’s a blessing!
My comment posts late because I’m behind in reading my e-mails. I got a new job two weeks ago (outside of my home studio) which will actually help me follow my true passions because it is giving me an income while I pursue the time-consuming, slow-return period of my new venture, and it puts me in the “field” of my new endeavor as well. The Divine Hand at work, no doubt.
~ Julie
November 10, 2008 at 11:41 am
janepollak
@Julie
Thank you for writing. I find that any form of reaching out–phone, in-person or online–is a way to increase the feeling of connection. Glad to hear that you and your sister have that connection on a regular basis in spite of the geographic challenge.
February 3, 2009 at 10:23 pm
lisablog52
Hi Jane
This is the first time I have been to your blog. I like it very much. It’s cool you quoted Zig Zigler. I learned about him in my days in sales. I found you by googling “blogs on saboteurs” as I just wrote a post and was curious what else was out there. I am adding you to my blogroll.
Lisa
February 4, 2009 at 5:23 am
janepollak
@Lisa
Welcome! I’m so glad you found me. I’ll look for you as well.