Ben is a client of mine who after over 20yrs in his industry is on pace to have his best year ever this year; but he’s not stopping there.
His goal is to grow from $25M to over $200M in the next ten years.
However, I noticed he was avoiding a few key actions we’d recently discussed to help propel him toward this future, so I inquired further.
Come to find, it was self-doubt getting in the way.
Ben –
“What if I’m not as good as I think? What if I can’t produce or create what I think I can? What if I don’t have what it takes to lead this team to this $200M destination?”
Me –
“Let me settle it for you, you don’t.”
He looked at me with a shocked expression, surprised to hear his coach tell him he couldn’t do this.
But I knew Ben didn’t need to believe he could do this, he needed to embrace something else.
You see, one of the distinctions my coach shared with me years ago was to stop trying to get rid of imposter syndrome and instead get good at it
I knew the Ben of today would never be able to build or lead a $200M organization.
I also knew he didn’t have to be that person today; he just had to be willing to become that person.
Me –
“The leader you are today is not equipped to make this happen, but that’s not what’s required to start the journey. You don’t need to be that person today; you just need to have the faith and courage to take the first steps on the path to becoming that person.”
Keep in mind, Ben of 2015 could NEVER be running the organization you’re running today…”
He paused, realizing he’d been so fixated on the mountain ahead that he’d forgotten how far he’d already climbed. In that silence, he saw it: the man who got here had already overcome what once felt impossible.
Ben –
“Man, you’re right…if I can progress as much in the next 10yrs as I have in the last 10yrs it’ll be pretty amazing”
Me –
“No, you’re going to progress exponentially more these next 5 years than you did in the past 10yrs Ben. Because what got you here was mostly linear thinking and grinding and you’re not longer using hustle as your strategy for growth.”
When you feel imposter syndrome creeping up, that’s a sign you’re on the right path.
You’re playing outside of your comfort zone – and that’s where all the growth happens!
Never forget, your past self could not have imagined who you’ve become today. And it’ll be no different with your future self.
Keep taking tiny steps of courage.
Keep entrusting your future to the One Who is in control.
Keep growing toward becoming the leader who can lead your future 10x organization.
