10 ways to create Bold Authentic Expansion

I have been a solopreneur for almost four years, and it has been quite a journey.  When I began, I didn’t know, what I didn’t know and so I made some bold moves which paid off.    I also made some big mistakes.  I was very clear I wanted to step out, become more visible and expand my message to a broader audience.

I invested in a year-long leadership training. I began working with a coach, and she was very clear.  I needed to be Bold.  I needed to bring my full authentic voice to the world, and I needed to get strategic about my expansion.  I didn’t know what that meant, but I knew I was being asked to move into an arena unknown and risky.

I trusted my coach, AND I was accessing inner wisdom inviting me to do new things.  I was scared, anxious on occasions and stretching beyond my wildest imaginings.  I was very grateful, for my spiritual practice because in meditation I could access clarity.

The definition of expansion is the increase of something in size, number, or importance.

It became clear that I was to increase my business in size; increase the number of people that I served and amplify the importance of my message.  What came forward were ten steps that have supported me in growing my business and visibility.  (read more)

 

The Ten Steps

These are the steps I have initiated.  These are not in any order. Some of them were utilized one at a time, and others worked in tandem. These are my guideposts.  They are also ways to take bold steps that are authentically you. Use these in the best way to serve you and your method of operating.

 

1. Be Your Authentic Self – There is a myriad of techniques and tools that are available. Trying to fit yourself into a system which does not feel authentic will only create internal and external prisons. I tested different modalities until I found what resonated with my soul and inspired me.  Once this knowing occurred, every newsletter, video and message felt like “me.”

 

2. Stand in Excellence – Excellence is a value for me. I appreciate work that is meticulous. I love people honoring their word and delivering first-rate products.  I have committed myself to stand in excellence in job, presentation and every relationship.  I am clear that when something is complete, I brought my best.

 

3. Engage your audience – People want to feel that they are a part of a community. They want to feel heard, seen, informed and included. They want to get the practical information they can use in their everyday lives. I began to craft my newsletters, videos, and talks in a way that invited people to enter heart-centered dialogue.

 

4. Build Strategic Alliances – We are not islands. People love to collaborate and are happy to share resources. The key is finding people and organizations who resonate with the vision and mission of the work we do in the world. Create win/wins.

 

5. Activate consistent self-care – Your body is a delivery system for your message. Exhausted, anxious, and stressed out leaders are less active than those who lead with self-care.  I am clear taking time daily to honor my body is essential. This includes healthy eating, working out and rest.  Overworking and over-doing does not create efficiency.

 

6. Exercise Patience – Slow down. I believe we all carry gifts only we can deliver.  If this is true, we can create the products, services, and programs to benefit others.  We can create a myriad of ways to share these items. Then, at some point, we have to begin to trust the process.  The more I tried to control things the harder it got.

 

7. Re-purpose material – Your brilliance is not measured in how many things you can create. At one point, my coach said, “You have a ton of material. Why don’t you repurpose some of it?”  I had no idea what she meant.  It never occurred to me that there were different ways to share information I’ve created in my books, meditations, and classes.  Once I understood the vision, I began to re-purpose material and offer it in different forms supporting various learning styles and brain preferences.

 

8. Create robust systems – Many of my clients are afraid of automation and structure. They are worried they will lose the flow of their creativity. They want to feel they are in an “organic” current. What they don’t realize is systems can save you time, energy and money.

 

9. Build passive income streams – The concept of making money while I slept was foreign. I love teaching and speaking to live audiences.  However, there is only one of me, and this limits my ability to touch massive numbers of people, which is part of my vision.  People began to request downloadable equipment and learned to provide opportunities.

 

10. Consistently re-evaluate – Every successful leader and organization understand things change. You are either a victim of the change, or you get ahead of through change. Every year I look at my entire business.  I survey what worked and what didn’t.  I engage with my team to discern our profitability in every area. If it is not working or consistently losing people or money, we discontinue it.  Non-attachment is the critical learning in this practice. When you let go of something you create space for something new.

My bold, authentic expansion

This year, my business partner, Jean Hendry, and I launched a leadership program for women. It is called AWE – The Academy of Women Emerging.  Women join us for one year, and we provide entrepreneurial training. Our instructors are women entrepreneurs that are successful and experts in their field.  They are committed to helping women take their business to the next level.  We look at money and cash flow, building systems, work/life balance, marketing, online systems and increasing visibility.  Women set strong intentions, and we help them get there.  We help them grow their bottom line and financial security. Our participants work with coaches, have online support from our instructors, mastermind with accountability groups and gather in person four times a year to create the life and business of their dreams.

I feel so honored to be able to share what I have learned and assist them in moving forward without making the same mistakes I did when I began.  We are witnessing women shift in extraordinary ways.

Creating AWE was a bold step for us.  We got clear on our vision and mission and invited a team to come to my ranch and co-create a plan for bold, authentic expansion for women in business.

If you are an entrepreneur and want to take your business to the next level, please consider joining us at Women Creating Our Futures –  AWE.  We would love to have a complimentary conversation with you.

If you are not an entrepreneur, I would still love to support you.  Go to cynthijames.net and look around. There are many gifts and programs available to you, which will help your growth.

Know that your gifts and talents are necessary for your family, your friends, your community and the world.  I am grateful to walk this path with you.  Be Bold!