Even Lone Rangers Need Trusted Sidekicks
Even Lone Rangers Need Trusted Sidekicks
Even Lone Rangers Need Trusted Sidekicks
Never big on team sports or games, I have preferred to mostly work and play by myself... sometimes allowing a trusted sidekick or two into my camp. Like that old American western radio and television hero, the Lone Ranger, I imagined myself championing the underdog, righting wrongs, saving the day, and then riding off into the sunset, with mask still intact and identity hidden, to the rousing strains of the show's theme song, the William Tell Overture.
Has all this romantic loner-ness worked for me? Not so much. Sometimes it takes a posse for this lone ranger to get into some real action and get stuff done. When we are accountable only to ourselves, we often come up with creative excuses and activities to avoid doing the not-so-fun parts of our work. Sometimes, we even procrastinate on the parts that are nearest and dearest to our hearts.
I was on a teleclass call a few years ago where the facilitator (Michael Port) was speaking about the competencies that people with successful businesses possess. The one that jumped out for the majority of us on the call was this: "Successful people make promises and keep them."
When he opened the line for questions or comments, a woman spoke up and shared that while she has no problem keeping the promises she makes to other people, she has a hard time keeping the promises she makes to herself. Aha! Murmurs of agreement. That share became the pivotal point of the whole call. The solution Michael offered was simple and obvious: "Involve other people! You change the way you show up when other people are involved."
Well, of course! When we make promises to other people that we will keep an intention or promise we set for ourselves, we do not want to disappoint them and are more apt to do what we say we will do. It keeps our integrity and trustworthiness intact.
So how does this work? Choose business building relationships that fully support you, yet keep you accountable. Here are three that work well:
1.) Create or join a mastermind group that meets regularly by teleconference or in person to support each other in achieving goals, brainstorming new ideas, sharing resources, and holding each other accountable. Keep the size of the group small so that every person gets a chance to be heard. Very powerful stuff.
2.) If you want something focused on your business, then consider inviting people to join your R & D team (research & development). You can then run ideas by your team and get feedback while in the development stages. This could be accomplished by email, message board, and/or a monthly teleconference call. You might try this in person, but you better be prepared to buy the coffee or even lunch.
3.) Hire a coach to help you clarify your purpose and goals, keep you accountable, and to start or grow your business. A coach can move you from where you are to where you want be much more quickly than going it alone. For a no cost option you might consider regularly scheduled buddy-coaching with one person for the purpose of checking in and keeping each other accountable.
Whatever you do, don't be Lone Rangers. You will go much farther, much faster with your trusted sidekicks helping you and cheering you on.
Susan Henderson is a coach/consultant/mentor who assists creative entrepreneurs to take that seed of an idea you've been holding close to your heart and sprout it into the business of your dreams. I will guide you through the steps in discovering your purpose and creating a life you can love. One that includes the values that are most important to you-things like independence, flexibility, integrity, and creativity. To find out how, please visit: http://www.susanhenderson.com
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