What you focus on is what you get

Last week, my coach issued me an ultimatum.

If I continue with my Below The Line thinking, don't bother booking in for the final session. She'll gladly save me the money.

Nothing like an ultimatum to make me get serious.

I admit - I've been playing the "I'm not enough" and "I haven't got everything in place so I can't start" game for a few months. I actually got so "sian" of being on coaching webinars and keeping up with assessment requirements that I rebelled and withdrew for a season from the whole tiresome business of helping others improve their quality of life.

I've had people ask me how my workshops are going, which makes me feel "paiseh". It also makes me think that maybe those workshops did have an impact, even on people who didn't attend. It's a bit like watching the growth of my children's music school. It's only three years old, but it has a presence larger than its track record. You can't go near the Point Cook Town Centre on a weekend and miss a concert featuring the students. You go to the Plaza and there's the Principal signing up new students.

Action Creates Momentum. To be seen, heard and read about long enough that you become a familiar name, and eventually an expert. That's marketing. That's making your presence felt.

So over the weekend, I started doing Imperfect Implementation. Using everything I've already learned, I'm letting people know I'm still in the business and I'm ready to serve.

• I mentioned on FB that I had a new free report on goal setting and achievement to give away. 66 people saw the post and several asked for the report.
• I sent a call to action to a lady I'd had a conversation with about a change of career.
• I connected with an ex-client to ask how I can serve him at this time. He asked for three coaching sessions to help him find his ideal life partner.
• I set up coffee chats with girlfriends and used my coaching skills to encourage, enlighten and empower.
• A fellow coach has booked in for a consultation next week about how to improve her relationship with her son.
• I'm meeting a school mum to explore how to reactivate the Coffee Club and add even more value to the meetings with quick bursts of personal empowerment and parenting tips.

In the midst of a coffee chat today, a powerful metaphor came unbidden and I shared it by faith. The look on my friend's face was priceless. I knew then - again - that this is what I'm called to do, and I have to keep at it.

This seems to be the pattern that works - keep planting, keep praying, keep planting some more.

As Nicky Gumble taught at Alpha last week, we never know how the seeds we plant will turn out. But if it's something worth doing, then it's worth persisting long enough to watch the seed bear fruit.