Are your expectations robbing you of your happiness in business, and are they blocking you from your big goals?

When I started my business in 2010, I had zero online business knowledge, very little savings, no investors, and no mentors.

I had a corporate career of 16 years behind me, a university degree, a couple of young kids in tow, a marriage that had ended,  and a new identity and career to create.

Based on the million-dollar business expectations in the online coaching industry — I could easily be described as a total failure…

Because, even after 13 years, I’m still waiting for my first million-dollar year.

The truth is – expectations that mix hard metrics with irrational desire are dangerous.

On one hand, they can greatly inspire and motivate, yet when they are missed, they give rise to negative thoughts and feelings that adversely influence our actions.

And this creates a special brand of self-sabotage in our business.

So, where did my million-dollar year expectation come from? Listen to this episode to hear my story on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This gap between expectations vs. reality can fuel sadness, discontent, and disappointment.

Why?

Expectations, in and of themselves are not the problem, it is the attachment to a particular outcome or desire that creates the suffering.

They help fuel our desire for control and predictability and help us make sense of ourselves and the world, particularly as driven individuals who want to succeed.

One of the key dimensions of expectations is that they can arise from comparison and common norms in the communities we choose to be part of.

The online coaching community is certainly its extraordinary environment for creating and sharing success – the hallmark of which can be seen as million dollar-plus years.

So, it makes sense that this quickly becomes an expectation when you become part of this community as you learn all you can about creating a thriving and profitable coaching business.

I encourage you to expect and dream BUT remember to question your expectations and try not to get attached to or too specific about what you want.

That’s the problem with the whole million-dollar-year business expectation; it is quite a specific yet unrealistic outcome to be considered the norm.

So, instead, I want you to start injecting a good dose of reality(and flexibility) into your expectations.

Nobody said that big business goals happen fast or must happen within one year.

And arguably, if the big goal took double or triple the time you expected it would take to happen, wouldn’t you still be thrilled that it happened?

There’s much to be said for making consistent progress towards a big goal, even if it takes longer than you thought and even when you face constant setbacks, difficulties, disappointments, and failures.

A little like that old song from Chumbawumba – “I get knocked down, but I get up again”!

So, carry your expectations closely but not too tightly, expect the destination and accept the path will light up in time.

This can limit your attachment to the outcome and, more importantly, your judgment of yourself, your business, or your clients if you don’t meet your expectations.

Resources:

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