Mindset First. Skillset Second: Why (More than Ever) Inner Work is Crucial for Your Success

Many years ago, I headlined at a popular venue in a big city. It was a great night, and I felt like a rock star. After the show, I was walking toward my car with an entourage of music promoter types carrying my stuff. The conversation was lively, and everyone wore black.

As I was walking, I suddenly remembered something.

“Ohmigod,” I thought. “Deepak and Wayne are right there in the front seat of my car!”

(I had inadvertently left my collection of woo-woo audio books in my passenger seat for all the world to see.)

So I walked fast, opened the car door, and I shoved all of my friends – Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, etc – under the seat. I wasn’t yet ready for my music biz cohorts to know the truth about me:

That I wasn’t cool. 🙂

These days, I’m comfortable with my un-coolness. In fact, I openly admit that the deeper work I’ve done on mindset and healing is a huge reason for the success I had in my music career – and now as the founder of Uplevel Youâ„¢. The best thing I learned from being so visible in music was that my whole being reflected in each and every element of my career. The same is true for any self-employed person.

I often tell my clients, “Mindset first. Skillset second.”

This means that your inner state of being and your outer success are irrevocably connected. In fact, the reason we set goals at all is because of who we become as we’re reaching them. The “getting” itself is often the start of yet another journey.

If you have a true calling or if you run your own business, you’ll continually be required to deal with the issues of mindset, release, intention and growth.

Why is that?

Well, it starts with why you began your journey at all. I once heard author Natalie Goldberg say, “Follow your heart, and it will take you where you need to go.” In other words, your heart’s desires will get you started. But your soul will make sure you’re getting your money’s worth along the way!

This means that you’ll have to be clear about what you want and then release any muckety-muck that’s blocking the path so you can serve at a higher level, manifest more effortlessly and live into your true purpose. It’s not always easy, but it’s SO worth it!

Many people give up on themselves at this stage of their upleveling. They call it “failure.” They go back to playing a smaller game. They believe the voices that say, “Who do you think you are?” They believe that their fears are more powerful than their intentions.

This past year, for me, has been filled with intense change and reflection as I move to a much higher (and deeper) level in my own work. The shift from being “little ol’ me” working out of her home to running a million-dollar company has brought up questions and challenges, as well as some confrontations with my inner limits.

Because I know the importance of being congruent in my business, I gave myself time and space to experience the voices of my fears, while staying aligned with my intentions and fiercely committed to my own positive mindset. I used to think that one had to “fall apart” in times like these. Now, I know this isn’t true.

These days, we’re in the midst of massive changes in how business runs in this world – a time where authenticity and transparency are more important than ever. Your commitment to stay connected to your inner core is a requirement for your sales, your marketing – everything! Boundaries are being redefined. Marketing is all about connection and authenticity. And businesses that don’t understand that are falling to pieces.

So, what can you do?

Remember is that the only way out is THROUGH. When you are out of balance, disconnected and frantic on the inside, it reflects into your outer world. Unfortunately, there’s no magic pill for releasing an old ugly pattern that has blocked you for years! But you CAN move through it and use your intention to let it go.

Don’t be hypnotized by your fear of taking action. Inner work doesn’t mean that you just sit back, get some energy healing, think good thoughts and success is yours. Strategy, planning and action are crucial to any business success!

Create empowering habits and rituals. Daily habits – like exercise, writing, meditation, gratitude – will keep you centered and connected to your power and your purpose.

Learn to see tough situations as something to be grateful for. Learn to say, “Yay! I’m getting the opportunity to let go of this old crappy mindset! Finally!” This brings meaning to even the hardest situations. It also dulls the sharp edges of fear.