The Unsexy Truth About Success - Christine Kane

This week I posted a video on my Instagram that got lots of comments.

It’s an iPhone video of me doing pull-ups.

And it’s not what you’d expect.

That’s because when I hit my goal to do 10 pulls ups last year, there was no high-fiving or head-butting.  I shared it with hardly anyone.

Still, it was one of my proudest moments of the year.

Know why?

Because after decades of hitting big goals and small, I’ve learned that success isn’t about the cool sexy high-five-y stuff.

It’s about those hundreds of moments when we just want to say, “Screw it” but give it one more shot.

Like when my Uplevel Academy client Wendy sat down with a prospect this week and actually (with trepidation) closed a sale for the highest amount she’s ever charged.

Or another client who told me she cried while she worked on her business’s core messages because she was finally giving attention to something she had, up til now, avoided out of fear.

Or the time there was only one person in the audience and I played my music anyway.

Success is about the uneventful little choice we make in the moment. Every moment.

It’s typical (and tempting) to make success about the sexiness. About the “there” we arrive at.

“130 pounds!”

“Best-selling author!”

“Billboard Hit!”

“A million bucks!”

“NCAA Champions!”

But the truth about success is that it’s not sexy.  That’s because it’s not about the arrival.

Success is about the choices you make each and every moment.

Not each and every day.

Each and every moment.

  • Push the weights up three more times when you’d rather be in bed.
  • Write the next paragraph when the rest of the family is in the living room laughing at Netflix.
  • Sit with your guitar and a lyric idea when you have no idea of the outcome.
  • Market consistently when you’d just as soon go back to your job.
  • Practice shooting free throws a hundred times each afternoon for 4 years.

Years ago, I mentored a woman who had big dreams.  She’d mention a new idea on a call, and together we’d break it down into small chunks and do-able activities to help her make it real.

But after a week, she’d get bored. Frustrated. She hated just sitting there writing.  And research wasn’t nearly as cool as the fame and glory she fantasized about.

She wanted to be THERE.  To arrive in that sexy moment of success that is guaranteed and sparkly.   So, she did what most people do when they’re confronted with their illusion of what success should feel like.

She gave up.

She went back to her self-created worldview that “none of this stuff works for her.”

I was sad for her.

Not because I knew she could succeed if she put her mind to it.

And not because of some grandiose outcome she’d never have.

But because she’d miss out on the splendid truth of success.

The miraculous, amazing, uncanny, unsexy truth of it.

When I am succeeding, there’s no one clapping.

When I am succeeding, there are no articles being written about me.

When I am succeeding, it is just me and my relationship to the moment.

It’s not news-worthy. In fact, from the outside, it looks downright boring. But on the inside, there’s an all-out ticker-tape parade in the streets of my head.

Because I am choosing to do what matters to me.

Because I am not listening to the gangs of critical voices that used to run my entire day.

Because I am willing to sit there in spite of not knowing the outcome.

This is the miracle of success. This seemingly boring choice in this seemingly not-so-sexy moment.

So here’s a question:

What boring unsexy choices will you make today?

93 COMMENTS ADD A COMMENT
  • Morning Upgrade

    This was a great read and reminder that it’s my life, my choices, and I can control my goals and steps towards them. It’s so easy to make broad goals in life. But just getting out of bed, choosing what to wear, what path to take to work, and countless other choices we make each day is pretty impressive. And some of those choices are a big deal for me. Maybe not to others, but I went out of my comfort zone, or tried something new, or took a chance. And that’s more than enough reason to celebrate. –Ryan

  • Stacie B.

    Unsexy? I reviewed my analytics for my Landing Pages and Opt In seeing what information I can glean so that I can serve my clients from a more Upleveled place. I posted to my Facebook Group. I put my offer out there one more time in spite of hearing crickets back. I am thinking forward about to how improve my Offer to make it more On Rampy and less in the deep part of the ocean. That’s where I like to swim, but my clients are on the beach. I am feeling disappointed with the lack of ‘results’ but I am showing up anyway.

  • Susan

    I really loved these words. They really spoke to me. Very profound. 💗

  • Cheryl Gnad

    Christine,
    I find myself more and more in this position mentioned of the woman you were working with. I’ve been doing social media marketing and don’t have enough customers or income – to MY liking. Yes, I do have some. I’ve been in this business for 7 years and am learning something new every WEEK! My business? Oh, social media marketing & coaching. It used to be social media management ONLY, but I finally figured out what MARKETING was about 4 years ago! I can throw in a lot of reasons or “excuses” but they are minimally the problem. I love the work, I love the thought of hopefully being able to influence the thought of the small business that needs EFFECTIVE and RELATIONAL connections with their customers. YET…I get fired up when I feel I am in need of a direction change. BUT this time it is harder and longer in coming so I can find my “wind” and start “running” again. I don’t want to cheat what I COULD become because I have 2 daughters who are at the brink of understanding own a business! I don’t want to give up because of – age, health, lack of money, fear of_____, location, other life demands (I may need to change but not give up!). I want to quit when I am darn ready but not out of defeat!

    I am eager to learn, but I can’t just learn. I must do! It is the hard stuff of doing that bogs me down. 7 years is a long time. Life HAS changed too. Being an active grandma has changed proirities, but I CAN grow and become satisfied with it – can’t I?

    Cheryl

  • Shannon South

    Thank you Christine for the inspiring article and your arms look AWESOME! I feel like you are my business sobriety coach and that you help me see where I am running into crazy town. I am learning to embrace the truth that there are GOALS but no place to just arrive and be done with it…. true to my nature, that false idea has motivated me for years. So its nice and different to see my business from a more grounded perspective and to stop chasing rabbits (or shiny objects) and just do the work I am good at! It’s very freeing! (maybe not sexy, but freeing) Much gratitude!

  • Jo Whipp

    Thank you Christine. I agree. John Maxwell says, “it’s up hill all the way.” I say, “it’s worth it.”
    It is awesome that you shared the truth because we need to hear (if we don’t know it) or we need to be reminded (as encouragement).

    <3 Jo

  • Jenice Eckhart

    Christine, Thank you so much for the insight. When I am open I always receive the messages I need to get. This was one of those times, thank you for being Spirit’s instrument in my life.

  • Renee

    Wow! This is going up as a poster on my wall… very profound. I find myself giddy over small accomplishments, and when I do arrive at the big finale, it always seems anti-climatic. I am also guilty of going 100 mph that I don’t even acknowledge my accomplishments. This puts it all into perspective and now I feel like I am getting something right!

  • Shenita Treniece Connally

    This article touches me deep because of the truth that lies there in…..thank you for sharing your 💜!

  • Katrin Zeuner

    So true! wow! I really needed to read that! It’s those little things that just seem so useless on their own but put it into context…hmmmm and then wow. I guess you can put it into the thought that babies don’t just all of a sudden get up and walk – baby steps ….and a whole lot of patience. Or what’s the big in word now ‘focus’.

    Thank you!

  • Wendy

    Your last few posts have really helped me keep going! I am trying to put an online art course together and it is hard work. The technical stuff keeps frustrating me but I keep going every day.

  • Marya

    SO true ! All that keeping-at-it when it’s not comfortable builds real staying power. And an inner strength and confidence in oneself that is invaluable.
    Congrats on the 10 pull-ups,Christine! That’s tenacity.

  • Dawn

    Hey Christine, great thoughts. It’s so true…just keep getting up again again…just keep showing up and believing in the power of you and what your passionate about. I’ve been doing it scared for a few times now—my coaching and it gets better each times because the message gets clearer. I feel that the more clear I am the more confident I am. And there is more authenticity and resonating with my peeps with the story. Pretty cool. And great job on the push up!! 😉🌷
    My first vision board class is planned for May 12th. I’m looking forward to it—scared or not. 😉😊

    • Christine Kane

      Go Dawn! You’re going to LOVE it and I know you’ll do an amazing job!

  • Crystal

    This was a great article to read which hit the nail on the head…everyone may see the destination..not the journey

  • Rachel Gross

    Thank you Christine! It is such an important reminder that the success is in each and every moment of making that choice to keep going and not give up on our goals, our vision and purpose. I needed to hear this today.

    Rachel G.

  • Barb Toland

    Yep, I’m soooo going to have an unsexy day, and now that I’ve read your email I’m a little more excited;) I’ll be schlepping thru the taxes for an appt. with the accountant, AND taking an online course on WordPress … woo hoo!!! Thanks for the good words Christine, I plan on having a successful day!

  • BRENDA

    THAT ARTICLE SOUNDS SO MUCH LIKE HOW I FEEL, ALL THE WAY TO SUCCESS THE LITTLE THINGS, THE FEELING IN MY MIND,

  • Sandy

    Good morning Christine
    Thank you writing your wonderful commentaries. They always seem to be just what I needed to hear.
    I originally I signed up for your ‘How to run a dream board class” unfortunately do to family illness I couldn’t attend. Please let me know if you do the online work shop again 🙂
    My stumbling block now is the I’m embarrassed to try again. I have tried so many things in my 40yrs that now it’s kind of a family home.
    Don’t get me wrong the majority I succeed at but loss interested very easy.
    How do I get over this embarrassed feeling. I’m even starting doing ideas without telling anyone
    Thanks Sandy

  • Missy

    Christine, you touched me right where I stand! It’s the daily moments, the noise in my head that holds me back. I need daily accountability. Thanks Christine for your wisdom.

    • Christine Kane

      Thanks Missy! Yes, we all need that daily accountability. It’s why coaches are so important to our work!

      • Missy

        Yes. I really do need a coach. Thanks!!❤️

  • Nick Fenn

    You had me at…
    “When I am succeeding, there’s no one clapping.
    When I am succeeding, there are no articles being written about me.
    When I am succeeding, it is just me and my relationship to the moment.”
    Brilliant! Thank you, for this reframing, redefining what success really is.

  • Indra

    Wooo, Christine! Teach! That’s so true. The house that looks beautiful and flashy is the result of endless time sweeping, dusting, and polishing. So too with our business. Thanks for sharing this post, and congrats on those pull-ups! It’s actually one of my goals too and now I’m double-inspired – thank you.

    • Christine Kane

      Good luck with that Indra. It’s fun as hell when you can just do a bunch of them!

  • Susan T

    My sister reminds me to count my “wins” in a day. No matter how small. Some days it’s 5 wins, other days it’s 1. I get to define what a win is. No day is without some kind of success this way.

  • Christine

    Excellent article. Read at the perfect time. I appreciate you.

  • Tova Ramer

    Hi Christine,

    It’s been helpful, and re-inspiring, to read your blogs/emails.
    I’m working on managing my time and finding a rhythm that gives me the space and time to strategize and to push myself past current comfort zones.

    Re deciding and Re igniting my intentions and attention is getting easier. At least, more frequently in my awareness.

    I’m currently in a year long learning expedition with some amazing teachers of mindfulness and practice development. Their name are Joel and Michele Levey. They live part time here in the NW. Anyway… So, I’m half year in… when I found your work, so I jumped in with you. Now I’m a bit in the thick of it all, and laughing at myself, as it looks like I’ve committed myself to the max… and Max results are what I’m working for.

    Working on details is my challenge… so, I’m boxing myself in and getting the support I will surely need to move myself and my business to the next level.

    ‘Nough for now. Looking forward to doing 5 pull ups by the end of 2018! 😉

    Thanks for setting a soulful example of a Dynamite woman.

    • Christine Kane

      Tova – I always have a business mastermind/coach – AND many other teachers and healers on the energetic/mindset side – so I can totally relate. I don’t look at as “the thick of it” anymore. It’s just what I call non-negotiable! And thanks right back at ya! So happy you are expanding in such big ways!

  • Kim

    I really needed to hear this right now. I always have these visions in my head of where I “should” be now, and when my reality doesn’t match up with my vision, I often go in to sabotage mode and give up or back step. I’t nice to be reminded that my success isn’t for others to tell me what a great job I’m doing, it’s just for me to know in my heart that I’m moving forward and trusting that the Universe has my back. Thank you Christine.

  • OrangeCounty Cath

    Keep meaning to read Esther & Jerry Hicks’ Ask and It Is Given. Finally decided to schedule a today for me and instead of reading it, my “Screw it moment” was when I decided to throw on some workout clothes, running shoes and grab my headphones and listen to the audio version on youtube while I walked.
    SEVEN miles later, I have a better understanding of your Be Do Have message.
    I’m sitting here – not so sexy – my ass is numb but I think I’m going to head to the beach to take that yoga class that guy keeps inviting me to.
    Thank you for your email. Perfect timing 😉
    Catherine

  • Paulette

    Oh this was a totally unsexy week. Wrote that same fricken contract again and this time asked for a financial halfway point, set a date and asked for confirmation, called their bluff and asked them to give the project in its entirety, was told to put my money wheee my mouth is and I did. Got agreement, got my meeting, got the financial outcome I wanted and quietly cheered as my step one happened. No fanfare, no sharing the results with others just put my step one into acknowledgement and taking step 2. Just doing it.

    • Christine Kane

      Congratulations Paulette! Sounds like you stayed focused and on your own side. That’s key. No fanfare perhaps – but I’m here cheering you on!

  • Melonie

    Appreciate the powerful insight and guidance, many thanks!

  • Petra

    Thank you for this blog post. Very timely as I am aching all over from shifting my business to bigger and better premises and there is still souch to do to be ready to reopen after Easter.
    I keep asking myself why I do this as the sexy isn’t happening and “well meaners” telling me I am not successful (because they don’t see sexy) .
    Your post reminded me why I keep working on my business; because it makes me happy on the inside and you should see my crazy happy dances I do.
    I will move my aching body finish the move and be ready to serve my clients with a big smile… Now that is sexy in my book.
    Petra

  • Sherri L Kaminski

    I wish you respond. I am been Successful in life and there have been times that I have not. Right now I am at the unsuccessful point. I am scared of failure. I left a career of a Flight Attendant a job that was a Dream. Then I became a Realtor and the economy crashed. Then I got into Retail and wa a Manager of a store. I left all two of these Jobs to help my grown children who will not help themselves. Now I am Rock Bottom. WHAT DO I DO??? I pray everyday.

    • Christine Kane

      Sherri – That’s a hard one. I don’t know you and I don’t know your circumstances. But I do know that in hard times, we are called to see clearly and make choices that will support us. At this point, have you considered getting a job to provide that support to you? that is NOT failure. It’s called “rebuilding the foundation.”

  • Brandon

    This is a great post! Exactly what I needed to hear.

  • Laura

    All I can say is Wow! What a great article on what it takes and the truth of the work behind the game. Thank you for stating the truth plainly and honestly.

  • Carol Woolgar

    Dearest Christine,
    I have been embracing this exact ‘mind train’ for the last 9 months or so…

    I have come to relish this more and more – albeit those ‘unsexy moments’ took some outter perspective from an inner place to observe, it has been all well worth it!

    YAY to those ‘ticker-tape parades’ that co-exist in our mind, along with all the inner poise & strength it takes to realize… ‘it’s ok, and you are worth every piece of fallen confetti!’🎉🎉🎉😃👍

    Signed,

    Grateful,
    Carol Woolgar
    Author, The Sower’s Trust

  • Sharon

    What a powerful email/message! Wonderful 🙂 clapping

  • Katie Macaulay

    Perfect timing on this one! I am doing the very unsexy activity of writing staff contracts for this summer, ugh booooring, and this was a great reminder!

  • Maria

    This like all of your writings and webinars truly resonated with me, right down to the goal of 10 pull ups. My goal is wide grip. LOL. Thank you for writing what is raw and honestly true.

  • Mary

    You have a wonderful knack of saying what I need to hear, even though it might not be comfortable. I will take some time tomorrow to write the warm letters I didn’t have time to do earlier in the week.

  • DEAN VEGA

    What a beautiful and timely message Christine. Out of all the super successful “mentors” and leaders I follow, Cardone, Robbins, Oprah, and other hundred-millionaires, you ALWAYS deliver the message that TRANSFORMS me. I regret not meeting you first and pouring my money into you. When my timing is right ($$) for the next “Uplevel” it’s ALL YOU!! God bless you and me for finding YOU my TRUE mentor and coach!

  • Jodi

    loved this email! Great message and great reminder! It is super simple to get caught up in the visions of sexiness, however, you are so on point. It’s the little (and big) wins that happen in my home office when I am alone with my dog that make me smile and scream, out loud.

    Thanks and Happy Easter or Passover(whichever you celebrate!)

    Best,
    Jodi

  • Yolanda Gomez-Gray

    As always, feeling punched in the gut and happy about it. This was right on time. I had so many epiphanies at your Click conference; I’m still digesting it all. You speak right to the guts and I appreciate you. Thank you.

  • Colette Hemingway

    Thanks for that unsexy insight! I just started a new position. 2nd week. I decided that I am going to carry around a notepad with me to get things down, that I might forget. Not sexy, but I realized, before reading your blog, that it may be helpful. It might not be, but I am willing to try something different. Thanks again!

  • Jenn

    Another great article, Christine. They always seem to find me when I need them

  • Angela Da Re

    Thank You. I needed to hear that. I’m right in the middle of “success” and it looks a lot like early mornings and late nights that no one will ever see but that’s when I’m building the foundation that a lot of people will stand on and it has to be strong.

  • Wendy

    Thank you for that email. It was very encouraging to me since I just experienced what felt like a big fail after a lot of effort.

  • Chonda

    Wow Christine Kane! This was right on time for me. I had the towel in my hand and ready to throw it! Thanks for the rescue. You’re right on time and NEVER EVER stop doing what you do!

  • Bobbie Potts

    Great points Christine. I have struggled with that for a long time. My Mom always told me that I drove her crazy because I would do all this work and give up just before I saw the end. Never celebrating or getting to the end has had negative consequences on my life and so now I’m ready to make all of my goals possible. Just going to keep working until I see the end. 🙂

  • Corinne Meharg

    A beautiful post, as usual. You know, I think the ticker tape parade inside your head is much better than the exterior physical celebration. It gives a glow and boost to your confidence that lasts well beyond the streamers and confetti. And by the way, your arms look fabulous!

  • Kerry Dexter

    Christine,
    As I was reading your wise words, I was reminded of the song Carrie Newcomer wrote called Holy as the Day Is Spent. Do you know it? A bit of a different perspective on the idea, but still, related. As I thinker and as a musician, I think you might like it.

    As to choices I’m making: I have to move in less than a month now as my whole neighborhood is being knocked down. I do not yet know where my next home will be — finding many closed doors so far — but spent the morning sorting and packing, and now will going to finish up two stories I need to complete in the midst of this. Wonder if that work will lead me to ideas on the home front? Could be…

  • Andrea Mock

    The unsexy thing I’m doing is putting the finishing touches winding down this 11 month project from hell. I’m doing them well too, not just sloughing them off. This is a gig I wanted to quit almost every single day. Yeehaw, I making it through the last weeks and living to tell the tale. Thank you Christine, when the going got rough I went to your blog for a cool drink of water to keep me sane. You’re the best.

  • Michelle

    I recently returned from a speaking event which had an unexpected outcome – not only did people show up to hear me speak, but each session was way overpacked, and I got 3 days of incredible kudos, love and support….which I really enjoyed and was so grateful for (convinced as I was that nobody would show up in the first place.) People came. To hear ME talk. And they hugged me, told me I was amazing, thanked me for sharing, and in general fed my ego like crazy. I got that sexy moment of success, and I LOVED IT.

    Then I got home, and crashed into what I can only describe as the painful Wall of Reality. Bills needed to be paid, more articles written, more calls made, childen’s lives to organise and just the reality of life. The very, VERY unsexy reality of my chaotic but blessed life. I let myself wallow and just feel crappy for a whole day…and then reminded myself that it was ME who wrote those presentations, kicked down the doors of the people who I had to convince to let me present in the first time, and ME who stood her ground when told that my presentations were “non income earning” for the event organisers and therefore not a priority to them. I did all the hard work long before I got the kudos. ME. I did that. I worked REALLY DAMN HARD to do all of that. For a looong time. Without any kudos and without any hugs from fans.

    So the unsexy thing I’m going to do today, tomorrow, and next week? I’m going to keep on keeping on, kudos or not. That’s it. I’ll just keep on putting one foot in front of the other, for as long as I decide I want to, and as long as it continues to serve my higher purpose and values.

    Not terribly sexy – but then if life was crazy sexy all the time, I’d probably wish it wasn’t just so I could go and take a nap. 🙂

    Sending you gratitude from Australia,

    Michelle

  • Rebecca

    I so needed this today, Christine. Thank you!

  • Nick Marshall

    “Because I am willing to sit there in spite of not knowing the outcome.”
    This really rang a bell with me. My wife and partner Lizzie and I have been wandering along the precipice edge path of self-employment for nearly 30 years now. After a while you realise that the fearful edge is really just a trick of the mind. Working for yourself is liberating. For one thing you can’t be fired! You own your own life. It may be a bit scary at times but a little fear is a good protection against complacency. You tend t be more careful with what you have. You are more inclined to save for a rainy day because those are inevitable. At the same time, to survive and prosper, you have to stretch your comfort zone and be prepared to take on risk, to accept uncertainty. You gain a mental freedom when you realise that nothing can ever really go wrong – as long as you are breathing and have a heartbeat!

  • yogesh khanna

    yes Christine , u are always right . I always need such kind of teachings it reminds me tht i shud applause my self .keep it up thanks

  • Brooke Parkhurst

    THANK YOU! I have HUGE problems with this, and it’s very timely (of course). Though I really like all your posts, this is one of the best ever. THANK YOU!

  • Elle

    I love this post! I am learning to play the guitar, and there is nothing sexy about EEE, FFF, GGG, repeat… but there is something sexy about doing it day after day, having my brain remember something it couldn’t the day before. Having my fingers move between the strings and frets the way they couldn’t the day before. And hopefully having my fingers get tougher so they no longer feel like they are being sliced by the thin steel strings.

    I remember how you wrote once that you used to make yourself sit and work on song writing. For some reason, I used to think that songs (and poems) had to spring fully formed from one’s brain, unlike other writing that had to go through drafts and edits. But when I remembered that the other day, I said “I’m going to write a song today.” So I sat with my note pad and pencil and started to write ideas and then a line came to me and more lines and then there it was. And over the next few days I tweaked the words and adjusted the tune and now I have a song I can sing in the car, and someday hopefully play on my guitar once someone tells me what the chords are.

  • Mark

    Wow Christine!

    Reading that post, may me think, maybe you should create an entirely new information product and workshop to go with it entitled: “Reality Check 101!

    “The Real Ugly Truth About Long Term Success!” (That The Gurus Are Scared To Death To Tell You!)

    You shared some absolutely fabulous and powerful points! Who would have thought, something as simple your workout routine with your personal trainer, could shed so much light on exactly what it takes mentally, to reach your goals!

    You’ve done us all a really big favor by sharing your extremely powerful insights! Thanks!

  • Laura

    Christine, as a personal trainer you made me laugh! I can just picture you there, ready to throw a weight at me!! When my clients complain, I add a few more. Or sometimes I add a few more reps for the fun of it! LOL Great post. As I’m just starting my business, I so want to “be there” and have to remember it’s all the unsexy stuff that will get me there.

  • Diane L.

    I really needed to hear this message. Thanks for just the right words at just the right time.

  • Herdis Pala

    Great reminder!
    I decided to go back to the corporate world last November (was headhunted for a VP-job) but keep working on my business on the side, instead of full time.
    I´m working on changing my business model and that is not so sexy work but necessary for me 🙂

  • Tracie Thompson

    Last night, it was about choosing to lose a little sleep so I could get my art submission sent off to a greeting card company. Today, it was making sure I took the art with me to work that I needed to deliver once I got off my shift — so I can get paid in time to not fret over incoming bills. Tonight, it’s choosing to put together a proposal for an exhibit at a very nice art center where I would like to show.

    I have a necklace I’ve been wearing each day, with two pendants that represent things I want for myself. When I put that on I think of it as “putting on my commitment” — to do these un-special, un-sexy things that are lifting me into a new life.

  • Lora LeFhae

    Wow, Christine,
    This is awesome, can I quote you? Really well said. I so appreciate your approach and your down-to-earth manner.

  • Jennifer

    I had a client cancel her 1:30 pm session. I was debating whether to find someone to have lunch or just play around a bit. Then I decided it would be a perfect time to dig into Module 6 of Uplevel Your Business. I still have nightmares thinking about how long it took me to write my first VFO. Now, I am ready to do the work it takes to go back and improve my most recent one.

    The good news is I do like your voice, some might even say it’s sexy.

  • Jessica

    This post is one of my favorites – and SO true! Ironically, though, I’ve spent the last 3 years in my business trying ‘get out of’ the unsexy stuff because I successfully did all of that and guess what? It worked! I’ve hired people to do my weaknesses, house keeper (as Christine has mentioned many times) and I have finally gotten to a point where I am doing different work and not the late night grueling work that allowed myself and my husband to quit our jobs, support ourselves, and many employees in our business. The only work I know how to value is the unsexy stuff, and lately I am working on finding myself without these ‘doer type tasks’ to fuel my fire. It’s like having a whole new job! One I always wanted, too. Any tips for this, Christine and others? How do you finally relax? Get into your genius work and schedule and enjoy big picture thinking tasks that aren’t driven by daily email notifications. Thanks guys!

    • Christine Kane

      Jessica — It sounds like you may have some adrenal fatigue at being accustomed to the go go go of it all. I recommend planning out and/or scheduling some of your down time. Set up massages, hikes or something that you love doing in a planned way so that you can trick your do-er into believing you are doing. It will ease off over time!

      Does that help?

  • Corinne Meharg

    Great article. I know the “ticker tape parade in your brain” feeling and that is a wonderful success on the road to “SUCCESS”, which is overrated since no one knows when or where it actually occurs. Love you! Corinne

  • Cheryel Hutton

    Christine,

    I’m saving this blog to read on a regular basis.

    I’m a paranormal romance author, and sometimes I get down thinking about that $1.60 royalty check last month (honest). The thing is, I’m a published author who signs books and gets compliments on my writing. Do I want to make writing pay well? Hell yeah, but I also know that in a lot of ways, I am living my dream.

    As for writing that paragraph when the family is asleep (or playing video games across the kitchen) yes, it’s hard to keep doing that. That’s why I need to read this article every few days/weeks or whenever I lost my “map”. Thanks for reminding me of the importance of that next paragraph. It’s easy to forget.

  • Reshleman

    Thanks, Christine! I am facing another day of slogging through unsexy website auto-registration upgrades in my uber-unsexy sweatpants in my home office. This is all in pursuit of item #7 on your Cash Flow Decoder Map, and when I am finally done, no one will know the unsexy, carpel-tunnel inducing agony that went into automated registration and payment for my classes – but I will…and I am going to enjoy that ticker tape parade in my head…I may even take it to the streets (after I change out of my sweatpants!) I printed this article, and have it hanging up in my studio as a source of on-going motivation – thanks again!

  • Wendy Wolfe

    Just started my first online class and the launch and prep required lots of unsexy just sit down and write moments but with great results. In fact, I need to do that right now, just sit down and write some more, week 2 awaits. Fortunately, I love what I do, even when it isn’t sexy. Thanks for your wisdom.

  • Dana Hilmer

    Hi Christine,

    So well said, thanks Christine! I’d also like to add that often times we think we’ll be happy when we reach the big shiny goal but it’s the goal in itself, the journey, that makes one happy. So my challenge to all of you is to go ahead and set a big audacious goal and that goal will set you on a path that truly excites and it’s that, that makes you happy!

  • Ginger Meek Allen

    So, my unsexy success moves are getting sexier every day…. As I remember that I could instead be a robot sitting at a jeweler’s bench working for someone else just assembling manufactured parts…. geez that would be so mundane and unoriginal. I love my way so much more!
    Thanks, Christine! See ya next week! 🙂

  • Jenn S

    Thank you, Christine. I needed this, today. 🙂

    Jenn S
    http://www.mizbooksmedia.com

  • Nneka, Working Mystic

    WOW!!! Already made a few today. I’m training for a 10K, and today was cross – an easy hour long walk after pounding my joints. I’m tempted to go hard every day, but the ones in between are just as important.

    In business, it’s all unsexy today – calls, eZine for vacation week, and content:-)

    Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of the day thinking, “I’m really doing this.”

    Brings a smile to my face every time:-)

  • Sharon Leslie

    Thanks Christine, I am continuing to do a lot of unsexy stuff, and I have never been so excited, hopeful and committed to my vision. The strength it has given to me sustains me through new challenges and delays. Its been almost a year since I took UYB, and although I am still working on fundamentals, my whole life and business has changed. All from typing in the word ‘uplevel’ into the search bar!

  • rosemary

    Christine, sooo true. today my unsexy choice is to keep plugging away at the business plan. tomorrow I submit it to receive my grant monies, but i am so tired of it. i have been working on it for weeks now. why is it when you are so near the end it is most tempting to quit… But, in my heart I know I will keep on till I am finished!! why! Because I know in the end this is what success is made up of. thank you so much for the support!!!!!! can’t wait till my budget lets me take your uplevel business course!!!!!!!!!!!! I won’t stop working toward that goal either! why?? because it means success in my business!! You are the greatest!!

  • Barb Churchill

    Oh Christine how I love thee!
    What fab timing! I love when the Universe does this! Perfect article for me to read today as I am looking at a mountain of “to dos” and feeling stretched beyond my inner Gumby. Thanks for the reminder that the success – or for me the joy – is in every moment. This is the work I’m here to do. This is the success – not some “thing” out there.
    Love ya!

  • andrea

    How wonderful and timely. As always.
    Thanks for this:)

  • Jack

    Christine, this is so true and well timed! I’m exhausted and heading in for the first day of a three day workshop. And all of my mental energy is just fighting it simply because I’m tired. Gonna find a spot to meditate, realign, and re-decide to give my energy to the unsexy things that carry me to my destination – to success!!! See ya next week!

  • Nav

    Christine, you’re the best- you really are xx

  • Lucy Chen

    Sorry about the duplicate comments, trying to type on my phone, and it’s proved to be a bit difficult

  • Lucy Chen

    “When I am succeeding, it is just me and my relationship to the moment.”
    So well said, Christine. It is the chioices we make every moment. Thank you.

    I think the boring unsexy choice I made today was cleaning my brushes thoroughly, instead of letting them dry or keep them in oils jar. I choose to clean my brushed everyday that I paint. It’s boring. But it keeps my brush alive much longer, and it keeps our home safer for the kids….

  • Lucy Chen

    “When I am succeeding, it is just me and my relationship to the moment.”
    So well said, Christine. It is the chioices we make every moment. Thank you.

    I think the boring unsexy choice I made today was cleaning my brushes thoroughly, instead of letting them dry or keep them in oils jar. I choose to clean my brushed everyday that I paint. It’s boring. But it keeps my brush alive much longer, and it keeps our home safer for the kids.