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The most important 30 seconds of your life…

We’re just over half way through 2020 and it’s been a long six months, right?

I’ve been reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned this year. And I’ll share these lessons in a few days but I can tell you now that my heuristic – slow down to speed up – isn’t just a great rule of thumb for life, in normal times. It’s actually a rule to double down on, in uncertain times. 

At the beginning of this pandemic, any mistakes I made were because I was rushing or pushing. When I’m rushing it’s usually because I feel anxious. When I’m pushing it’s usually because I am trying to control things – which is usually because I feel anxious.

The root of the word anxiety comes from an ancient Greek word that means “painfully constricted, or strangled.” And that’s precisely what happens when you feel anxious – whether it’s about the future, or money, or your relationship, or your job, your boss, your kids.

When you’re afraid, your brain becomes flooded with chemicals, stress hormones fill your bloodstream and your system is overwhelmed by a tide of emotion. 

The short term impact of anxiety can be paralyzing. You’re stalled from taking action. Or the decisions you make are really poor ones. 

But its long-term impact can be worse because chronic anxiety can result in a compulsion to indulge to excess, to soothe your system – carbohydrates, alcohol, drugs, lack of exercise, binge watching Netflix, or binge shopping at Amazon. (If any of these sound familiar, don’t feel ashamed. I can tell you that I’ve indulged in many over the past few months. You’re not alone). Unfortunately, most of these habits are addictive and lead to a reinforcing loop, where poor choices make it even harder to make good decisions in the future. 

When you feel anxious, you can’t think straight. When you feel anxious, things look impossible. When you feel anxious, you forget what’s really important. When you feel anxious, you miss opportunities that are right in front of your face. 

So, when you feel anxious you have a singular mission… To shift the feelings that are literally strangling your vision, your options and your possibilities. 

The simplest way to slow down – especially when you feel afraid – is to take 30 seconds to take 3 very long, very slow, deep breaths:

  1. Breathe in slowly, through your nose. 
  2. Fill your belly with air, fill your chest right up to the backs of your shoulders. 
  3. Hold that breath for a few seconds. 
  4. And then breathe out slowly, through your mouth, making a humming sound, as loud as you dare. 
  5. Repeat, two more times. 
  6. When you’re finished, pay attention to the sensations in your body.

If you have a decision to make, if you’re anxious about the future, if you’re about to meet someone important, if you’re about to coach a new client for the first time, if you’re about to lead an online presentation, if you’re about to ask someone to marry you, divorce you, or go on a date with you… Pause. Take 3 long, slow, deep breaths. 

That’s it. Now you can begin.

And now I want to ask you for a favor

Will you reply to me, telling me one thing that learning from me has helped you do?

It could be signing a $50,000 client. Or signing your very first client. Or starting your coaching business and taking care of your family during the lockdown. Whatever it is, I’d love to hear your story.

This is what makes writing to you worth it.

Please be specific – include actual numbers. Share your story. There’s nothing I love more than discovering what other people have done to change their lives.

Thanks in advance – and stay safe. 

Love. Rich 

 

PS. Project Kairos just began but it’s not too late to join me. You’ll get the recordings of the calls you miss. Master Creating Clients in the last Project Kairos I will ever run. Sign up now, and you still get a gift ticket to my upcoming program: $100K Clients

 

PLUS, here are 4 more ways you can drastically increase your impact and your income:

  1. Join my 2 new short programs, $100K Clients and One Milllllion Dollars! There’s a button at the bottom of either page that allows you to join both programs and save almost $300…
  2. Get my support as a Thinking Partner. This is for one successful entrepreneur or coach who wants to have their thinking provoked and to be challenged – on everything!
  3. Become my Protégé. This is for a single coach who wants my mentoring to help them transform every element of their coaching business – mastering The Prosperous Coach Approach, writing books, scaling your business, building a team, or becoming known as a Thought Leader…
  4. Want to work with me but not sure where to start? Check out our coaching journey and pick the program that suits you best. 

 

 

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