Well, here we go again... time for Take 2!
Walk with me as I reinvent my beautiful book and get it out into the big, wide world - this time with feeling.
A couple of years back - maybe even 3 now - I had a fabulous idea for a BOOK.
Some of you may remember… some of you may even have read draft number 1.
(If that’s you, by the way, you’ll see there’s something just for you near the subscription button at the bottom).
The book was going to be called ‘The Path to Purpose, Peace and Profit’ - and it was intended to be ALL about helping entrepreneurs and business owners dive deep into overcoming the limiting emotions, thoughts, feelings and behaviours that were standing in the way of them achieving true success.
I’d been there. Ha!
I’d climbed the (near vertical!) learning curve that was getting to grips with running a business in the online space.
I’d clung on in there through thick and (at times very) thin.
And I thanked whatever divine powers might be on my side, for the fact that I knew how to navigate the emotional rollercoaster/minefield of mindset issues that is the modern world of business.
Because OH my GOODNESS - those first few years online were hard (and I don’t say that lightly - I’ve been in business for myself since 2007 and have run my own therapy practice since 2017).
Yup - much as I might have wanted to appear as though I had my sh*t together - that didn’t in any way make me immune from ALL the things.
Imposter syndrome
Comparisonitis
Perfectionism
Procrastination
Hero worship and shiny object syndrome
Going round in bloody circles and questioning EVERYTHING
Money worries!
Undervaluing myself and my services…
… the list goes on.
And as many an entrepreneur or business owner will know, wrestling those demons is sometimes way harder than keeping tabs on your bottom line or coming up with a marketing plan.
It’s one thing knowing what to do.
Actually being able to do it? Whole different kettle of fish.
So the idea behind ‘The Path to Purpose, Peace and Profit’ was to help anyone else who was walking that same path - and help them to overcome, or even avoid, all those devilish and devious mindset issues that might stand in the way of their success.
I knew that combining my knowledge of the brain, how we tick and what keeps us functioning at our best, with the in-depth insights I’d gleaned through the course of my entrepreneurial adventures would be EXACTLY what my people needed.
I’d write the book I wished I’d been given, all those years ago, when I launched my first business way back in 2007 - and it would be a roaring success! Yippee!!
So, I launched in enthusiastically, and was delighted when a few fab people signed up to be my draft readers.
Only… along the way, something changed.
As I was writing it, I realised I was slowing down and losing my flow. It got… sticky.
I did complete it in the end - but it took a lot of stopping and starting, and some serious willpower to get it over the finish line.
I LOVED writing part 1 - all about how our minds work and how we can optimise our thoughts and actions to support our success.
I ALSO really enjoyed writing part 2 - the bit which meant diving in, specifically, to each of those niggly, pesky mindset issues that needed some specific attention and unpicking them, bit by bit.
But when it came to part 3 - the actual business bit - I have to confess, the wind went out of my sails.
The irony of really enjoying writing about procrastination - and then procrastinating like it were an Olympic sport - that’s not completely lost on me here!
But observing myself in that procrastination was SO valuable.
Because, as I say in part 2 - procrastination doesn’t just happen because we’re scared of success, or scared to fail.
It happens for MANY reasons (I’ve identified at least 8, and I talk about them in detail in the book).
One of the MOST important of those reasons - is misalignment.
And that’s exactly where I’d found myself.
Because much as I love running my own business - and much as the thrill of entrepreneurship and constant innovation lights me up - telling other people how to do the nuts and bolts of business just doesn’t set my soul on fire.
As my mentor recently said to me:
“Abi, you’re not about the HOW.
You’re about the WHO.
About WHO someone is being - chances are, they already know their how - they’re just not able to do it for themselves. You facilitate that”.
Nailed it.
The book helped me realise that (so thank you - and apologies - to all those patient first adopters!).
I need to stick to focusing on the WHO.
And whilst I’m immensely proud to have finished that first draft (all 80,000 words of it!)… it needs a little tidying up, rethinking in places, and stripping back so its true heart can shine through.
Oh - and it’s not JUST going to be for entrepreneurs and business owners - but for everyone who’s pouring their heart and soul into creating a better, more fulfilling life, and could do with some help to get their brain on board.
This isn’t perfectionism - it’s realisation and adaptation in action (honest!).
So for those of you who have been patiently waiting for this to morph into a book you can share on Amazon, or keep on your bedside table - I’m afraid there’s a little more waiting to go!
But I can’t wait to start getting Version 2 out there into the big, wide world, and seeing what you think of it.
If you’re keen to read along weekly as I redraft and stay up to date with the launch, I’d LOVE to offer you the chance to subscribe for full access with a paid subscription to the book - button below.
(NB. I’ll be sending over a special FREE subscription link for anyone who was on my early readers’ list).:
And if you’re not, that’s cool too!
You’ll keep receiving my free newsletters, as usual.
Happy reading & see you soon!
Abi x