The Process of Fruition
As I am watching her share her vision through pop-up stores and live events in the city, I notice her sense of purpose. And following the launch of her website and her presence across social media, I feel proud of her journey, and the way she is realizing her potential. What began as a private passion has grown into a business concept, and is becoming a commercial platform and foundation of her future professional path.
Arriving at this point in her journey hasn't always been easy. In fact, it has been full of obstacles and all kinds of setbacks along the way. But it has all along been guided by the Sanskrit word for a heartfelt intention: Sankalpa. The kind of resolve that grows from inner vision and strong desire, and I believe to be making all the difference.
A number of my clients are female entrepreneurs running their own businesses. Women who make a living by transforming their ideas and bringing them to a stage where the rest of us are able to enjoy them. For some, the ideas materialize as physical products. Others manifest their intentions through art, design, service, or alternate kinds of content creation.
When showing up in the world, they have one thing in common: They all began with an urge to create paired with a willingness to try.
I often compare the development of a new concept or idea with the germination process of plants. Like a seed in the ground, it starts in your imagination and in a place where no one can see it as it starts transforming into a sprout. Striving for the attention of the sun, the sprout grows into a seedling above ground. Delicate at first but gradually changing into stronger versions of itself driven by the design of their DNA.
But like the plants in a garden, ideas are also influenced by external factors and the environment they grow in. Certain conditions must be in place for a plant to grow and for the seed to realize its full potential. Like any living organism, it responds to feedback from its surroundings, and the bloom of any flower will depend on access to water, nutrients in the soil, and exposure to the sun.
Starting something new will inevitably involve elements of disruption and vulnerability, not to be confused with the potential of your concept or idea. Even giant oak trees started out as tiny, delicate versions of themselves before being strong enough to withstand strong winds, or prevent themselves from plant eaters in the forest. Most things take time, and there will always be days where you find yourself in doubt, put off by other people, or feeling insecure about taking the next step.
To help move the process forward, I therefore typically help clients:
Clarify the underlying motivation driving their intention
Transform preliminary ideas into self-sustained concepts and plans
Initiate the action required, keep momentum, and staying on track
While collaborating around these three dimensions, I am simultaneously working with the client to, firstly, be aware and pay attention to the different stages of the process. Secondly, be prepared to manage expectations and feedback along the way. And finally, be mindful of having the right support system in place at each phase.
Trusting in your idea or developing prototype versions of your concept can be challenging. From personal experience, I have learned the importance of asking the right people, for the right kind of input, at the right time! What might seem clear to you, may appear abstract to others, just as people around you (including those you love) aren’t always capable of giving you the kind of support you need. Despite the best intentions, their reactions can be unsettling and sometimes even leave you discouraged. This is why getting input from people who understand the maturity of your idea, or have skills that match the nature of your project, is vital to your success.
Once the initial phases are completed, my role as coach typically changes from protecting and maturing the idea to supporting the client in bringing the intention to full fruition. In this part of the journey, my support is divided between nurturing the courage to keep going, celebrating important milestones, as well as identifying and holding the client accountable to new ones.
Working with a coach is not necessarily the right solution for everyone. But asking yourself the right questions always is. If you are in the process of exploring ideas that potentially take you on a new professional path, you, therefore, might consider:
What is the motive driving you: Why are you doing this, and what are you hoping to get out of it?
What is the intention you are setting for yourself: What kind of commitment are you willing and able to make?
What will the journey look like: What kind of support are you going to need along the way? Who are the people you wish to involve in the process?
And if someone next to you is getting ready to take a big leap of faith, pursue an old dream, or implement a big change in their life, you might spend some time reflecting on what kind of support this person would find most helpful.
Without paying attention, most of us tend to give to others what we like to receive ourselves. Knowing who is in front of you is a great start. But being sensitive to the fact that this person is most likely right now expanding his or her comfort zone and in the process of developing something precious and new, is often the best help you can be.
Love,
Sille