A few months ago one of my business partners invited me to a networking event; since it was hosted in my hometown, I gladly accepted. Upon arrival I realized that this wasn’t a typical networking event — instead, I’d been invited to attend a “Professional Wisdom Circle”.
Now Wisdom Circle etiquette dictates that the first time you go around the circle you introduce your business. The second go-round, you describe a challenge that you face in your business. The challenge can’t be “I want more clients or I want to make more money” instead you must offer one challenge that may (presumably) be preventing you from either attracting more clients or making more money.
My first spiel went something like this; “hello and thank you for inviting me today. For the last decade I’ve run a small consultancy predominantly serving the Financial Services market. In September, I will be launching a second business with two inspiring partners. I’m also writing a book called “The Art of Living Lost”.
The second “challenge” related go-around would not be as simple; when my turn came I blurted out, “I have a hard time doing things for myself. It’s not that I need help tying my shoes or anything, I simply don’t do things just for me”.
Ugh, I wanted to shrink under the table and disappear.
Unbelievably after that short confession, I started to notice changes in my life. My kids started to ask for more independence and my mother-in-law was settling nicely into her new home. Two seemingly immovable objects, started to shift.
So what happened to me? What did I do with my free time?
I WENT GREAT PLACES. I MET AMAZING PEOPLE.
I’ve never been to a Wisdom Circle so I can’t say if what happened on that sunny August morning was typical. I am however positive that the changes that occurred simply came about because I said a few words out loud. So humor me, put a few words to one of your challenges and say those words out loud. Let’s see what you get!
Have a great week and don’t over Gobble!