Since this is the very first workshop of the Your Year to Thriver course, let me just say – welcome to the Circle! It’s so awesome to have you join us!
My aim with these workshops is to put together a mini-journey that will throw some potentially tough questions and some hard-learnt guidance your way.
Each workshop is available as the video above, and you can also download the slides and the audio below, so you can listen to the workshop offline, and work through the slides at your own pace.
So – let’s dive in!
This workshop is all about finding out your why – and how that will guide you in building YOUR ideal business, rather than the business you think you should grow, or the one other people are telling you you should grow.
This is your journey, and it won’t look like anyone else’s. By getting clear on your core values and your why, you can forge ahead with your own dream, confident that you’re doing what’s right for you.
If you have any questions after working through this workshop, you can either leave them below, or ask them over in the Facebook group.
I’ll pop in and answer them when I can, AND I’m sure other Circle Members will have their advice to share with you – don’t be shy, all, that’s what this Circle is all about!
Links:
Workshop Slides: What’s Your Why – How to Build YOUR Ideal Business
Workshop Audio: Listen/Download
Here’s Shannah Kennedy’s book that I referenced: Simplify, Structure, Succeed.
Here’s the matrix of Core Values from her book:
- I sourced the quote I mention, and here it is, in its full glory! Please feel free to take and share this photo wherever you like – just tag it #ThriverCircle on social media, and link back to ThriverCircle.com as well, please.
(This workshop was first published – Jan 2015)
Got a topic you’d love me to do a workshop on? Get in touch and tell me!
I know it’s February and I’m only just getting to January’s workshop but better late than never. A really helpful video which has helped me clarify my reasons for my creative business and using that as a template moving forward. Thanks Jess.
So glad you found it helpful to clarify your path, Sarah-Jane!
A great workshop, Jess! 🙂
Fantastic workshop Jess! My top three core values are Creativity, Family Happiness and Wealth. I’m still working on the way lol
Really enjoyed this workshop, totally put things in perspective for me. And that quote is one of my faves as it’s exactly the situation I find myself in … which is great motivation 🙂
Thanks Jess, really helpful, great structure in putting simple ideals and thoughts together to gain some clarity without feeling overwhelmed. It was really liberating and motivating to sit down, focus and write out my core values etc.. Johanna
Glad you found it liberating and useful, Johanna!
Link for the book doesnt work. Its now
http://www.kikki-k.com/simplify-structure-succeed-book?gclid=Cj0KEQjw8-GtBRCMl7m54PzgjNQBEiQAIZckv2Izebh4WrcW-yzMN3hGIwYtWqm9nx-6XU4Zz9EybS0aAsG18P8HAQ
Wonderful workshop, Jess! “Don’t be limited by who you think you are” is great advice. I had the same problem as you – when I was in high school I got the idea in my head that I was going to become a neurosurgeon and all throughout my undergrad degree I was unhappy and didn’t figure out why until recently. While I love learning about medicine and the brain, those aren’t the only things that define me and I was ignoring other aspects of by being. We all need to be open to who we are and can be, and boxing ourselves into one category can stunt personal growth.
Exactly, Sarah! It took me a long while to learn that lesson, but I’m so glad I did.
Fantastic workshop Jess! Lol, Chaos reigns!! The core values I chose are Obeying Jesus (spirituality), providing for my family (family happiness), Integrity and Adventure/Creativity. Couldn’t stick to just three. 😉 I love the idea of not being limited by who you think you are and don’t grow just for the sake of growing. I can’t comprehend not being busy every single day to reach financial goals, but I’m glad it can all be figured out. 🙂 Loved this! Thanks!!
Ps: The link to Shannah’s book doesn’t work.
Since I just joined the circle I am now backtracking and starting at the beginning. This video was great, as I watched it I got a great sense of calm. I’m the type that when I set my sights I go full speed until I burn out, and I think I’ve been overwhelming myself and just trying to do it all at once. The reminder in the video to go back to the roots find my why and to take care of myself first really made a bulb go on. Time to take a breath and prioritize with me in front. Thanks for another great video Jess!
Just updated it! 🙂
So glad it helped you find that breathing space, Christine!
Updated! Thank you 🙂
Thanks Jess – this was really inspirational as well as good practical guidance 🙂
Thank you Jess for Lesson 1. This was a really good lesson and in parts made me feel abit emotional. I have just given up a job I worked in for ten years and am trying to find “myself” and my passion. Point One: Don’t be limited by who you think you are or who others think you are really struck a cord with me as I am struggling with this at the moment. Having found my three core values – I hope this can help my work towards growing my business and finding my way. I have also outlined three priorities to look after myself and my body 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration and I look forward to the next lesson.
I’m so glad the point about limitations resonated with you, Elizabeth! Sometimes we don’t even know the limitations we’ve put on ourselves until someone else helps us to consider them.
I loved working through this video, I was actually surprised by the core values I chose and the why that developed from them. This has really helped me! Like Elizabeth above I also recently quit a job of 10 years and am just learning that I don’t have to be who I always thought I was – that view of myself was shaped by others mostly. I’m not sure how it will all translate into my WAY, but I feel like I’m heading down the right path for me.
Thanks Jess! That’s also very true. It’s a great thing to be aware of now & to try and not let it get to me.
Great Workshop, Jess! Still have to write somethings down, but it’s got me thinking! I love the “everything is figureoutable” quote! That’s something I tend to forget! The only thing I can’t figure out right now though, is, where is this worksheet you mention at the end of the video?
I realised a lot of folk would just share in the FB group, or write in a journal, so I left the worksheet out 🙂
I did this workshop back in January 2015 and just done it today as part of the #yytt and my why has definitely changed in the past 18 months. I was fairly new to business then and joint the circle as a founding member its amazing to see how I have changed! Thanks Jess x
Great and inspiring – learnt a lot about what I think. But question – at the end I am not sure how to think about what’s my way – is this how will I self care eg the three self care points, or how do I see my way of building my business – eg face to face, vs online? Thanks for thought provoking content and enabling me to take time to sit back and think about my business 🙂
Both! It’s the whole shebang – because our business is not separate to our life, it is interwoven into it.
Thanks Jess 🙂 What hit me halfway through this vid was that I was actually enjoying listening to your commonsense approach to the why’s and how’s of being a creative in business. I’m in the sixth year of my biz (! egadz) but have only really been ‘in business’ for three of those years, and what it’s taught me is that I don’t have the time and personal resources to do what I have established. I need to get smaller in order to get a ‘better business’. Why is becoming clearer. Getting back to that IS important 🙂 How, or as you put it ‘your Way’ is also becoming clearer. Like you, I tried markets and it was *horrible*. successful. but, just…not ‘Me’. Online feels too ‘away’ from people, and I’ve done small workshops which I find very nourishing and uplifting, so my ‘way’ feels like it will be a better mesh of both things.
Oh…and I have four pages of notes now. Thanks… 😉
Haha, 4 pages, woo! Thanks so much for your thoughts, Nette – I really do believe we have to find our own ‘way’ – because there’s that pressure to always be growing, getting ‘more successful’ (whatever that means) but what if we just want to stay small? What if what we have is enough! Or, like you said, maybe scaling down a bit will work better? 🙂
I really enjoyed this workshop! I’ve done what’s your why exercises for past businesses and I sort of thought my answer would be the same but it wasn’t at all. I’m so glad I revisited this question. I feel motivated and inspired and love that feeling of clarity and direction. I also found it really invaluable to make the commitment to choose 3 things to take care of myself because the success of my business depends on it.
This was fantastic! Just snuck it in early morning before I go out to the cinema (Which is definitely one of my “How to stay happy/health – movie breaks!) and have done the work as I’ve gone along, will bring it over to Facebook this afternoon.
This is one of the first advice videos I’ve watched where I haven’t been going “But… that doesn’t sound plausible” or “That might be fine for people who are smarter/hippier/[insert other difference] than me, but I’m…” It feels like real solid advice I can actually apply to my own life. So thank you Jess!
Jack, that is so fantastic to hear! Thank you for sharing – I really try to give realistic advice, so I’m happy to hear you found it to be just that 🙂
I’m so incredibly grateful to have found someone who truly knows how to reach people…I love being a part of your program, Jess, and look forward to learning from you over the next year! This first lesson has been inspiring. I took “Set Up Shop” a few months ago and the store is in progress and coming along nicely 🙂 Thank you for everything!
Amy – so happy to hear that you’re enjoying the YYTT lessons, and that your store is going well!
I am very glad to be a part or your program, I look forward to learning. My core values are Freedom- I am looking forward to my business being so successful I can quit my full time job and stay at home giving me the freedom to serve through my church, in many ways. Achievement- Let’s just say there is not a lot of encouragement that I could actually do this, this along with my own challenges to overcome about myself are big, I love when you talked about Don’t be limited by who you think you are. I will be working on changing how I view myself from dreaming about the person I wish I was, to becoming the person I want to be. Third Generosity I love to give to others and encourage others. I work for a corporations that gives back tremendously to the community and when I go say on a walk for what ever the cause I dream that I am there representing my business with signs and shirts.
Thank you for everything!
I have a website up just needs work, building websites is not my thing, sewing is, so I keep putting it off I am going to schedule time to work on it.
This was amazing. You are where you’re supposed to be in this world. Your knowledge, passion and commitment in helping other makers is so genuine. I need this circle as well as the boot camp so much right now. The way you motivate people, especially myself, I walk away from each thing full of passion and the feeling that I CAN really do anything! THANK YOU!
Oh, Laura, thank you! Your comment made me a bit teary 🙂 I’m so happy that you find what I’m sharing so helpful. And you CAN do it!
Hey Jess, I’m doing this Bootcamp to get myself back on track following a very difficult 2017. Re-visiting my 3 Core Values and my Why has been a wake up call for me. So many things in my personal and home life have changed and I suddenly realised that these basics for my business must be realistic and change also. Thanks for your awesome and timely workshop, I think of you as a little Guardian Angel sitting on my shoulder who know just when a nudge in the right direction will be useful. Love you lots…
*hugs* oh, Paula, I’m so glad this has helped you re-prioritise. I’m honoured to be your biz guardian angel! x