Mindset Mastery is a weekly newsletter about the psychology of self-employment from Jenni Gritters. If you’ve been reading this newsletter for a while and you receive value from it, I’d encourage you to sign up for a paid membership. You’re also helping me make business coaching for self-employed folks more accessible to all.
A few weeks ago, I set up a new program: A 4-week workshop called Mindset Mastery, based on the concepts of this newsletter and the mindset work I do with almost all of my clients.
As soon as I posted about the workshop, I had that shaky feeling. You know what I’m talking about: The workshop didn’t feel quite right. But I rationalized that feeling with an assessment that I was probably just scared.
I was talking about the program with my coach a few days later and I found myself going on and on about how very few people had signed up (just a few days after posting it — chill, girl!) and how I wasn’t sure it was right for my audience.
She said some words that I’m going to pass along to you:
Everything doesn’t have to work.
I was, truthfully, floored by this idea. I’m so used to muscling through things that don’t feel quite right. Several years ago, I kept my son at a daycare I hated for over three weeks, sobbing every day at drop off. I have taken on more misaligned writing projects than I’d like to admit over the past year, even though they don’t feel spot-on for my mission in the world. As a recovering people pleaser, I step over my time and communication boundaries more often than not because I’m so inclined to help.
And all of this came crashing to a halt with those words:
Everything doesn’t have to work.
I could feel in my bones that the program wasn’t quite right. It was a little too pricey for my audience; I know many of y’all are struggling to stay afloat in businesses that aren’t generating a lot of cash at the moment. It’s also the start of the year, a typical lull point both for finances and energy. Most of the folks around me need practical support; mindset work feels secondary. And I’ve been loving my time in my group program, SUSTAIN. I want to teach inside of that container, versus adding another cohort on top of it. In my body, I started to acknowledge that the whole thing just felt off.
I thought about that assessment for more days than I’d like to admit, slightly paralyzed about how to move forward.
It doesn’t have to work. It doesn’t even have to kind of work. You don’t have to force it to work. There’s no muscling required here. You can let it go. No one else cares! You can refund those few people, or offer them 1-1 coaching.
Everything doesn’t have to work.
Then I finally had one of those idea generation days and I realized: I know what I want to teach!!
My body — my gut sense — had been right about the fact that this wasn’t the exact right fit for this moment. And I know it’s cliche, but the lack of fit taught me a lot of things about how to serve y’all better, how to lean into my creative whims and teach stuff that lights me up, and how to offer value in a way and place that works for my community in this moment.
In short: I could trust myself. I wasn’t afraid; I was sensing a misalignment.
So that Mindset Mastery course is no longer available. (The joy I feel in typing that!) And instead, I’m offering two things in February that I think you’ll love:
1. You can sign up for a free business audit with me.
(Yes, FREE.) I used to offer free intro calls for people who were interested in coaching and I’ve decided to replace them with these tactical sessions. You’ll fill out an intake form about your challenges, wins and vision before our chat, then we’ll hop on a call for 20 minutes and get you unstuck. You’ll walk out with momentum, a roadmap for the coming year, and clarity about how to build what you care about most. We’ll also talk about the coaching options I have available, if and when you’re interested in them. (Truly, and I cannot say this enough: There is no rush. These are long-term, evergreen programs. Come when you’re ready!)
2. Today only, I’m offering a deep discount on your first month of SUSTAIN, my group coaching program.
If you sign up by midnight PST today (January 18th), you get $99 off your first month — and you’ll be just in time to dive into group coaching next week. The program includes support on finances, branding, landing retainer clients, setting boundaries, contracts, finding new clients of all kinds, and beyond. Plus, you get to join the 50+ business owners in that room who are aiming to build sustainable, supportive, unique businesses. It’s a space I really can’t recommend more highly if you want to become more intentional — and feel more confident — about your business and your life.
I’m also holding more spaces open for 1-1 coaching next month, either via my deep-dive BUILD program (which is A+ for building momentum in your business, in close relationship with me) or a one-time UNLOCK strategy session (which gives you the most perfectly organized, beautiful roadmap).
I’ll send that Mindset Mastery workshop out later this month as a one-hour webinar, too, because I still deeply believe it’s information everyone needs to move into a place of well-being with their work. And if you find yourself in SUSTAIN or in a 1-1 coaching program with me, you’ll get a huge dose of that mindset growth there, too.
Finally: I’ll be offering low-cost workshops about creative business planning, building a work routine that matches your energetic cycle, implementing the kind of business structure that unlocks both stability and flexibility, and so much more throughout this spring and summer. Keep an eye out.
Sounds fun, doesn’t it?
Exactly. Exactly.
I want you to know: You’re in charge of what you do in your business. This month was such a reminder of that, for me.
And if you need a permission slip today, please take this one:
If something feels off in your work life, consider what it might look like to let it go and use your energy for another project or mission that lights you up.
Your energy and focus are precious.
The world needs your unique approach.
And I can’t wait to hear about what that looks like for you in 2024.
xo,
Jenni
Curious about my background? I’m a writer and business coach based in Central Oregon. I have two small children and I work part-time so I can spend a lot of time with them. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with non-linear business building and teaching people how to build successful businesses that support their human needs first. Check out my coaching offerings here, and follow me on Twitter & Instagram.