I’ve been doing some “student time” lately. I’m always looking to improve, and being a student is the best way I have found to do that.

What we’re focusing on right now is the concept of “stuck.”

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I’m stuck.

I can’t.

Something is in my way.

Stuck is tied to a problem, and leads to “I don’t know” and inaction.

‘Stuck’ happens because there is a story in your head.

As a coach, I deal with people who are stuck every day. I know how easy it is to get stuck in our heads in so many small ways every single day.

As a case in point, this week I was working with a client who was in total overwhelm and ready to throw in the towel. She’s just so tired and stuck and was ready to quit.

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​This entrepreneur stuff is hard sometimes.

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She was sitting in this little pity pot of pain because she thought her eternal problem was employees. After digging in further, it turns out she hasn’t taken a day off in MONTHS. Like a single day off. Yikes.

Her real challenge is that she’s simply exhausted and has pushed herself to the brink of breakdown.

She had totally given herself over to the story that the whole thing would break if she wasn't there to clean up the messes.

So how to get out of the stuck feelings? We celebrated what she has accomplished. We talked about her amazing wins. (You KNOW I love a good celebration!) Even those small accomplishments show forward progress and get you out of the pity pot. (“Yes, I CAN and I HAVE!” vs “I can’t!”)

Then we worked out a very small plan for her to take the weekend off. Totally take it off.

Not a big project mapped out. No huge, life changing shifts in the structure of her business, or massive changes in how things are getting done right now. Just a plan for this week: get some rest! Enjoy yourself!

Next week we will re-visit the challenges in her business.

We’ll make another small plan.

One step at a time.

Right now, let’s give up the story, get out of stuck and figure out ONE problem that can be solved quickly and easily.

Being stuck can feel like the end of the world.

Often it’s because we are focusing on the wrong problem or adding more to it than is necessary right now.

I now see the concept of "stuck" as a red flag to celebrate what is working and pivot to find a new path.

Is there a place you feel STUCK in the story? Let's throw up the red flag and pivot.

Throwing out the rope to pull you out of the quicksand-

Jenell