It’s easy—in coaching and life—to default to talking about our challenges and problems.

But I want to encourage you to cultivate the practice of looking at what’s working, too. 

Imagine a sales floor or a locker room. Individuals and teams watch winning game tape, not just losing game tape, and dissect deals won as much as deals lost. 

You might be used to picking apart and analyzing your losses in life, but how often do you do evaluations and reviews on your successes and wins?

Do you really know how and why you’ve gotten the great results that you have in a certain area of your life, like your health, career, or relationship?

Or does part of you feel like it was chance or luck or a lightning strike of inspiration that can’t easily be replicated?

Coaching is about showing you how your thinking creates your feelings, which create your inactions or inactions, which create your results.

By looking at wins (read: desired results), you can amplify and replicate them. Who the heck wouldn’t want that?

Here are some questions to get you started:

• What’s working? (Free write in response to this.) 
• What is the last awesome result that I created and what actions did I take to get it?
• What am I believing in an area of my life that’s going well? 
• Why did this opportunity “fall in my lap”?
• What am I doing differently than before that’s producing results?

Then? Go do more of what you came up with. 

I want to tell you a story about taking action, using anti-racism work as an example.

You may have seen my Instagram post, with the words “I don’t know” on the image.

I called myself out for indulging and spinning in confusion about how to do anti-racism work, instead of actually taking action.

After that post, I got to work thinking of how I could be more anti-racist in my business, and one idea that I came up with was to earmark a scholarship spot in my coaching programs for someone doing racial justice work.

I included it in one email, and boom: A client passed the email to her friend, who is a Black woman doing incredible work on increasing access to advanced directives (read: legal documents like living wills) among Black Americans. That woman then passed it to her friend, who is doing work that raises up the music of Black women.

I spent a weekend intensive with these two women and three others, watching the joy, frustration, angst, and love cross their faces, like it does with all of my clients who are breaking through procrastination and finishing projects.

And I realized this: I took a teeny, tiny step (one email), and it gained momentum far beyond me.

I’m hesitant to share this. I don’t want to tokenize these women, reducing them to only their skin color.

I don’t want to assume that people of color doesn’t have the same financial means necessary to pay full price; that in and out itself is problematic.

And I don’t want to glorify white people for taking tiny baby steps and calling it good.

But what I do want to emphasize is that one small action can have ripple effects.

It’s true in anti-racism work; it’s true in all of life.

If you don’t know what to do, do something and see if it works.

And while I have you, I’d love your help filling the next scholarship spot.

There’s a scholarship spot for the next round of Half-Finished to Done, LIVE (which kicks off on August 17th) and it’s earmarked for someone who is doing racial justice work.

If that is you or someone you know, would you shoot me an email and let me know? Thanks in advance!

P.S.This story has been shared with permission from both women. We talked about how to be a better ally, and they both said “Share this story.”

This post is inspired by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You How to Be Rich. He has no fear of getting a little sassy to make a point, and I love his no-B.S. style. 

All that to say: Prepare for some straightforwardness  

I’ve done a ton of free mini coaching sessions and free 30-minute consults (<– Shameless plug) and I’m pretty dang accurate at predicting who’s actually going to invest in coaching and who’s not.

(Read: Who’s going to drag things out or ghost me after their consult  ) 

I’m sharing this with you for three reasons:

• It’s a good chance to be really honest with yourself about where you are currently, and own it if you’re not ready to invest in coaching.
• I’ll be sharing tips on how to become a dream client, from the jump. Not for my sake (well, a little bit for my sake!) but for yours. It will save you so much money and heartbreak in future purchasing decisions, I promise. 
• Selfishly, this saves me time, because it helps people self-select out before we even hop on a call.

6 signs that you might not be ready for coaching

You’re relying on me to prove myself to you

This can show up in a few different ways. If you’re very focused on my credentials, why I chose my pricing, or knowing the exact results that all of my clients have had, it likely means that you’re seeking to qualify or disqualify me as an “expert.”

This indicates that at least part of you thinks I’m responsible for your results, which, sadly, I can’t control. 

Focusing on me takes your attention away from your results and what you’ll need to do in order to create them, using the tools I provide to you. 

To be clear, I’m not saying don’t ask questions! Just know why you’re really asking them, and what you’re really trying to find out or assure yourself of.

If this is you: In consults, I’m very direct when I sense that someone is focusing on me instead of themselves. Be prepared to dig into why you’re asking the questions you’re asking, and what might be below them. (Hint: It’s usually fear and doubt.) 

You hold back, thinking that I haven’t earned your trust yet

I’ll start by saying that I do believe I should earn your trust, and I practice that on every single consult. 

But the irony of this mindset is that, when you hold back and don’t self-disclose, I can’t coach you as well. 

So, you’ll end up proving yourself right, because I won’t have a lot to go on. At the end of the call, you’ll likely think that I didn’t fully earn your trust or prove enough value.

If this is you: Remember that I can only coach you on what you’re willing to say. The more you’re willing to say out loud, the more we have to work with, and the more value you’ll get. Nothing phases me, so don’t be afraid to let it all hang out.   

You’ve signed up for multiple programs and courses at the same time

I work with a lot of people who identify as “course hoarders.” Often, the underlying thought here is “These things should be able to fix my problem.”

The problem is, this puts the onus on the product or service and actually disempowers you. Remember: These courses and programs are tools, but you’re the master craftsperson. 

Enrolling in multiple things at the same time also splits your attention, so you’re unlikely to get the full results that you would if you focused on one thing at a time. 

If this is you: I recommend implementing a course purchasing hiatus and choosing one thing to go all in on, to completion. I’m always happy to consult on how to do this.

You have a strong aversion to group coaching

This one is fascinating. I—perhaps like you—want 1:1 coaching sometimes, because I think I’m a special snowflake who needs very personalized attention for my very special problem 🙂 

But here’s the wild thing: Anyone I’ve spoken to who has rejected the idea of group coaching hasn’t enrolled in 1:1 coaching, either. 

Here’s what I suspect: Dismissing a group coaching program indicates that you think your problem is so unique that it can’t possibly be tackled in a group.

And I think that, deep down, it’s really the belief that your problem is so unique, that it can’t be tackled at all.

It will be hard for you to trust that anyone can help you (even 1:1) when you’re in that place. 

If this is you: I encourage you to entertain the idea that your problem isn’t as unique as you think it is. In fact, it’s just a combo of five things, always: Circumstance, thought, feeling, action, result. Lucky for you, I’m trained in how to break down any problem into those five components, then solve for it. 

You get upset when I sell

Look, I get it. The online business world can be scammy and sales-y as hell. I totally advise using caution when purchasing from self-proclaimed experts, including me. 

But get curious if you have a strong negative reaction when I sell. 

This can look like dismissing my free 30-minute consult offer as a “no-value sales pitch,” being upset when I send marketing emails, or thinking everything I offer should be free. 

If this is you: If you just want free resources, I encourage you to be upfront about that. Let me know and I’ll be sure to pay attention to what I send your way. Consider it a win/win to be upfront 🙂 But also remember that there’s a connection between having skin in the game, financially, and how committed you’ll be to the process of change. 

You don’t crack a smile 

I’ve noticed a strong correlation between coachability and ability to laugh at oneself. 

This work can be heavy, no doubt, but I love to bring fun, laughter, and lightheartedness to all sessions. 

If this is you: I encourage you to start noticing when you’re taking yourself very seriously. How might a dose of lightheartedness shake things up for you and help you see things differently?

Note: Feeling unable to laugh at all might also be a sign of depression. If you suspect that you have undiagnosed depression, I encourage you to seek a licensed therapist. 

Remember: If any of these 6 descriptions fits you, that’s okay.

We actually can build a very successful coaching relationship, if you’re willing to let me call out these thought processes as I see them. 

The true test is booking a 30-minute consult and seeing what unfolds

And, as promised: 

6 tips for investing in yourself wisely

Sell yourself

Absorb free content from creators and coaches—as much as you can get your hands on—then choose to believe that their paid content will be even more valuable. Show up to the consult expecting to say yes to moving forward.

Pro tip: I keep a list of people I plan to purchase from in the future, because I love their free work. They’ve been selling me for years, and I don’t need any more convincing.

Be selective about your purchases, and go all in 

My rule is that I don’t enroll in something unless I’m ready to participate fully. Once I’m committed, I am committed, and I put the onus on myself to suck every bit of value out of the program or course.

Commit to making a 10x return on your investment (100x if you’re feeling wild)

I got this idea from Jaclyn Mellone, a coach. Now, when I enroll in anything, I commit to making back at least 10 times the amount I invested.

A $899 product like Half-Finished to Done, LIVE? Guarantee yourself that you’ll earn at least $8,990 because of it. 

For what it’s worth, I think this is 100% possible for anyone.  If you doubt your ability to do this, let’s coach on it. It’s a fun mind-expanding exercise.

Trust the expert 

Buy from people you trust, and then trust them. Enough said. 

Buy from a pro/pro place

I always recommend that potential clients do a pro/pro list about the decision to move forward with a Pique Coaching program. 

This process moves you out of fear and doubt and puts you in a place of excitement and opportunity.

Pay and book right away  

After a consult, go and enroll immediately. Practice being decisive and taking action. (This skill will serve you well in all of life.) 

This is a sign of respect to the person you’re buying from, but also yourself and your Future Self. 

Enjoy being a dream client!

What idea would you go all in on, if you trusted that you would follow through?

My clients asked themselves this question. Here’s what some of them came up with:

• The musical album that had been on the “dream list” since she was seven
• The payroll project that would increase collection of outstanding patient balances from 1% to up to 30%
• The photography website that would highlight gorgeous, heartfelt photos of inspiring women
• The Tarot course that would help people in their personal relationships
• The data dashboard that would improve how everyone at the institution digests information
• The community that would empower Black Americans to create living wills and other advanced directives

What’s your answer?

Almost every person I speak to knows what idea they would focus on. (Or, they have a ton of awesome possibilities, and just need to whittle it down).

But the lack of trust in themselves is what stands in their way. Can you relate?

Think about it like this: What if you could have a brilliant idea, make a thorough project plan, and then execute on that project plan, all the way to completion?

The best place to learn this skill set is through Half-Finished to Done, LIVE.

If you want to learn how to take your personal and professional projects from half-finished to done, consistently, it might be for you.

In my recent post, Thriving during quarantine?, I mentioned that I would be sharing some of my strategies for managing life during COVID. I suggest taking the strategies that work for you, and leaving the rest. 

Can’t wait to hear what works for you!

Seeing life in modes or stages

Way back in the day, I realized the power of seeing life in stages or modes, instead of seeking perfect balance at all times. (A surefire recipe for stress.)

For me, this means seeing COVID at the time to press pause on things like dating, building an in-person community, and killing it at the gym, and focusing instead on getting my business streamlined and automated. I name this period “business sprinting” and when we’re free to move about freely again, I’ll likely move into “business maintenance mode” for awhile.

For you, it might be that COVID is the most intense period you’ve had in a long time. Or it’s offered you down time. It might be it’s the time to undertake a big project. It might be that it’s time to step back from your business.

Recognizing and naming the period that you’re in is like a permission slip for your brain to accept where you are, instead of resisting reality.

Here are some ideas:

• Growth mode
• Launch mode
• Maintenance mode
• Sprint mode
• Chaos mode

Take action: Read this piece on The Cycle of Years and this post on the concept of “This is the part where…”

Using the Monday Hour One process

Every Monday morning, I plan out my whole week, including my deep work sessions. Doing this helps me kick off my week with purpose, dedication, and intention.

It also ensures that I’m not on “the dim switch,” which is the place where you’re neither working nor relaxing. I’m either fully on or fully off. 

📢 Quick interruption! I’m hosting several workshops on how to master the Monday Hour One process. Learn more and register here. Now back to the show.

Doing morning pages and/or thought downloads

Every morning, I do three pages of free writing. I consider this my mental hygiene routine.

A client of mine recently started morning pages and she commented that it’s “easier to observe [your thoughts] at a distance.”

Full disclosure: My three pages take me an hour, which I realize isn’t feasible for many people. I recommend that you write what you can, even if it’s one sentence. (And if you don’t want to write, that one sentence can be “I don’t want to write.” 

Take action: Listen to this podcast episode about morning pages, then do your own.

Entertaining “ridiculous” ideas

A few months ago, I joined a program called Best Month Ever with a coach named Jaclyn. The premise was simple: Have your best business revenue month ever.

It sounds like a ridiculous undertaking during a pandemic, but it was so powerful to be surrounded by other people who also believed that it was possible. (And I did indeed have my best month ever.)

There’s something ballsy and almost taboo about taking on a big challenge like this right now, like a naughty little secret. 

For my clients, the “ridiculous” idea for them is quitting procrastination, once and for all. 

Take action: What “ridiculous” idea or challenge would light you up during this time? Finally finishing that big project? Losing that extra weight? Taking a sabbatical from your business? 

Being part of like-minded communities

In addition to the Best Month Ever program, I’ve also invested in other programs to be surrounded by people who are directing their energy toward the same things as me.

I joined Bank Boost to be with people who are being conscious about their earning and spending during this time, and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coaching program with Mica McGriggs to be with other white women who want to incorporate anti-racism into their businesses.

Take action: If you’re here, my guess is that you’re looking to ramp up your productivity, quit procrastinating, and finish projects. May I suggest that you check out Half-Finished to Done, LIVE?

Here are a few other things that have contributed to my mental health during quarantine:

• Meditating using the Ziva technique (I haven’t purchased their programs, I self-taught using Emily Fletcher’s book, Stress Less, Accomplish More.)
• Bringing a friend to live with me during quarantine, instead of going it alone. 
• Taking many, many walks—even when it’s 99 degrees!).
• Thinking about the future like this.  
• Implementing these work from home strategies.
• Getting weekly coaching from my amazing coach, Sami of KnowingUP. (No, I’m not a teen with anxiety, but she’s the best coach ever.) 

I bet you need to hear this: Your half-finished project—the one that you’ve put on the back burner—matters.

(Will you judge me if I tell you that I teared up while writing that line?☝️)

You might be like, “Cristina, you don’t even know me or my project.”

But I don’t care. Your project matters in this world.

I don’t care how selfish or trivial you think it is; the truth is that you have things you want to do, or create, or say, or teach, or feel.

And I believe with all of my heart that one small project can be a gateway to a version of you that you can’t quite imagine yet; the version of you who’s confident, courageous, and focused enough to say and do and create and teach and feel those things.

And the world needs more of that.

I also want to address the 🐘 in the room: We’re in the midst of unprecedented times. For some people, this is absolutely not the time to focus on changing life-long procrastination habits and becoming a focused, productive project finisher.

For others, there is literally no better time than now.

Which one are you?

P.S. Here’s how one client described our work: “It’s like having a kick-ass owner’s manual/training program for the the most radically powerful piece of technology you will ever have: Your mind.” Heck yes.

Do you find yourself waiting on the “focus fairy”?

You love the feeling of being in flow, but it feels like it’s out of your control; like it comes and goes with no warning.

If you can master focused, deep work—that is, manage distractions and interruptions and stay single-mindedly focused on one high-impact task—then you can do anything. Seriously; this one skill is not to be underestimated.

Here’s how to measure the impact that this skill could have in your life: Ask yourself how much value you could create with one focused hour.

You could write a chapter in that course. Put together that weekly meal plan. Write 50 follow up emails. Send 10 pitches. Plan a webinar. Create 2 months of email content. Organize your home.

How much value—in the form of time, money, and energy—would these actions create in your life?

(I get giddy for you, thinking of all of the value you could create.)

This is why I teach a signature method for how to get into a deep work state in 15 minutes.

Here’s what people who have used the 15-minute deep work method say:

“OMG this is the greatest gift EVER..This is life changing.”

“Embarrassingly, I got more done in an hour than I had all week!” (He says embarrassing; I say amazing.)

“I just did the entire deep work state process….and guess what? It was fabulous! Thanks. Lots done in 45 minutes.”

I want you to think of every single personal and professional project that you’re likely to do over the next five years.

Think: Any and all projects, big or small, related to your career, business, personal finances, hobbies, community, or health.

Losing weight. Starting a side business. Creating a course. Writing a screenplay or book. Doing social justice work in your community. Automating your investments. Organizing your home. Recording that album.

What if you could improve your project planning and execution process by just 1%, using the signature methods that I can teach you? 

What would that be worth to you, in every single area of your life, over the course of five years?

I’m not gonna lie—when I phrase it this way, I literally laugh out loud with delight at what a ridiculous deals my Half-Finished to Done coaching programs are (they’re priced from $499-$799). 

Here’s what my clients say:

“I have to share this with you because I am literally walking on sunshine right now! I did a deep work state and did the first block of tasks from my project plan. I got everything done that I wanted to, with time to spare. I truly feel I can attribute this extra time to the fact that I had such a detailed list of exactly what I had to do. I didn’t finish a task and then go back to wondering what I wanted to do next…”

“Thanks so much! I realized while doing this that I generally start making a ‘big picture plan’ and then I get annoyed by planning and just start doing … and never even go back to the plan. This was a great exercise in sticking with making a plan from start to finish and really thinking through all the steps!”