As I have continued to grow my business, I have learned so much about myself along the way. There are some golden nuggets which have helped me to move forward even when it was uncomfortable. Taking the steps toward business growth means personal growth will occur as well.

Instead of business growth being a vacuum separated from my personal life, I realized there is an ebb and flow. How I approach challenges, whether personally or professionally, is a similar process. These strategies have helped me continue to grow my business.

1. It will be difficult at times, but continue to move forward as you face your fears. Take inspired action to get past the parts which are uncomfortable. Progress toward a BIG goal requires a leap of faith. As you begin to reach your goals you will be stepping out of your comfort zone.

When I began to face my fears it was very, very difficult. There were things I had been avoiding for years. Once I committed to the goal and connected with my compelling reason to succeed "no matter what" my outlook changed. All of a sudden the obstacles were not quite as significant as they had been.

Reaching out to someone in my mastermind group or an accountability buddy helped me to gain clarity on the steps necessary to progress. Frequently I was unsure how I was going to reach the next milestone, but had the faith in myself and my goal to remain focused on the next step right in front of me. Faith, personal conviction and a strong sense of purpose were consistent invaluable resources for my leap of faith.       

2. Don't take setbacks as failures. Instead view them as learning opportunities. Things don't always work out as expected. You always have the choice to retreat, but you don't have to. What works well for me is viewing setbacks as learning opportunities.

Instead of focusing on the failure, I review the actions which did work and did not work. I learn from my mistakes, but I also want to acknowledge the successes as well. This approach allows me to see both sides. Next I figure out where something didn't work out as planned and strategize how to do it differently next time.

Fear of failure is something which holds many people back from success. This perception makes it personal. Fear of being judged will prevent you from taking the steps necessary for success. You are right about two things, you will be judged and you will have setbacks. Think about times when you felt so strongly about something you did it anyway. Access that conviction to help overcome the fears holding you back.

3. Some things just take time. Expecting an immediate response to everything I am doing makes me impatient. Sometimes it just takes time. People are watching. Consistency is crucial when going for a BIG goal. Pace yourself. You don't want to go too fast and then burn out. Instead create your plan and work your plan. That is the best thing you could possibly do for yourself.

4. Don't be shy, you need to let others know about what you do. Coming from a place of service. Don't be a "best kept secret." Okay, I know no one likes people who brag all the time. That is not very client attractive. On the other hand, you need to let other's know what you do and the service you are providing. Too often I have seen entrepreneurs open their door for business and expect clients to flock to them. At first, I was like that also.

It doesn't work that way. Businesses thrive and grow with attention. Marketing is necessary to reach your goals for success. Others need to find out about you somehow. There are many different ways to market. Find the one which fits your personality best and begin there.

Be yourself. Focus on building relationships and developing rapport. A hard sell is not the way to do business. Why would anyone want to buy from you if they don't know you or feel pressured? People want to connect with you; get to know you. Consistency in your marketing message and visibility will foster trust.

Activity: Consider all of the opportunities you have to network and build relationships. List the activities you are currently doing. Are you doing these things regularly? Consistency is vital for having a continuous flow of clients instead of only marketing when you need more clients. This avoids feast and famine with your income.

Now list the activities which are available to you right now, but have not started yet. If you were to begin doing one of these, which would you select? Develop a plan to add this one new activity into your marketing strategy. Remember it is not about doing it one time and then you never have to do it again. Consistency is key for any marketing strategy to work.