8 Rookie Moves That Work To Grow
7 years ago this Friday, I left my job for the last time.
It’s my “ALL-IN”-iversary, and it’s got me taking notes from our bold, rookie selves to about how to (cringey, terrifying step-by-step) shake sh*t up, and explore our potential after we’ve gotten comfortable.
I remember that Friday afternoon perfectly.
I pillaged that desk. Piled every damn last desk supply into a Chinese restaurant to-go box, thinking to myself: “Better take those scissors. You’re gonna need ‘em with the budget you’re headed for.” 😂
I remember how anti-climatic it felt to walk through those 20-foot glass doors, out on to Sutter Street in downtown San Francisco for the last time.
I kinda felt like Aladdin: a street rat in the SF financial district, except instead of scraps of bread, I was swiping staplers and highlighters. All my coworkers were long gone at Happy Hour. So, I stepped out, alone, on to the BART train (that smelled like urine), to go all-in on my dream with one freckin’ client.
Why am I telling you this?
Because there’s things we did as Rookies - bold, often un-seen things - that worked to help us pivot and achieve once impossible goals. Things we should be, but probably aren’t, doing today.
Specifically, there’s 8 moves I want to shout out.
Here’s the 8 “Rookie Moves” that worked to get myself “unstuck” and living a dream that was once just scraps on a vision board:
When you don't know where to begin, start in your Genius Zone:
While I didn’t know how to replace my job’s income self-employed, I did know the skill sets in my Genius Zone: teaching, facilitating workshops and coaching. So, I leaned into my Genius Zone as I attempted something really daunting. I enrolled in a coaching certification program (iPEC) to hone skills I was naturally talented in (pro move to earn more money!), and I made workshop facilitation my main lead generating activity. If you’re looking to earn more, expand or pivot - clarify and double down on your Genius Zone.
2. Building a community:
Through my certification program and joining local entrepreneur groups, I started building a peer group of other people who were working towards a similar goal to me. This was *crucial* as a Rookie (and still is 8 years in) to normalize the challenges that come with your big audacious goal (and keep going). This community also resource and information shared, generated clients and pushed one another to be better.
Rookies do this out of necessity, but vets do this out of wisdom. Build an inspiring, supportive peer circle (including people further along than you), and it’ll propel you beyond your past known zone of success.
3. Replace Wine and Cheese nights with Co-Working nights:
During the build up phase, I had a lot of certification course work and business-building work to do after my job. I didn't have free time for wine and cheese nights like I used to. But I also recognized that I needed my friends to stay healthy and happy during this Rookie “push” phase.
So, I recruited 2-3 girlfriends who were also working towards a big goal. After work, we would get takeout or bring bagged dinners, and hole up in a conference room or a late night cafe and build our businesses together. When you’re in a growth mode, the reality is you need more time to build and expand - why not make it joyful with a few badass friends?
4. Invest in a mentor (And make it someone who is an expert in your area of expertise)
Around December of 2016, I started to get a whiff of the fact that the coaches and the Alum from my Coaching Program were really struggling to start their business and make good money on it.
And let's be honest - I wasn't getting into coaching to run a charity. I wanted to do amazing work and help people make more money doing what they love, but also I wanted to make more money doing what I love.
That's when I hired my first business coach, Julian. He was an incredible mentor that helped me quickly upskill and learn how to run the lead generation, operations, sales and program delivery of a successful coaching business.
Even still, it would be another six months after hiring Julian until I landed my first client…
5. Network your ass off:
I spent the next 6 months following Julian's advice.
I did a lot of networking and meeting as many people as possible.
Around June of 2017, I went to a clothing swap with a well-connected friend. The hostess of the clothing swap would become my first client, AND the reason for my next 7 clients (she was a godsend of a referrer). If I had said “no” to that seemingly un-related event…I would’ve missed the opportunity of a lifetime.
Are you going to events locally? Setting up connection calls with online folks? This Rookie move is still how I get invitations to facilitate, speak on podcasts, collaborate on events and generate clients today!
6. Don't be afraid to work for free for the first handful of clients.
That first client I signed at the clothing swap? I offered to give her 3 free sessions in exchange for a testimonial and that’s what got us working together to start.
I gave her my ALL in those first 3 sessions. Lo and behold, she couldn’t wait to hire me officially and continue the momentum we had built in her business.
A lot of coaches will tell you: Never work for free. But, testimonials, experience with a new offer, opportunities to shine in your Genius Zone (like leading a workshop), and referrals can be more valuable than cash during a pivot or growth phase. Choose those first pro bono clients wisely - make sure they’re capable of making this mutually beneficial - but Rookie or not, this move is GOLDEN for growth!
7. Set a date:
One of the next pivotal moves was following the advice of another coach to “set a date.”
By May/June 2017, I have 1 client. But, I was really doubting myself that I could make a full time income at coaching and be able to safely leave my 9-5 job.
Observing my self-doubt, a coach advised me to “set a date” by when I’d leave and just figure it out.
Every bone in my type A planner body said this woman is full of 💩, and not to be trusted.
But because she wouldn’t shut up about it, I decided I would appease her by putting a calendar hold on my Google Calendar for late summer of 2017 - my leave-by-date.
And guess what happened? Just before that calendar hold came up, I was in a 1-1 meeting with my then boss.
He asked me the simple question of “So, how's it going?” Then, it was like this force hijacked my brain and vocal cords, and something said through me that I was building my coaching business and I would be leaving the company around the end of the Summer.
Mike, my boss, was horrified. I was horrified. We were all horrified. 😂
But that Rookie move of “setting the date” by when you’ll make a leap really shows the power of setting an intention. I really believe that the universe or my own celestial team could see that my Type A a** needed help to pull the trigger, and do what I inwardly knew I needed to do.
Powerful forces corroborate to bring your vision to life when you set a date.
8. Say yes before you are ready:
As you already know, once my last day came, I piled all my (stolen) desk supplies into a Chinese restaurant To-Go box, and walked out of that office for the last time. I had 1 client, but needed 4 to cover my living expenses.
The very next day, my one client sent me a voice message asking if I wanted to speak at one of her events.
I had no freaking clue what I could speak about, I had never given a keynote in my life, but I knew I was going to figure it out.
I said, yes. I got to planning my workshop for her company. Being honest, there were multiple times leading up to that first keynote that I cried, and felt like throwing up/giving up. But it ended up being one of the most rewarding, affirming experiences of my life.
From that one talk came my next three clients, and that's how I paid my rent, my utilities, and my groceries in my first month of being self-employed. And my sticking to my Genius Zone, the business only took off from there.
So whether you are teetering on that tipping point like I was in the summer of 2017, wondering if you should go full time in your business, or you’re 7 years in, I think there is a message in here for you.
When’s the last time you dreamed up a fresh batch of bold, audacious desires that seem totally unachievable, but DAMN…What if you freckin’ did ‘em?
I want us all to pick an audacious possibility that really excites and scares the sh*t out of us, pushes us past the edge of our comfort zone, but ushers in the next sexier, wiser, bolder, and more confident versions of ourselves.
Then, take a page from our “Rookie Playbook” and get after it.
Ask yourself 👉 What’s something bold you really want to work towards? What are 3 “Rookie Moves” that you’re not doing right now, but could be, to set into motion that sassy, audacious goal you have?