I’m out in Colorado this week with my husband visiting my son, Ben, and we’ve been on lots of trails. As I’ve walked and talked and enjoyed the beauty of nature, it reminded me that hiking has been a lot like building my business. So I decided to jot down a few tips for you that have helped me build a thriving and sustainable business so you can do the same…

1. Know where you are going

In order to get to your destination, you have to know where you are going. You don’t start on a hike unless you know where the trail is taking you. Otherwise you’d just be wandering around in the woods and apt to get lost.

The same is true for a business. You want to start with the end in mind. What is it that you want? What’s your vision? What does it look like to have a successful business? Are you working with 1:1 clients, a group, retreats? How much would you like to be making each month? Knowing the answers to these questions will determine your offers, and business model.

2. Have a map

Once you know where you want to go, find the path that will take you there. I always check the map at the trailhead so that I can see the path I need to be on and what markers I need to follow when I am on the trail.

When building a business, you want to have a pathway to your goal. Just saying you want a 6-figure business will not get you there. There are a series of steps to take to get you there. What is your pathway? What is it you need to do daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly to get to your business destination? Without a simple system to get there, most coaches just throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks and end up confused, frustrated and feel lost.

3. Stay on the trail

Have you ever wandered off a trail and it ended up taking you twice as long to get to where you wanted to go?

There is a reason why there is a trail. The path has been carved out and is the quickest path to your mountaintop.

Your business needs you to stay on the trail too. Stop recreating the wheel and chasing bright shiny tactics. Follow the path and be consistent and you will arrive. Everything time you chase a bright shiny object you start back at square one again. Just keep taking the next step and before you know it, you’ll arrive.

4. Enjoy the view

When you get to the top of the mountain- enjoy the view. Have a seat, celebrate, congratulate yourself on the work you just did to get here. It feels amazing to take a rest and enjoy the view.

Yet so many women just look for the next money goal instead of celebrating  what they accomplished. Success then becomes a moving target. Celebrate often, daily and use that as your momentum to enjoy the process. Otherwise you’ll just be chasing the next thing and never feel satisfied.

5. Travel with company

When hiking, I also travel with someone. It is so much more fun to have someone along with me. Usually it’s my husband or my kids. They keep me going and I enjoy just being with them.

In my business, I surround myself with other women who are also growing multiple 6 figure and 7 figure businesses. Just being in the virtual room with them keeps me inspired and tapped into a community that gets it.

6. When in doubt, ask for support

On the trail the rocks can be slippery and steep. Sometimes I need to ask my husband for a hand and he is always happy to give it.

In my business I stopped trying to lone wolf it. If you want to succeed you want to have support from someone who knows the pathway and can show you the way. This collapses the timeline quickly because they can help you through the obstacles and challenges you just didn’t know about. Invest in a coach for support. I do and It’s been the BEST business decision I’ve made. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

7. Slow and steady wins the race

Each step matters. Sometimes it feels so hard to go uphill. The sun is blazing and it feels like you’ll never get to the top. But each step matters. I know that turning around won’t get me where I want to go. Giving up isn’t an option. Just one baby step at a time and staying committed to the trail is what will get me there.

Stay committed in your business. Keep taking baby steps. Show up, keep going and see every challenge as an opportunity to grow even more.

8. Stop and smell the flowers

I LOVE flowers. So does my husband. We stop often to smell the flowers, take photos of them and admire the beauty of nature. It makes the journey to the top so much more joyful.

My business model has intentional time built in for this too. Every month I take the last week off to travel, get creative and just BE. I also schedule in something pleasurable each day. Building a kick-ass business can only be sustainable if you have time to renew and nourish you. Be intentional with time off each week, month, quarter and year.

9. Sometimes you need to go down to go up

Almost every trail I have been on at some point takes you down a bit in order to go back up. But just because you go down for a few moments doesn’t mean you’re back at the beginning of the trailhead, or going backwards. You’re still moving forward.

When it looks like something isn’t working in your business, see it as an opportunity. It’s just a pause so you can gather more information and continue on. It doesn’t mean your business is broken. You’re still moving forward and opening to greater opportunities ahead of you.

And lastly…

10. Look to the direction you want to go, not behind

Keep your eyes ahead of you on the trail or you’ll trip over those roots. Stay focused on the direction you WANT to be going. Not what is behind you.

In growing my business, I stay future focused. I’m excited about the possibility ahead of my and stay focused on the vision ahead. The past does not dictate what’s possible in the future and what you focus on is what you’ll get. So stay focused on your desires and keeping looking ahead and let that pull you forward.

Have a daily mindset practice that keeps you building the abundance muscle and you’ll be stepping into the future version of you who already has those consistent 10K months.💜

Let me know how these resonated for you.👆🏻 I read and respond to every email I get. I’d love to know which one stood out to you the most. Then go register for my next complementary masterclass coming up soon, 6 Figures Made Simple. I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing my top strategies for creating a simple, soulful 6-figure business that’s perfect for wellness coaches and holistic practitioners like you.

Enjoy your weekend,

Chris