Welcome back to the Next Brave Step blog. Today, we’re diving into the third stage of my signature coaching method, the Next Brave Step Blueprint—your guide to transformational change. This blueprint isn’t just a set of steps; it’s a proven system that has worked for hundreds of people worldwide. Whether you feel stuck in your job, struggle with finances, yearn for better health, or seek more fulfilling relationships, this blueprint is designed to guide you through a transformational journey step by step.

Understanding the Next Brave Step Blueprint

The Next Brave Step Blueprint is a comprehensive, actionable plan that helps navigate significant changes in your life. It’s broken down into six key stages:

1. The Reckoning: Recognizing the need for change and confronting the reality of your current situation.
2. Evaluation: Assessing where you are, what’s working, and what’s not working.
3. Strategy: Developing a clear and actionable plan to achieve your goals.
4. Massive Action: Implementing your plan with bold, decisive actions.
5. Course Correct: Adjusting your strategy as needed to stay on track.
6. Receive and Repeat: Embracing your achievements and preparing for continued growth.

In our last discussion, we covered the evaluation stage. Today, we move on to the strategy stage. I’ll be sharing insights, personal stories, and practical tips to help you develop a clear, actionable plan to achieve your goals, anticipate roadblocks, and nurture motivation. If you’re ready to take control of your life and start your journey towards transformational change, keep reading. Each brave step you take brings you closer to the life you’ve always dreamed of.

The Strategy Stage: Developing a Clear and Actionable Plan

In the strategy stage, we focus on developing a clear and actionable plan for achieving our goals. This well-thought-out strategy is essential for making progress and ensuring our efforts lead to meaningful results.

If you haven’t already, make sure to grab the workbook that goes along with this series. You can find the link in the show notes below. It offers structured guidance, exercises, and worksheets to help you through this process.

Identifying Possible Routes

The first step in the strategy phase is identifying all possible routes to get from point A to point B. In the evaluation stage, we defined our starting point and endpoint. Think of it as a map or GPS—you need to know where you’re at and where you’re going. Today, we’re picking the path in between.

Identify all possible routes, even those beyond your current resources and circumstances. Be open-minded and creative. This helps you see the situation with fresh eyes and reveal unexpected opportunities. Sometimes, the path less taken is the most rewarding.

Examples of Out-of-the-Box Solutions

1. Starting an Etsy Business: If you’re stuck in a 9-to-5 job and want more control over your time, consider starting an Etsy business selling digital downloads. This allows flexibility and potential for passive income.
2. Starting a Remote Accounting Firm: If you work at an accounting firm and want more control over your schedule, start your own remote accounting firm. This reduces the need for physical office space and lowers business expenses.

Conducting a Risk Analysis

When planning your path to achieve your goals, it’s critical to do a thorough risk analysis. This process helps you evaluate potential routes and make informed decisions.

1. List Potential Risks: Include financial risks, time constraints, market uncertainties, personal limitations, and external factors.
2. Evaluate Each Risk: Determine how likely each risk is to happen and rate them on a scale from low to high or 1 to 10.
3. Analyze Your Risk Tolerance: Reflect on your comfort level with taking risks.
4. Weigh Potential Benefits Against Risks: Compare the potential benefits with associated risks.
5. Mitigate Risks: Find ways to minimize risks while pursuing your goals.
6. Make an Informed Decision: Prioritize routes that offer the best balance of high potential benefits and manageable risks.

The workbook includes a risk analysis template to help you through this process.

Anticipating Roadblocks

Understanding and anticipating roadblocks can make a significant difference in your journey towards achieving your goals. Jen Sincero, in her book “You Are a Badass,” introduces the concept of the little prince, referring to the part of your subconscious that creates limiting beliefs. These beliefs might sound like “I’m not good enough” or “I can’t change my situation.”

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: Recognize and acknowledge these beliefs, then challenge and reframe them with positive affirmations and evidence of your capabilities.

Upper Limit Problem: In “The Big Leap,” Gay Hendricks discusses the upper limit problem, where your brain resists moving into the next level of comfort, leading to self-sabotage. Overcoming this involves mindfulness, self-reflection, setting incremental goals, and practicing visualization and gratitude.

Tools for Combating Roadblocks

1. The Power of Forgiveness: Forgiveness is powerful for releasing past hurts and moving forward. Engage in forgiveness work, like the Hopa Ono practice, to release heavy burdens of shame, guilt, and blame.
2. Watch Your Words: Pay attention to how you talk to yourself. Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations.
3. Accountability: Support and accountability are crucial for achieving success. Consider hiring a coach, joining a mastermind group, or finding an accountability partner. The Brave Collective Community also offers monthly coaching calls and group support.

Personal Stories and Insights

Let me share a personal story about my own journey through the strategy stage. Recently, I got engaged to a wonderful man, Joel. Our relationship is marked by emotional maturity and mutual support, which was new for me. One day, I found myself feeling jealous of Joel’s interactions with a female coworker. Instead of letting this fester, I asked for an open, vulnerable moment, a practice we implemented early in our relationship. This moment of honesty and vulnerability allowed us to grow closer and address my feelings constructively.

This experience taught me the importance of open communication and tackling roadblocks head-on. It reinforced the value of setting incremental goals, practicing gratitude, and celebrating small wins.

Practical Tips for the Strategy Stage

1. Identify Possible Routes: Brainstorm all potential ways to achieve your goals. Think beyond current resources and circumstances.
2. Conduct a Risk Analysis: Evaluate each route by listing potential risks, assessing their likelihood and impact, and reflecting on your risk tolerance.
3. Anticipate Roadblocks: Identify and address limiting beliefs and the upper limit problem.
4. Use Forgiveness as a Tool: Engage in forgiveness work to release past hurts.
5. Monitor Your Self-Talk: Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations.
6. Seek Accountability: Join a mastermind group, find an accountability partner, or hire a coach.

Recap

Developing a clear and actionable plan, anticipating roadblocks, and using tools to stay motivated are crucial for staying on your path. Thank you for joining me on this journey. We will be back next week with the massive action stage, where we take the next brave step. Don’t forget to download the workbook in the show notes to help you list out all your options and choose the right path for your success.

Thank you for joining me on this episode. See you in the next one. Bye!

FAQ Section

1. What is the Next Brave Step Blueprint?

The Next Brave Step Blueprint is a comprehensive, actionable plan designed to help you navigate significant changes in your life. It consists of six key stages: The Reckoning Stage, The Evaluation Stage, The Strategy Stage, Taking Massive Action, Course Correcting, and Receive and Repeat.

2. How can I develop a clear and actionable plan?

Developing a clear and actionable plan involves identifying all possible routes to your goal, conducting a thorough risk analysis, anticipating roadblocks, and using tools like forgiveness and positive self-talk to stay motivated.

3. What are some examples of out-of-the-box solutions for achieving my goals?

Some out-of-the-box solutions include starting an Etsy business selling digital downloads or starting a remote accounting firm. Both options provide flexibility, potential for growth, and a better work-life balance.

4. How do I conduct a risk analysis for my goals?

To conduct a risk analysis, list potential risks, evaluate each risk’s likelihood and impact, reflect on your risk tolerance, weigh potential benefits against risks, mitigate risks, and make an informed decision based on this analysis.

5. What tools can help me combat roadblocks in my journey?

Tools to combat roadblocks include engaging in forgiveness work, monitoring and replacing negative self-talk, and seeking accountability through mastermind groups, accountability partners, or hiring a coach.

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