Are You Playing IFTTT With Your Business?
One of the things I love about my work as a coach is seeing themes that show up among the various coaching sessions that I have in a week. I always find it interesting when clients who don’t know each other, have completely different business aspirations and life circumstances are experiencing a common barrier to success.
Recently, that common barrier was a game of IFTTT.
What is IFTTT? Well, you might know it best as an awesome app that allows you to automate and streamline tasks between different software applications. For example: If someone signs up for my webinar in Zoom, then add them to my email list in MailChimp. The acronym stands for “if this then that.”
But recently, I’ve heard many of my clients using these words and this structure with their business dreams:
If I sell my horses, then I’ll quit the job I can’t stand and start my dream business.
If I get a new client, then I’ll buy the computer I need to do the editing work.
If I get 100 new followers, then I’ll start promoting my new webinar.
These are very close to the real statements I heard in coaching sessions, but let’s break it down further. Because at first glance these might seem like strategic ways to reward yourself for reaching a goal. But the problem lies in the “then that” of the statement. In each of the bargains above, the “then that” is actually the one thing that could turn the “if” around!
So when you wait for an “if” that’s contingent on the “then,” you are playing a game you’ll never win.
But in a true celebration commitment for a job well done, the “if” is not contingent on the “then” part of the agreement. Here are some examples of true celebration agreements:
If I sell my horses, then I’ll celebrate by booking a weekend getaway.
If I sign a new client this week, then I’ll book a massage this weekend.
If I get 100 new followers, then I’m taking my girlfriends out for wine.
A wonderful test to see if you are playing IFTTT is to flip the statement around and see if the “then” part will actually help you accomplish the “if” part.
For example, one of the members of the Luminary Hustle community was holding off on buying herself the new computer she needed to do editing work as a freelancer. Here’s what happened when she turned this around:
“Today was a huge day for me. I bought a computer! I’ve gotten by with my phone, my work (“day job”) computer, and my husband’s desktop for YEARS but I finally made a [possibly stupid? I was thinking at the time...] decision that it was time for me to *invest* in having my own personal/business laptop.... and then??? My ONE (and only) writing coaching client, who had missed her phone call Sunday (just before book club!)... rescheduled for tonight, and we had an amazing call in which I felt helpful and good at what I do, and she asked for another month of coaching and said she’ll mail a check within the next week. ”
Another way to see if you’re playing IFTTT is to check for completely arbitrary barriers that don’t actually have any impact on your ability to accomplish the “then” part of the statement.
For my client with the horses, she didn’t need the money from the horses to be able to afford to quit her job. And she didn’t need the money from the horses to launch her dream business. She had simply locked in on an arbitrary barrier because of the fear holding her back from taking a big leap toward creating a life and business she loves. During her coaching session, we were able to determine that selling the horses that she adored wasn’t even part of the plan! They would be an integral part of her new business!
So how do you find the IFTTT bargains that you’ve made with your business?
Get out a sheet of paper and make a list of all the things you’d like to do in your business (or your life). Write these in one column. Then, in a second column write down the thing that you believe would have to happen to make that dream or goal a reality. Then, go back and review the list asking yourself two questions for each row:
First ask: “Is the barrier to my dream or goal perceived or real?” This will let you know if you’ve locked into an arbitrary agreement with yourself that’s keeping you from moving forward.
If it’s real ask: “Is it possible that the barrier is actually the key to unlock this dream?” This question will help you identify any IFTTT bargains that are keeping you stuck.
Once you’ve completed this activity, I’m happy to take a closer look at it with you over virtual coffee. Find a time that works here.