When I decided to name my business coaching company iEvolve Consulting, the name came to me in a distinct moment of clarity.

In every season, every dilemma, every moment of growth and joy, “evolve” has been the word that has consistently rung true, and evolution seems more appropriate now more than ever.

Despite connecting with this word for so long, over the weekend, I looked up its definition, and the most accurate depiction of my sense of the word was, “the gradual development of something; going from a simple to complex form.” We are gradually becoming a different version of ourselves each day and moment, and the only way to initiate positive change is to ask and show up.

Sometimes, we will need to ask and show up for ourselves by asking ourselves the hard questions and following through with positive decisions that have the power to gradually bring about change. Other times, we will need to ask others for what we want or need and follow through. Regardless of circumstance, my rhythm for evolutions has always been the partnership of asking and showing up. So…what exactly do I mean by those terms?

Ask

This is a season of reinvention for a lot of us. We are discovering what we really miss about normal life and what we (maybe surprisingly) could do without. Our priorities are shifting, and we are getting clarity on what we deeply enjoy. Maybe you have discovered you love a certain aspect of your job but there are other areas you are not as passionate about, or you would like to spend more time at home with your family. Perhaps you have adopted a new business model and are seeking some guidance moving forward.

Wherever you find yourself, communicating what you want and need is an important part of evolving. I have seen a lot of business owners who are afraid of asking others for what they need because of the possibility of getting rejected, but if you never ask, the answer will always be no! Making your ask requires bravery, courage, and confidence in yourself and your business. Even if the answer to your ask is no, the mental muscles required to step out and make your ask will be strengthened each time you put yourself and your business out there.

Show-Up

Once you’ve made your ask, it is time to show-up. Often showing up in a new or unfamiliar situation generates nerves, which is absolutely normal! Remember, you’ve already done the hard work of making your ask, now it is time to prepare in order to combat nerves and show up as the best version of yourself. Preparation could look like doing research about your prospect or preparing your short introduction prior to a networking event.

Once you have prepared, it is time to show up…as you are! You have made your ask, you have prepared, and now, showing up means doing your best and letting go of the rest. I am a firm believer that our experiences, both good and bad, grow us in some way, so whether you obtain the goal of your ask or not, you will still grow by going through the process of asking and showing up.

You might be reading this article thinking…I have no idea what my ask is or what it should be. Let me tell you, that is OKAY! Especially now during these uncertain times, it can be hard to find steady ground to march forward towards our goals. That is why I started business coaching: to help business owners get to where they want to go in the safety of a confidential, supportive environment. If you need assistance determining your ask, preparing to show up, or anything in between, I would love to help you. Click HERE for a free 20 min. breakthrough session where we can connect and discuss how to get you from simply surviving to thriving in your business. It is time to EVOLVE together!

About Annette Walter

Much like Marcus Lemonis, host of CNBC’s “The Profit,” who lends his expertise to struggling businesses, Annette analyzes businesses, supports them with the right resources, and designs the plan they need in order to go from surviving to thriving.

Annette Walter has started, acquired, owned and operated more than 15 companies in her lifetime. As a wife, mother of two young boys, and owner of a national company, Timber Industries, that was included on last year’s Inc. 5000 list, she is able to serve her true purpose and passion in coaching and consulting entrepreneurs through her business coaching company, iEvolve Consulting. Annette works with business owners across the globe in various industries to support their overall well-being, teams, and operations. As an operations expert and strategist, she works with business owners to help them identify organizational gaps and opportunities in their companies. She works with businesses to help make their finances, marketing efforts, technology solutions, and sales more efficient and effective.

Contact: YouRock@iEvolveConsulting.com