The Guide to Understanding Your Visionary Alter-Ego. by Mary Strachan

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1 The Guide to Understanding Your Visionary Alter-Ego by Mary Strachan

2 What is a visionary alter-ego? I created the term Visionary Alter-Ego as a fun way to describe a pattern. Specifically, THE pattern that you ve fallen into when you find yourself distracted, overwhelmed or procrastinating yourself out of taking action on your big idea. It s often something that you might consider a flaw or judge yourself about, but I m here to tell you that there s nothing wrong with you!! In fact, at the heart of each of these Visionary Alter-Egos is a GIFT that s simply been taken TOO far - kind of like its EXTREME Version. You can also think about it as getting carried away with what would otherwise be considered a STRENGTH Mary Strachan 2

3 how to use this guide Use this Guide as a resource to help you understand what s happening in your business and life at this point in time. You can always refer back to it again at a later date if something feels different. I suggest that you find your Alter-Ego from the quiz first, and see how it resonates with you. Then you can explore the other six. You can also read it as a book - its up to you. You may notice that you can relate to some of the other patterns as well. That s okay. Take away what helps you the most, so you can start to get things done! At the end, I extend an invitation to you to share your story with me via . Mary 2017 Mary Strachan 3

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 What is a Visionary Alter-Ego? 3 How to Use this Guide 5 Patti Planner 7 Penny Plateau 9 Paula Perfection 11 Lena Learner 13 Bea Busy Bee 15 Gretta Grinder 17 Izzy Ideas 19 In Summary 20 What s Next? 21 FAQ s 22 About Me 23 Notes

patti planner Patti Planner keeps you focused on creating plans, analyzing details and preparing for your next big idea. She gets you caught up in the minutiae of the business.

5 patti planner Patti Planner keeps you focused on creating plans, analyzing details and preparing for your next big idea. She gets you caught up in the minutiae of the business. She makes it difficult to translate your plans into income-generating products and services. When she s in charge, it s tricky for you to go with the flow, and you can feel unproductive and unsuccessful because you re overcomplicating. If Patti Planner wrote a book, it would be called: Book? Let s talk day planners instead. If your business had a theme song, it would be: Now For Plan A by The Tragically Hip Mary Strachan 5

6 Tips and tricks: You can start to turn things around by making decisions and taking purposeful action. When you realize Patti Planner is at play, ask yourself, What do I need to decide? And What is one step I can take to put my plan into motion? Dedicate time in your schedule to regularly alternate between planning and taking action. embrace Your gift: You are an amazing planner who naturally pays close attention to the details, resulting in fewer mistakes. You know the end result you desire and set clear standards about what you want to achieve. You have the capacity to create comprehensive strategies to accomplish your vision. Since you think things through, there are often few surprises or glitches to manage as you execute your project or event. You don t have to have it all figured out to be able to move forward. - Victor Kiam 2017 Mary Strachan 6

penny plateau Penny Plateau complicates the process of delegating work to your current team members or slows down your efforts to add more people to your team.

7 penny plateau Penny Plateau complicates the process of delegating work to your current team members or slows down your efforts to add more people to your team. Try as you might, you can t quite take your already successful business to the next level. When she s in charge, it s tricky for you to fully let go, and you can feel irritable and frustrated because you re spinning your wheels. If Penny Plateau wrote a book, it would be called: Spin It, Sister! If your business had a theme song, it would be: Takin it To the Next Level by The Scream 2017 Mary Strachan 7

8 tips and tricks: embrace your gift: You can start to turn things around by creating simple yet supportive processes that facilitate ease in delegation. When you realize Penny Plateau is at play, ask yourself, How can I communicate what needs to be delegated more simply? Dedicate time in your monthly schedule to prepare to delegate tasks. You know how to run a successful business - you have discovered what works best for you, and you are comfortable trusting your instincts and decisions. You see mistakes as an opportunity to grow and learn. You have already established systems and structures to support yourself in your life and business. You know when to ask for help and see asking for that help as a strength, not a weakness. I can t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. - jimmy dean 2017 Mary Strachan!8

9 Paula perfection Paula Perfection tricks you into believing that there s a set high performance standard and anything less is unacceptable. She gets you caught up in thinking there is a right way to do things. Naturally, you can become incredibly hesitant to put yourself or anything you create out into the world. When she s in charge, it s tricky to be vulnerable and you can feel like a failure and disheartened because it s almost like you're paralyzed. If Paula Perfection wrote a book, it would be called: If You Want It Done Right, Do It Yourself! If your business had a theme song, it would be: Flawless by Beyonce 2017 Mary Strachan 9

10 tips and tricks: embrace your gift: You can start to turn things around by creating your own version of a good enough criteria. When you realize Paula Perfection is at play, ask yourself, What could I create if I did not have to worry about judgement? Dedicate time in your schedule once or twice a year to review your materials and make revisions. You love being organized, which allows you to be highly efficient and effective in your business (and in life.) The routines and systems you create allow you to be highly productive and less stressed. Your time and patience often pays off, as the extra little details you add are often what sets your work apart. An added bonus: there are generally fewer issues with your finished product when its time to release it. The artist who aims at perfection in everything achieves it in nothing. Eugene Delacroix 2017 Mary Strachan 10

11 lena learner Lena Learner leads you to believe that you need to learn one more thing before you can truly begin to create. She craves knowledge and information which drives you to continually learn, learn, learn. It s easy for you to get caught in a perpetual learning cycle and you may not even use what you learn. When she s in charge, it s tricky for you to trust your inner knowing, and you can feel perplexed and a little like a fake because you don t do what you know. If Lena Learner wrote a book, it would be called: Can Curiousity Really Kill the Entrepreneur? If your business had a theme song, it would be: Learning to Fly by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 2017 Mary Strachan 11

12 Tips and tricks: You can start to turn things around by looking inwardly for the answers and asking questions of yourself. When you realize Lena Learner is at play, ask yourself, What do I already know that would help me in this situation? Dedicate time in your schedule to routinely learn something new (and remember it doesn t have to be related to your business.) embrace Your gift: You are a life long learner - inquisitive and curious and likely very open-minded. You value knowledge and understand that when you learn something new, you evolve and therefore never stay the same. You seek to understand how the world works, and are often called upon to share your expertise with others. You love to research, inquire, think, teach, contemplate and detect, creating space for new ideas and innovations to emerge. Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer. - William s Burroughs 2017 Mary Strachan 12

Bea Busy Bee Bea Busy Bee distracts you with busy work so your time is consumed by tasks like checking email and surfing on social media. She loves to re-organize your your office and your desk.

13 Bea Busy Bee Bea Busy Bee distracts you with busy work so your time is consumed by tasks like checking and surfing on social media. She loves to re-organize your your office and your desk. You look busy but you don t get to the activities that will actually bring money into your business. When she s in charge, it s tricky for you to risk failing, and you can feel confused and unfulfilled because you re taking lots of action without seeing results. If Bea Busy Bee wrote a book, it would be called: 52 Steps to an Organized Business If your business had a theme song, it would be: Busy Body by Luther Vandross 2017 Mary Strachan 13

14 Tips and tricks: You can turn things around by routinely prioritizing your tasks and considering what you can automate. When you realize Bea Busy Bee is at play, ask yourself, What am I avoiding? Dedicate regular time in your schedule (weekly or even daily) to put tasks through your choice of a prioritizing process. embrace Your gift: Highly organized people like you enjoy success because you have solid, motivating core beliefs and a strong identity. You can shift your focus of wanting to do something into actually taking the steps to do it. When everything is in its place, you conserve your time and energy, experience less stress, and have a clearer mind. You stay really in touch with your commitments and therefore have a reputation as being dependable and reliable. Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth. - Ludwig Borne 2017 Mary Strachan 14

Gretta grinder Gretta Grinder convinces you that you have to work hard and sacrifice yourself for your business to be successful. She makes you work, work, work and then finds more work for you to do.

15 Gretta grinder Gretta Grinder convinces you that you have to work hard and sacrifice yourself for your business to be successful. She makes you work, work, work and then finds more work for you to do. You re likely burning the candle at both ends, making a lot of personal sacrifices and not enjoying your business. When she s in charge, it s tricky for you to say no, and you can feel exhausted and resentful because you re working so hard but not seeing it pay off. If Gretta Grinder wrote a book, it would be called: First You Work, Then You Play If your business had a theme song, it would be: Late Nights & Early Mornings by Marsha Ambrosius 2017 Mary Strachan 15

16 Tips and tricks: You can turn things around by using your top three values as a compass. When you realize Gretta Grinder is at play, ask yourself, What would be fun for me to do right now? Dedicate regular time in your schedule to relax, re-new, play, have fun, and generally enjoy life. embrace Your gift: Your dedication and work ethic means that you are likely very skilled at what you do, and you are highly motivated to do excellent work. You are not afraid to work hard and can take great pride in all of your accomplishments. Others can count on you to tackle a difficult problem or situation without a second thought. You have an internal drive that translates into a great deal of stamina to get the job done. A time for everything: a time to relax and a time to be busy, a time to frolic and a time to labor, a time to receive and a time to give, a time to begin and a time to finish. - Jonathan Lockwood 2017 Mary Strachan 16

17 Izzy ideas Izzy Ideas continually alerts you to new and exciting ideas to the point that you may suffer from Bright, Shiny Object Syndrome. She makes it hard to concentrate and focus on the task at hand. You have several projects on the go, but it s difficult for you to take an idea from start to finish. When she s in charge, it s tricky for you discern when an idea is for you or for someone else, and you can feel overwhelmed because you ve got so many ideas. If Izzy Ideas wrote a book, it would be called: 365 Ideas That Inspire If your business had a theme song, it would be: Another Brilliant Idea by Mike Dougherty 2017 Mary Strachan 17

18 Tips and tricks: You can turn things around by creating a back burner file and following all ideas that feel light. When you realize Izzy Ideas is at play, ask yourself, Who is this idea for? and Does this feel heavy or light? Dedicate regular time in your schedule to do a brain dump or create mind maps to help free your mind. embrace Your gift: You look for inspiration in the most unlikely of places. You listen to hunches and like to collect more information before making a decision, which usually pays off in the end. You choose to work on a project for no other reason than it is interesting, exciting, satisfying or challenging to you. You are really good at finding connections between experiences (sometimes completely unrelated!) Don t go for small commitments on big things, but aim for big commitments on small things. - jeroen De Flandes 2017 Mary Strachan 18

in summary: By taking the Visionary Alter-Ego Quiz and using this Guide, you ve already: Identified which Visionary Alter-Ego (or pattern) is at play right now (it s okay if there s more than one.

19 in summary: By taking the Visionary Alter-Ego Quiz and using this Guide, you ve already: Identified which Visionary Alter-Ego (or pattern) is at play right now (it s okay if there s more than one.) Learned that an Alter-Ego is actually a gift or strength taken to the EXTREME. Discovered what the pattern can look like and feel like in your business (and life.) Received some tips and tricks to help you turn your situation around. Been given the opportunity to embrace the gift behind the Alter-Ego so you can begin to build momentum in your business Mary Strachan

WHAT s Your Story? Now that you know WHY you re feeling stuck, it s time to start taking action so you can get things done. What idea would you love to transform into something real?

20 WHAT s Your Story? Now that you know WHY you re feeling stuck, it s time to start taking action so you can get things done. What idea would you love to transform into something real? And how is your Visionary Alter- Ego holding you back? I d love for you to tell me about it. Take a few minutes right now, and write me a note. Tell me what you ve been longing to create but haven t yet. Knowing what you know now about your Alter- Ego(s) how do you plan to embrace it so you can build up some momentum in your business? Share your story with me via mary@marymstrachan.com I promise to read it and reply, okay? 2017 Mary Strachan

21 Mary strachan The Get-it-done facilitator I m a natural planner and organizer - always have been, and probably always will be. I appreciate a good strategy (although I never learned to play chess) and am a firm believer that a strong system can set us free (and by strong I do NOT mean rigid.) I also love to learn. I usually have at least 5 books on the go at once, and if I m honest, I don t always finish reading them (unless it s a novel.) I have a theory that when I stop reading, it simply means that I ve found what I needed to know. I ll let you guess which Visionary Alter-Egos can come into play in my life and business if I let them get carried away:) 2017 Mary Strachan 21

22 Notes 2017 Mary Strachan 22

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