Hi Nikki and Vimal,

this is a very interesting inquiry as I am going now through similar processes getting my coaching business together. If I may, I'll write my personal experience regarding this topic... For a long time, my approach with any creative work has been to research first, collect ideas (of others) and then create something out of it. With a background in graphic design and marketing, this is the conventional way to do so.

However now, getting my website together, I am trying to find the right expression in it, as the old ways doesn't feel right anymore. I do see a benefit in looking at the work of others - how I operate is that it can inspire me - but I need to be wary of where is the border between observing for some inspiration or just copy-pasting the 'industry standards'. I guess not many businesses out there do it for self-actualisation of the soul...

Before summer, I led a workshop/group coaching in local library and all three times it was fully booked (with even more people showing interest than the capacity!). I decided to return after summer with updated concept which I put in quite some work. I prepared the whole concept, designed worksheets and even prepared additional printed materials as presents for the attendants. I put in a lot of effort to create something valuable for people. The result? Out of eight, one person came - that being my supporting brother. I might have been a bit sad but actually not that much. Seeing how unprepared I was even 1on1 with him, I was actually happy nobody came as in the end, the new concept turned out to be much harder than I had expected.

But the main point I took was this - knowing in advance there might not be any people coming, I was okay with it because I knew that the big part of actualisation was actually done during me preparing the concept. Maybe it was not about the event itself, maybe it was about that journey of creating everything and actualising myself in it. For example, the whole process did help in cultivating more commitment for me. During preparations I also somehow remembered Open's story about finally putting up the label for the new studio only to find out that the work is finished and moving on to the next (I don't remember all the details of the story) - that expresses my experience well.

So to tie it up to the main topic, I guess that one form of success for me at the moment can be stated as actualising through the experience without expecting any particular outcome.

Dominik ☘️