Category Archives: Mindset

Every business needs two types of people – an Expander and a Container.

The Expander is the one with the big ideas – the visionary. The Expander tends to live in the future, with visions of what is possible running through their mind and lots of ideas. This person is often the entrepreneur/Founder/CEO of the company. 

The Container is the person who plugs into the vision to bring the “how” to the table. The Container lives in the now and has a strong understanding of what it will take to bring the Expander’s ideas/vision to life. ← This is exactly what I do as an OBM

This concept was shared by Barbara Corcoran (of Shark Tank fame) while speaking at an event a few years ago. She was sharing how her role as an ‘expander’ was balanced out by a key member of her team working as a ‘container’. All of her big ideas got run through the filter of this woman on her team, who would guide decisions around what they would (and wouldn’t) move forward on. Even though Barbara is the face of her companies, she attributed much of her success to how the two of them worked together. 

For a business to truly thrive the Expander and the Container need to work hand in hand.

• The Expander can come up with all the brilliant ideas in the world, but if they don’t have someone to help prioritize, plan and get things done, these ideas never come to life.
• Likewise, a Container might be awesome at getting stuff done – but they are often not the one with idea after idea and great big vision.

Imagine you want a drink of water… you need two things: 1) the water and 2) the glass to put it in. If you have water (ideas) but no glass (container) then the water just spills everywhere, making it impossible to drink. Likewise, if you have a glass but no water you are left thirsty. 

Here’s an example of how Expander/Container relationship can work:

The entrepreneur (Expander) wakes up one day with a brilliant idea for a new program. They hop on a call with their OBM (Container) and say “Guess what? I just had this awesome idea… I want to do X and I’m thinking we launch it next month, this is going to rock the world!” 

Their OBM replies, “That’s great, I love that idea and I’m also aware of how much we have going on right now. We are already working on launching Y for next month, so how does this fit into the current plan? What would you like to re-prioritize?”

[Side note: Can you see how the Container is bringing a reality check in here, while at the same time still really honoring how excited the business owner is – a good Container doesn’t deflate the Expander’s passion.]

The entrepreneur says “Yes, you’re right… I forgot we already had Y planned for next month. So when can we fit this next program in?” 

To which the Container replies, “Well I know it would take 2-3 months for us to really prepare and launch this correctly. How about I take a look at our overall plan and see where this fits in best and I can get back to you when we chat again on Monday.”

When this type of relationship is in place there is balance between passion & reality – both of which are essential in business.

The bottom line is – we need each other for all this to work. And when we honor the value of what we each bring to the table – and work together – that’s where the magic happens. 

Are you an Expander in need of a Container? let’s chat!

I love Yoga. I love business. At first glance there doesn’t appear to be much of a connection. Recently on my way home from my Yoga class the parallels started flowing…

1. Focus is a must
The keys to elevating your Yoga practice: It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing. Focus only on yourself. When your mind wanders, bring it back to your mat. True Yogis cannot be distracted.

Don’t these seem like good business practices as well? How many times have your driven yourself crazy comparing your business to someone else’s? ‘Should I be doing that? Are my rates too high? Everyone’s on Pinterest, I should be on Pinterest’. How many times have you felt a competitor copied your design, your tagline, your program idea? Comparison, judgement and blame are distracting and do nothing to elevate your business game. Staying focused on your path is the best way to create your success.

2. Ego does not serve
Some days I can do everything my Yoga instructor throws at me. My mind, body and breath are in sync and I flow through the asanas (poses) like a true Yogi. It has happened more than once however, that the very next day, the exact same postures just don’t happen. These days can be SO frustrating. ‘I should be able to do this. I had this mastered yesterday? I checked it off my ‘can do’ list.’ During a practice like this when the Yoga gods are humbling me, trying harder to prove I am better than this at Yoga, is tempting, often an automatic response in fact. But, 100% of the time allowing my ego to invade my mat improves absolutely nothing.

Hard to imagine that putting in extra effort to prove how awesome we are could be a bad thing in business, after all isn’t that the name of the game? Maybe. But, gratitude for the opportunity, the ability and the learning does amazing things in the Yoga studio. What would your business feel like if you checked your ego at the door and in those moments of battle with the business gods you said ‘thank you, I am better for this challenge’.

3. An open mind is the only way
There are some crazy Yoga poses out there, combinations of strength and balance that seem impossible. I had been coming to the mat for a long time before I even attempted some of the more challenging postures, a few still make me hesitate. Turns out, that with patience, commitment and most importantly an open mind, each and every pose can be done. Even the really ‘crazy’ ones.

The same is true when it comes to your business. When you look around at the fellow entrepreneurs you admire, the ones making 6 and 7 figures, and you start to think ‘I can’t do that, I’ll never get there, I’m not meant for that kind of success’, open your mind to the possibility. When you find yourself in a place of self-doubt, stop and let your heart and mind be open to your potential. If you can see it in the world, you can be it in the world.

4. When things get tough… Breathe
Yoga can be overwhelming. It can be incredibly challenging, it can be emotional and it can be oh so humbling. In my experience being an entrepreneur is challenging, emotional and definitely humbling. In both scenarios, when you feel like throwing in the towel, remember to breathe. When you lose your breath you are lost.

5. There is no finish line
Just when I think I have tried every Yoga pose out there, a new pose, or the next step of a familiar one is revealed to me. Just when the 26 postures in my Bikram practice start to feel routine, something new clicks, my body or my mind responds in a new way. Yoga is continuous journey. Yoga is not a destination. Yoga cannot be mastered.

My journey as an entrepreneur has been much the same as my Yoga path – constant and never ending. Nurturing your business with an infinite mindset ensures you continue moving, growing and reaching. Celebrate your business successes, enjoy the bliss of each accomplishment, and then ask ‘what’s next?’.