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The Doomsday Scenario

  • Writer: Mark Franklin
    Mark Franklin
  • Sep 23
  • 2 min read
Image of scorched earth with the words "The Doomsday Scenario" – the most challenging conversation I have with my coaching clients" overwritten on it.

The most challenging conversation I have with my coaching clients... (AKA 'The Doomsday Scenario')

A lot of the people I work with fall into one of two categories:


  • High-performing corporates who feel unfulfilled, and/or who are possibly broken from (and/or looking to exit) their established role

  • Small business owners who are looking for that step-change in growth, but who have some legacy consultancy work going on that still leans into their comfort skills


In both instances there is a 'safety' in their current position:


  • It's what they know

  • It's what they're good at

  • It's paying the bills


But "It's not what they really want". They have an idea of what it is they DO want – that's easy enough to draw out of them. But they're not ready to make the complete jump... yet.


I was the same. I waited a year after my breakdown from my grown-up job before handing in my notice because 'mortgage!'


So, when I'm having this conversation with clients, I like to introduce 'The Doomsday Scenario' – the commitment to jump.


The Doomsday Scenario

  1. Set a date for when you will completely commit to the life you DO want (drop the 'comfort clients', quit the unfulfilling job...)

  2. This is now an absolute

  3. From that date, work back, daily, weekly, in terms of the actions and decisions you will have had to have made in order to be exactly where you want to be on Doomsday.

  4. Put that plan into action – small, valuable, daily steps that let go of the now and lead you towards where you want to be


Simple!


------------


No it's not

The lure of comfort is still there (and the threat of discomfort now feels even greater). Which is why you have to go deeper and embrace the real reasons behind the hesitation(s):


The thoughts of 'not ready'... because of the thoughts of 'not good enough'... because of the 'fear of not being comfortable anymore'. 

"Give me a bit more time... then I will be in a position to commit"

... you might say.


The safety seesaw needs to swing away from what you believe is a comfortable life ("yes, the mortgage is getting paid but it's eating me up inside") to the life you actually deserve.


  • It's deep work

  • It's difficult

  • But it will set you free


The doomsday clock is ticking...

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