The best social sharing snippet from this interview… “But understanding the really deep purpose for all of your actions creates a level of intentionality that will affect your results.”
In this episode of the Small Business Sweet Spot, I chat with Amber Fuhriman about the power of discomfort in achieving success. We dive into how pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone can unlock new levels of growth, and how Amber uses Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to help people reframe their limiting beliefs. We also discuss the importance of accountability and how to set goals with intentionality to really transform your business and life.
Resources
If you’d like to dive deeper into Amber’s work, you can find her podcast, Break Your Bullsh*t Box, and her book of the same name on her website at successdevelopmentsolutions.com.
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In today’s Small Business Sweet Spot, I had the pleasure of chatting with Amber Fuhriman about the power of discomfort in our personal and professional lives. Amber’s journey is a prime example of how pushing past comfort zones can lead to unexpected growth and success, both in business and in life.
The Uncomfortable Road to Success
Amber’s story started with a traditional path: get a degree, find a stable job, and climb the career ladder. But despite following the script laid out by society, she found herself feeling stuck and unfulfilled. Law school and a promising career didn’t bring the freedom she expected. Instead, she faced a lot of the same fears, doubts, and insecurities she thought she had outrun.
This is where the idea of discomfort entered her life. Amber discovered that her real growth came from embracing activities that pushed her beyond her comfort zone, like obstacle course racing. What started as a physical challenge became a metaphor for breaking through the mental barriers that were holding her back in business. The more she tested her physical limits, the more she was able to confront her fears in her professional life.
The Power of Mindset: Reprogramming for Success
Amber’s journey into Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) taught her how much our mindset and subconscious beliefs shape our success. She realized that the stories we tell ourselves—our inner programming—dictate how we react to challenges and opportunities. For many, these stories create invisible barriers to achieving our goals.
NLP is about understanding and rewriting those stories. It’s not just about wanting to succeed; it’s about digging deeper to understand why you want it and what unconscious fears might be holding you back. Amber shared that for some, the fear of success itself can be paralyzing, often tied to old beliefs about money, self-worth, or past traumas.
Common Excuses and Limiting Beliefs in Business
Amber often sees parallels between her work as a criminal defense attorney and her role as a business coach. Whether someone is defending their behavior in court or explaining why they’re not taking the necessary steps in business, the excuses can be surprisingly similar. It’s easy to justify inaction, blame external circumstances, or convince yourself that certain achievements are out of reach.
One of her key points was recognizing when you’re just “wanting to want” something versus actually intending to take action. It’s crucial to be honest with yourself about whether your goals are truly yours or if they’re based on societal pressures or someone else’s expectations.
The Role of Accountability in Reaching Goals
Amber emphasized the importance of having a coach or mentor who will challenge your excuses and push you toward your goals. It’s not enough to set intentions; you need someone who will call you out when you’re not aligning your actions with your words.
She noted that accountability goes beyond just hitting targets—it’s about understanding the deeper reasons behind why you’re pursuing those goals in the first place. Without a clear purpose, you’re likely to lose motivation when challenges arise.
Shifting Your Language to Change Your Outcomes
Amber’s advice on language was eye-opening. She explained how the words we use shape our mindset and outcomes. For example, saying you want to “lose weight” frames it as a negative, something you’re sad to see go. Instead, using words like “release” or “destroy” creates a more positive and permanent shift in your subconscious mind.
This linguistic shift is a crucial part of NLP, helping you reframe how you think about your challenges and goals, making success feel more attainable and aligned with your true desires.
The Breakthrough: Visualization and Reframing
For those struggling to identify the unconscious beliefs holding them back, Amber recommends working with someone trained in reprogramming techniques. Visualization exercises can help you pinpoint the moments in your life when you made limiting decisions and reframe those events to create new, empowering beliefs.
Change, as Amber highlighted, can happen in an instant once you’re ready to let go of old patterns. But it often requires that outside perspective to help you see beyond your current mindset.
Intentionality: The Key to Freedom in Business and Life
Amber shared that the biggest game-changer in her own journey was bringing a level of intentionality to everything she does. From her daily tasks to her long-term goals, knowing the purpose behind each action has allowed her to manage her time more effectively and reduce the overwhelm of everyday demands.
By setting clear intentions and understanding what success looks like in each moment, you can create a life that’s not just busy, but meaningful and fulfilling.
Key Takeaways
- Embrace Discomfort: Growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself to take on things that scare you both physically and mentally.
- Understand Your Why: Dig deep into the reasons behind your goals. Knowing the “why” can help you break through mental barriers.
- Get Accountable: Find a mentor or coach who won’t let you off the hook with excuses. Accountability is key to pushing past your limits.
- Reframe Your Mindset: Use NLP techniques to change your inner dialogue. Language and visualization can have a powerful impact on your outcomes.
- Be Intentional: Make every action purposeful. Define what success looks like for you each day and plan your time around achieving that vision.
Final Thoughts
Amber’s message is clear: You don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s okay. The first step to real change is being open to discovering those hidden patterns and willing to ask for help in overcoming them. Success isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being ready to rewrite the script of your life.
If you’d like to dive deeper into Amber’s work, you can find her podcast, Break Your Bullshit Box, and her book of the same name on her website at successdevelopmentsolutions.com.
