Why It’s NOT Too Late To Create Your Program

If you want to work in a different way, but you feel like maybe it’s too late to start your own signature program or you regret not starting sooner, this episode is for you.

In the last couple of years I have done a LOT of things that I had thought maybe it was too late to do. So I feel you. One of those has been returning to roller skating.

You know the proverb. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.

For me, the best time to return to roller skate would have been 30 years ago. The next best time just happened.

I went to roller discos as a kid in the early 80’s from about age 8 to 10 and I felt so alive and joyful. Skating felt like flying and dancing at the same time. I was part of a little crew of girls who skated together. We got sparkly T shirts with roller skates on the front and abbreviations of our names on the back, just to save money on the letters. A couple of my birthday parties were at the roller disco. When Dolly Parton, Donna Summer or Blondie came on I would get shivers.

My family moved across the country when I was 10 and I stopped roller skating partly because I didn’t have my crew anymore and partly because I felt more awkward and self conscious in my body as I got older.

As an adult, through my 30’s and 40’s I wished I could roller skate again, but I figured it was too late. I assumed I would fall and injure myself if I tried. And I guess I worried that I would look foolish.

As roller skating made a big revival in the last few years, I kept seeing the cutest roller skates everywhere. When I would walk past the roller skaters in golden gate park, I felt that longing. I also noticed that lots of the skaters there appeared to be my age or older.

As I was turning 50, I did a little research and discovered it actually STILL wasn’t too late for me to get on roller skates. Not at ALL too late.

So for my 50th birthday I bought a pair of purple skates, knee pads, wrist guards, and elbow pads. The first thing you’re supposed to do is practice falling safely, so I did that about 100 times.

By the way, I know there’s a whole camp of skaters who don’t believe in using padding. I’m not here to fight about it. I see you and I respect you.

I finally I got myself to the outdoor skating area in Golden Gate Park. It’s flat and smooth, and several times a week there’s even someone from the community playing music with a huge speaker.

I shyly asked the incredible roller skaters about the etiquette and advice for a new skater. Then I slowly rolled out there. I realized I could still roller skate. Even after 40 years my body still remembered how.

Even if I didn’t already know how, it wouldn’t have been too late. I’ve met plenty of people who started skating at lots of different ages.

I basically just skate around the area enjoying the music. I feel joy and energy moving through my body. Just like when I was 10, I feel like I’m flying and dancing.

Some folks are in the middle of the area dancing their asses off. Maybe I’ll start learning some of those moves soon.

I keep my roller skates and protective gear in my trunk at all times so that I can skate whenever I get the chance. I go about once a week. Sometimes my spouse comes and sits and watches. They say they love how happy I look.

I know how to fall safely, but at this point I haven’t actually fallen. But I probably will, especially when I start learning those dance moves. And that’s totally OK with me.

Back to creating your own program.

If you’ve been wanting to create a program beyond private practice, but a part of you has thought it’s already too late, let’s try something for a moment.

Let’s do a little parts work, inspired by IFS and other things.

What part of you is trying to be heard with that regret or that fear?

Hear them out.

If it’s the right path for you, it is not too late. In your wisest and most embodied self, you know this.

But also if you’ve got a part that feels like it’s too late, you might need to hear that part out. It’s trying to protect you in the best way it knows how.

So let this “it’s too late” part know that you are ready to listen and that you’re grateful for it’s attempt at protecting you.

Kindly let that part vent about why they think it’s too late. And take notes.

Maybe you’ll hear:

• Other people are already doing it.
• The market is saturated.
• People already know me as a therapist.
• If I had started when I first wanted to I’d already be successful but now I’d be a beginner.
• People don’t buy courses anymore.
• If I do it now, I’ll have to feel the grief of not having done it sooner.

Then when the “it’s too late” part has gotten it all out, you can converse with that part. I can help because I know what it actually takes to create a successful program. I’m an actual expert on creating and making a living from your unique and excellent program.

So let’s go through those reasons one by one. I realize you may have come up with other reasons why it’s too late. I tried to cover the most common ones here

Other people are already doing it:

Yep. There’s probably at least a handful of successful people in your niche. That’s a good sign. It probably means there are people paying them and it’s a viable niche.

It would be unusual to step into a niche no one else is in.

Some people are going to want to pay YOU to be the one to help them because you’re the best fit.

Just like there’s room for lots of therapists, there’s room for more than one program in your niche of choice.

The market is saturated:

A funny thing happens. Whatever niche you choose, you’ll start to see evidence that your niche is saturated. That’s because you’re paying lots of attention to what’s going on in your niche. Confirmation bias will have you believing that your niche is the most saturated one. That’s incredibly unlikely.

People already know me as a therapist:

If people know that you’ve been a therapist for a long time, your program is going to look even MORE valuable to them. Your experience as a therapist is part of what sets you apart. It’s beautiful to have more than one identity. If you’re already wishing you’d done this sooner, now is a great time to show yourself that you’re not limited to one identity or one way of working for the rest of your career.

If I had started when I first wanted to, I’d already be successful, but now I’d be a beginner:

You’ve been a beginner so many times before. Learning new things is incredibly good for keeping you in an optimal state of growth and happiness.

Starting your own program is a gorgeous blend of being really experienced in your work AND being a beginner at offering your work in a new way.

You’ve got new stuff to learn about how to turn your best work into a program, and how to make money with that program. And you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

People don’t buy courses anymore.

The truth is people don’t tend to pay as much for self-led courses where they will go through curriculum without getting access to the creator. We’re smart to be wary of self-led courses. The completion rates for self-led courses tend to be quite low. We’re tired of purchasing these courses and never doing them.

It’s always the right time for a high-quality program in which participants will get coached by you or observe you coaching others, and will get their particular questions answered.

It will always be the right time for great programs like these because they work.

If I do it now, I’ll have to feel the grief of not having done it sooner.

Yes love, and that grief is there because it matters to you. Grief happens when let ourselves feel. If you haven’t allowed yourself to work in the way that suits you, you will likely feel grief as you finally give yourself permission.

Once you have heard everything from that “it’s too late” part, see if you can hear from the part of you that feels curious and excited about working in a new way.

If the “it’s too late part” interrupts, ask if they would step back for a moment so you can find out more about the part that’s curious and excited about working in a new way.

See what you dream up. I would love to know what you come up with.

If you’re a therapist or healer and you want to work and make money in a new way, I would love to have you in Create Your Program.

You’ll walk through a step-by-step process with me and a small group of therapists and healers to create a high-quality program and offer it to the people who need it.

That’s a big goal, and I break it down for you into tiny goals you can accomplish one at a time. And you get my coaching along the way.

We get started very soon and enrollment is open right now for just a little while. Sign up right away to make sure you get a special bonus training only available this week.

This is your last chance until at least 2025 to walk through this process with me.

Go to https://rebeltherapist.me/create

I’m excited to support you.

Show notes at https://rebeltherapist.me/podcast/231