Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach

Breakthrough Transformational Coach helping founders, executives, and point leaders accomplish twice as much in half the time with increased satisfaction.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Proof

The answer I hear most to that question: "Someone who isn't faking it."

Then we look at the evidence. The hires. The clients. The hard calls. The real data that actually is something to create a story around.

At some point the founder stops and says, "I'm not faking it, am I?"

That's the moment things start to move.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Question

Who would you have to believe you are to lead a company twice this size?

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

Avoidance is costing you!

[John Claborn @FrontierBDesign]

The prices my competitors charge is mind-blowing.

$12,000/mo. for a fCOO role in a $1M-5M home service company working "up to 10/hrs a week".

Either this is asinine, I'm low or a combo of both.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Lesson

There's one question I ask founders who feel stuck:

"Who would you have to believe you are to lead a company twice this size?"

Most go quiet. Here's how to use it on yourself.

Step 1: Ask it, then write the first answer that comes. Not the polished one. Usually it's something like "someone more organized" or "a real CEO."

Step 2: Find the story underneath. Ask: what do I believe I am instead? The answer is often "a doer," "a technician," "lucky," or "not a leader."

Step 3: Check the evidence. List what you've actually done: the team you've hired, the clients you've kept, the hard calls you've made. Does the old story hold up? It rarely does.

Step 4: Write the new sentence. "I am the leader who ___." Make it specific and true: "I am the leader who builds people who can run this without me."

Step 5: Act on it once this week. One decision, one delegation, one conversation that this version of you would make.

Change the story, and the next move usually becomes obvious.

That's what breakthrough coaching is: not new information, a new identity you act from.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Pattern

The skill you think you're missing is usually a story you're still telling.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

@FrontierBDesign @shawngorham Yeah you did!!!

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Proof

A confession: my natural instinct under pressure is STILL to do more.

The difference nowadays is that I am catching it!

When I feel the urge to take something back, I ask: "Am I doing this because it's mine to do or because it's comfortable?"

Usually, it's comfortable. And that answers tells me everything I need to know about what I get to choose to BECOME, rather than simply do more.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Question (Poll time!)

When growth stalls, what's your first instinct?

1. Work more hours?
2. Hire more help?
3. Change the strategy?
4. Look at myself?

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

How do you know when you are living and leading authentically?

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Lesson

Most founders I work with hit a ceiling and respond the same way: more hours, more effort, more of themselves.

I call this the "effort trap" or the "trying more trap." It's the most natural and deceptive mistake a capable leader can make, because effort is what worked on the way up. If you're curious if you're "in it", here's some evidence

- Revenue is flat or slow, but your hours keep climbing
- You're the first one people call for every problem.
- Vacations feel risky, not restful (and you're working while you're on them)
- You feel busy and behind at the same time. (Or bored and overwhelmed at the same time).

Why more effort stops working: at a certain size, the business is not limited by how much YOU do. It is limited by how many people can do great work WITHOUT you. Your extra hours don't raise that number. In reality, they oftentimes lower it, because every problem you solve is one your team didn't learn to solve themselves.

The shift happens when you go from being the person who does THE MOST to becoming someone a team can and wants to grow under.

Here's what this looks like this week (if you care to take a shot at it):

1. List the 5 things you did last week that only felt urgent because you are the one who always does them.

2. Pick one and hand it to someone with the outcome, not the steps.

3. When they bring it back imperfect, coach them rather than re-doing it.

The next level of your organization and leadership isn't built around doing more. It is built by you becoming more.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Pattern

More hours got you here. More hours won't get you there.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Proof:

One of my clients grew his business 50% this calendar year. With two months left, he is going for 100%. Next year, he wants to experience 150%.

I assure you, he didn't accomplish any of this by simply working harder. He got there by believing he is the leader who can build a team, lead them, and develop them.

He is not an imposter or accidentally in charge. He never was.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

@FrontierBDesign This felt locked and loaded.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

@examiner1277 Love it! Name calling is fun. And I you clearly formulated your response without considering what I said.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

I am a former pastor on sabbatical right now.

In my 18 years of leading a church I never once needed to tell people to vote.

Why?

Because I focused on shepherding people toward Jesus and believing that the Holy Spirit would work in believers in whatever ways were necessary to bring about Christlikeness.

Oh yeah, I have never once feared the outcome of an election.

Why?

Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall yet the Kingdom and people of God remain through it all.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

Lost me the moment he said “should.” Encourage voting sure and don’t should all over people with this voting nonsense. We GET to and can CHOOSE to but in the eyes of the Lord, we are no better or worse without it. Man - can we get some pastors in the world to clear speak on Scripture and encourage Christlikeness without dipping into this non preaching.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

@BeggarWithBread That’s a sermon on the mount application right there.

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

@jason_howerton I imagine it would be helpful to talk about what specifically were disagreeing with. Are we talking about matters of doctrine and core beliefs or are we talking about narrative and matters that are descriptive rather than prescriptive?

[Tim Hawkins | Transformational Executive Coach @CoachTimHawkins]

The Question:

What is one thing your business is ready for that you have not believed you are ready for?