205: How to Let Go of Who You Were to Become Who You're Meant to Be (Identity Transformation for Entrepreneurs)

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How to Let Go of Who You Were to Become Who You're Meant to Be (Identity Transformation for Entrepreneurs)

Feeling caught between who you've always been and who your business needs you to become? You're not alone. In this episode of The Overwhelmed Entrepreneur, Cindy Gordon reveals why your old identity might be the very thing holding you back from your next level of success and shares her Identity Evolution Method for conscious transformation.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why trying to drag your old identity into your new life is like wearing clothes that no longer fit
• The psychology behind why our brains resist identity changes (even positive ones)
• How your identity becomes a security blanket that can actually limit your growth
• The difference between losing yourself and evolving into who you're meant to be
• The Identity Evolution Method: reality check old identities, design your emerging self, and bridge the gap with micro-shifts
• How to create "identity anchors" that support your transformation instead of triggering resistance
• Real client story: How Jessica evolved from "humble helper" to confident thought leader and doubled her revenue

Perfect for: Female entrepreneurs experiencing identity confusion as they grow their business, business owners feeling stuck between who they were and who they need to become, and anyone struggling to let go of limiting identities that once served them.

Episode Highlights: "Who you were is not who you are becoming, and trying to drag your old identity into your new life is like trying to squeeze into clothes that no longer fit."

"The version of you that got you here won't be the version that gets you there."

"Letting go of old identities isn't about losing yourself - it's about creating space for the person you have been all along."

Resources mentioned:

• The Reality Check Method
• Identity Evolution Method
• ExclusivelyCindy.com
• @exclusivelycindy

Stop clinging to identities that keep you small. Start consciously evolving into who you're meant to be.

👉 Tag @ExclusivelyCindy on Instagram/Facebook and share how you're using this tip as an overwhelmed entrepreneur - I'd love to connect and hear your story!

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Daily Success Framework - Productivity system for overwhelmed entrepreneurs: https://stan.store/cindygordon/p/get-my-daily-success-framework-now

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Connect with Cindy Gordon - Reality Check Method Coach for Overwhelmed Entrepreneurs:

• Website: ExclusivelyCindy.com
• Instagram: ...

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Here's something nobody talksabout.
When you start growing yourbusiness, at some point you look
in the mirror and realize theperson staring back at you isn't
the same person who started thisjourney.
Maybe you're no longer the safeemployee who never took risks.
Maybe you are not the peoplepleaser who tried to say.
To everyone, or maybe you'rediscovering that the identity

(00:21):
you've carried for years, theone that got you this far is now
the very thing that is holdingyou back from where you need to
go, and that realization can beterrifying.
Hi, I'm Cindy, the creator ofthe Reality Check Method and a
business coach for overwhelmedentrepreneurs.
I built and sold multipledigital businesses and I have

(00:42):
coached women through this exactidentity transformation.
Here's what I've learned.
Who you were is not who you are.
Becoming and trying to drag yourold identity into your new life
is like trying to squeeze intoclothes that no longer fit.
It's uncomfortable, restrictive,and it keeps you small.
So here's probably what'shappening in your

(01:03):
entrepreneurial journey.
You started your business withone version of yourself.
Maybe the responsible one whofollows all the rules or the
helpful one who puts everyoneelse's needs first.
But as your business grows, youare discovering that this
version of you isn't equippedfor challenges that you're
facing now.
You need to make bold decisions,set boundaries, or step into

(01:26):
visibility in ways that feelcompletely foreign to who you've
always been.
So you find yourself caughtbetween two worlds.
Part of you knows that you needto evolve, but the other part is
terrified of losing thatidentity.
That's defined you for so long.
You worry If I'm not theperfectionist who controls
everything, who am I?

(01:47):
If I stop being the peoplepleaser, will people still like
me?
If I let go of being thestruggling entrepreneur, will I
fail at being successful?
I see this identity crisisconsistently with the
entrepreneurs that I coach andwork with.
You're holding on to an oldidentity that's helped you
survive your past, but it'spreventing you from thriving in

(02:09):
the future.
The truth is the version of youthat got you here won't be the
version that gets you there,even when it no longer serves
us, we clinging to it because itfeels familiar and safe.
Your brain literally wiresitself around these identity
patterns.
I'm the type of person who, andit resists change because change

(02:30):
feels like a threat to survivaland add that to the fact that
other people have expectationsabout who you are.
Your identity becomes somethingthat others associate with you.
And when you start evolving, itcan feel like you're
disappointing or confusing thepeople around you.
Maybe your family expects you tobe responsible or your friends

(02:50):
know you as the modest one whodoesn't talk about success.
But here's the reality check.
Your identity is fluid andconstantly evolving.
The person you were in yourtwenties isn't the same as the
person you are now, and that'snot a problem.
That's growth, each action youtake is a vote for who you want
to become, and clinging tooutdated identities is literally

(03:14):
voting against your ownevolution.
The key is understanding thatletting go of old identities
isn't about losing yourself.
It's about creating space forthe person that you've been all
along.
The one that's just waiting forpermission to emerge, here are a
few tips to consciously evolveyour identity.
The first thing is take anhonest look at the identities

(03:35):
that you are carrying that nolonger serve your business or
your life.
Ask yourself, what stories am Itelling about who I am that are
actually limiting me?
What version of myself am Itrying to protect that's keeping
me small?
What would I attempt if I wasn'ttrying to maintain this old
image of who I think I shouldbe?

(03:56):
Write down those identities thatfeel restrictive, not to judge
them, but to acknowledge theirrole in your past and to
consciously choose what servesthe future.
Next, you're going to designyour emerging identity.
Instead of focusing on whoyou're leaving behind, get clear
on who you are becoming.
Ask yourself, what kind ofbusiness owner do I want to be?

(04:17):
How does the version of me whoachieved my goals show up in the
world?
What values and behaviors alignwith where I'm headed and not
where I've been?
This isn't about creating a fakepersona.
It's about giving yourselfpermission to grow into the
leader that you are alreadybecoming.
The next step is to bridge thegap with micro shifts, each
small choice really adds up toastonishing results.

(04:41):
Start making tiny decisions thatalign with your emerging
identity rather than your oldone.
If you're evolving from a peoplepleaser to a boundary setter,
practicing no to one smallrequest.
If you're shifting from aperfectionist to a strategic
action taker, submit somethingthat's good enough instead of
perfect.
These micro shifts help yourbrain gradually adjust to the

(05:04):
new you without triggeringmassive resistance, let me give
you some practical steps to makethis transformation actually
work in your real life.
First, create what I callidentity anchors.
These are specific phrases ormantras that remind you of who
you are becoming.
Instead of saying, I'm not thetype of person who try saying,

(05:25):
I'm becoming someone who, andthen fill in the blank.
This subtle shift helps yourbrain see change as growth
rather than loss.
Next, surround yourself withpeople who see your emerging
identity and not your past one.
This might mean joining newcommunities, finding mentors who
are where you want to be, orhaving an honest conversation

(05:46):
with friends and family aboutyour evolution.
Growth requires relationship.
You need people who can holdspace for both who you've been
and who you're becoming.
And finally, practice what Icall identity rehearsal.
Before important meetings ordecisions, take a moment to ask,
how would this version of me whohas already achieved my goals,

(06:07):
handle this situation?
And then act from that place?
You are not being fake.
You are practicing beingauthentic to your merging self
rather than being authentic toyour limiting past.
Here's what I want you toremember.
You are not defined by whathappened to you, where you came
from, or who you used to be.

(06:27):
The identities that served youin your past deserve gratitude,
but not a lifelong commitment.
They were the training wheelsthat got you this far, and now
it's time to ride without them.
Letting go of who you weredoesn't mean that you are
abandoning your values or losingyour authenticity.
It means you're finally givingyourself permission to grow into

(06:48):
the fullness of who you'vealways had the potential to
become.
Your business needs evolved.
This version of you, the onewho's confident, strategic, and
willing to step into theirpower, your identity resembles
your shadow.
It changes shape and evolves,but is still yours.
The core of who you are remainsconstant, but how you express

(07:10):
that essence in the world getsto expand and evolve as you
grow.
This conscious identityevolution is what I teach
because when you align youridentity with your aspirations
instead of your limitations.
Everything becomes possible.
The person you're becoming isworth the discomfort of letting

(07:30):
go of who you used to be.
And if you want more strategieslike this for stepping into your
evolved identity, [e-mail] or
exclusively Cindy on Instagramfor reality checks that support
your transformation.
Go become who you are meant tobe.
And remember you've got this,Thanks for spending these few

(07:52):
minutes with me today.
Remember, overwhelm isn'tpermanent.
It's simply your brain's way ofsaying pause and take a little
reality check.
If you got value in today'sepisode, please share it with
another entrepreneur who needsthat reminder.
If you're loving the show, I'dbe so grateful if you could
leave me a quick review.
It helps other overwhelmedentrepreneurs find us.

(08:13):
Make sure you hit subscribe soyou never miss your weekly dose
of clarity.
For more resources and toconnect with me, visit
exclusively.
Send.
d.com.
Until next time, remember,you've got this.