The mindset & clarity to overcome insecurities

Why failure happens 'for' you: A systematic approach to growth from Amy Holtz

"I made a decision that I was never going to let my insecurities get in the way of achieving what I wanted to achieve."

I recently had a conversation with Amy Holtz. She might not be a household name, but to business leaders she drives results—someone who knows how to get the most out of an organization through a systematic approach.

A self-described "serial entrepreneur," Amy is an expert in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). EOS utilizes simple concepts and practical tools to help business people reach peak performance and, quite literally, "get what they want from their businesses."

I asked this systems-based expert about routines that help her maintain focus. What I got was a masterclass in overcoming internal distractions to focus on what is actually important.

The 'necessary' mindset

"Number one is mindset," Amy said. "When I first started with this nonprofit organization, I said to them, 'There's two things I'm never going to do. I'm never going to speak in public and I'm never going to fundraise.' And I quickly learned that in order to be successful, those were the two things I needed."

That was the turning point where she began to dictate her achievements. But she doesn't suggest doing it alone.

"So I had that mindset. And now when I have an insecurity, I work really hard to find the coach or the education that's going to get me through it," Amy added.

Finding 'clarity' in breaks

Amy told me the EOS system helped her find the other key pillar in driving results: clarity. "I get clear on where I'm going, how I plan on getting there, and then it's focus and reflection," she said.

This is where she offered something that my life coach Ben Kenyon (who I featured in a previous post) always stresses: pause.

"In EOS, we're constantly recommending people take clarity breaks," Amy says. "You look at what's working, what's not working, 'how could I grow, what do I need to change, and am I staying focused on what I need to do?'"

Lessons from the obstacle course

Her Jewish faith often guides those choices and provides a framework for learning from failure. 

"I believe that life is an obstacle course and it's hard and it's not what you expect," she says "Every single failure is really just you getting pointed in a different direction. I actually believe that God is mapping your journey and sometimes you are designed to fail—it's really for you to grow. Every failure is an opportunity for growth."

Amy Holtz

She challenges her clients and people like me to change our internal narrative when things go wrong.

"You have to just say, 'Alright, this isn't meant to be. Why did this happen for me instead of to me? What am I going to learn?'"

I think we can all learn something from Amy's ability to turn a "distraction" like failure into a roadmap for growth.

Interested in upping your entrepreneurial game? Check out Amy Holtz's EOS Worldwide page.