That permission slip you're waiting for... the one that says you're ready to charge what you're worth, claim your niche, or call yourself an expert? I'm afraid it's not coming. Not from a certification body, not from a certain number of clients, and definitely not from your follower count.

In this episode, I'm diving into why we crave external permission, the three permission traps keeping brilliant coaches stuck, and what self-permission actually looks like (spoiler: it's harder than waiting for validation, but it's the only way forward).
If you've been telling yourself "I'll be ready in January" or "once I have X, then I'll do Y", this one's for you.

What We Cover

The Permission Paradox

- Why we're trained to wait for external validation (and why it's keeping you small)
- My own journey from blocking everyone on social media to hosting this podcast
- The uncomfortable truth: staying small has to feel worse than the fear of being seen

The Three Permission Traps

Trap #1: The Qualification Trap

- Why collecting certifications won't make you feel ready
- The truth: clients buy transformations, not certificates
- You're qualified the moment you can deliver results

Trap #2: The Numbers Trap

- "Once I have 10 clients, then I'll raise my prices" (and other lies we tell ourselves)
- How you can build a six-figure practice with 500 engaged followers
- Premium pricing attracts better clients - not the other way around

Trap #3: The Timeline Trap

- "I'll be ready in six months" (no, you won't)
- Why perfect conditions will never exist
- Clarity comes from action, not contemplation

What Self-Permission Actually Looks Like
Self-permission isn't a feeling, it's a decision. And it requires:

• Radical responsibility (no one else to blame if it doesn't work)
• Tolerance for discomfort (charging premium prices before you feel 'worth it')
• Redefining "ready" (willing to try ≠ perfect)

The 5-Step Framework for Giving Yourself Permission

1. Name what you're actually waiting for (get specific - it's probably imaginary)
2. Identify the cost of waiting (what are you not building? Who are you not serving?)
3. Make the decision as if permission has been granted
4. Take the first uncomfortable action (not perfect action, next action)
5. Build your evidence bank (track every win, collect every testimonial)

The Bottom Line
The permission you're waiting for isn't coming from out there. It's been inside you the whole time. You just have to be brave enough to claim it.
Stop waiting. Start building.

Your Invitation
What's one green light you've been waiting for that you could give yourself today? Not in January. Not when you have more clients. Not when you feel more confident. Today.
What would you do if you just... decided?

Work With Me
If this episode resonated and you're ready to stop waiting for permission, let's talk about MASTERY - my 18-week signature program for coaches who are done playing small.

MASTERY isn't just strategy (though you'll get a complete roadmap for building a highly profitable coaching practice). It's also the mindset work of backing yourself before you have external proof. Of embracing your unique edge. Of owning your value. Of moving forward even when it's uncomfortable.

Because here's what I know: you don't need more qualifications. You don't need more followers. You don't need more time.
You need clarity. You need strategy. You need someone who sees you and believes in what's possible when you bring the whole of who you are to your business... Let me help you.

Find out more: https://gillmoakes.com/mastery

CONNECT WITH ME
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillmoakes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillmoakes/

WORK WITH ME
Check out my FREE monthly workshops: https://www.gillmoakes.com/workshops

Check out MASTERY: https://gillmoakes.com/mastery

Book a call to explore the next right move for your business: https://go.oncehub.com/gillmoakeschat

Ever hit 'post' and immediately wanted to delete it because it felt a bit too much... too honest... too vulnerable... too outspoken... too opinionated
Yes? This episode is for you.

This week, we’re talking about the courage it takes to tell the truth in your marketing - to bring all of who you are to your business, even when it feels risky, messy, or a little too raw.

Because here’s the thing:
Every time you water yourself down to sound more 'credible,' you lose the very thing that would make your message land.

Every time you trim the edges of your truth to seem more professional, you edit out the magic that would actually connect.

In this episode, I talk about:
💥 Why being “too polished” is killing your connection
💥 The myth that credibility comes from having it all figured out
💥 The moment right before you post something real, and how to move through it
💥 How to know what’s yours to share (and what’s not)
💥 The difference between authentic vulnerability and performative oversharing
💥 Why your truth is the most magnetic thing you have

If you’ve ever caught yourself second-guessing a post, toning down your story, or worrying that honesty might make you look less 'together', this one’s for you.

Because credibility doesn’t come from perfection.

It comes from resonance. From being real, open, and honest enough that your people can actually feel you.

And that? That’s what makes you unforgettable.

✍️ Your Reflection Prompt:

What truth are you avoiding because you’re scared it might make you look less credible?

Sit with that one. Write. Don’t rush it. You might just find the next brave thing your business needs to say.

🔗 Join the October Workshop: Relationships Over Algorithms

📆 28th October 2025

⏰ 5pm UK / 12pm EST / 9am PST

📍 Zoom

We’ll dive into how real relationships, not reach, not trends, create the kind of business that lasts.
Get all the details and book your spot here → https://www.gillmoakes.com/relationships-over-algorithms

This week on Rewild Your Business I’m joined by the incredible Claire Schwartz – grief and trauma coach and healer.

Claire brings not only decades of professional expertise, but also the lived wisdom of her own journey through loss and trauma survival. Together, we dive into a conversation most business owners avoid until life forces it upon them:

👉 What happens when grief or trauma collides with running your business?
👉 Why the “just soldier on” approach can actually do more harm than good.
👉 Practical ways to support yourself (and your business) when life knocks you sideways.
👉 The importance of honesty, boundaries, and community when navigating hard seasons.

We talk about the messy, surreal early days of loss, why connection is the true antidote, and how business owners can prepare themselves now for the unexpected.

This conversation isn’t just for those walking through bereavement, it’s for anyone who knows that life can change in an instant, and wants to build a business that can hold them, not just one they hold up.

Claire’s approach is direct, compassionate, and rooted in deep truth. Honestly? I wish I’d had her in my corner during my own season of grief.

If you’ve ever wondered how on earth you’d keep your business going when life falls apart, or you simply want to hear two women cut through the noise and talk about what really matters, this episode is for you.

Connect with Claire:

🌐 youcanhealyourgrief.com

📖 Her book Putting Out the Fire is available via her website (buy direct from authors whenever you can 🙌)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairemschwartz/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/fearlessgrieving/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claire.m.schwartz.5

More About Claire

Claire M. Schwartz has been walking her path of Grief & Trauma survival for over 35 years. She comes from a place she calls The Dark Ugly™ and has crafted and honed her healing journey with determination, wit and tenacity. She holds a BA from the University of Michigan in Psychology, and she is a Certified Professional Coach, Reiki Master Teacher, Spiritual Counselor and a Member of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. She has been in private practice for over 18 years, as the Owner of Miriam’s Well Healing LLC, working intensively with clients and organisations alike. Claire’s authenticity, directness and compassion make her a sought-after Speaker and Consultant, having taught multiple Grief and Trauma workshops, hosted Grief Retreats, taught twice at The Global Grief Conference and have been a podcast guest across the country.

Yep, you read that right. I closed a profitable membership. And no, I haven’t lost my mind.

This week on ReWild Your Business, I’m pulling back the curtain on why I shut down The Collective, even though it was making money, and what that decision taught me about alignment, sovereignty, and refusing to run my business on “shoulds.”

Because here’s the truth: profitable doesn’t always mean sustainable. And if something doesn’t feel good, I’m not dragging it along out of fear of what people might think. (Spoiler: most of the time, no one’s thinking about you as much as you imagine anyway.)

In this episode, I share:

The real reason The Collective never worked for me (even though it looked shiny on the outside).

Why ignoring your own values in favour of business “rules” will always bite you in the arse.

How I handled closing it down with integrity, and turned it into an opportunity.

The surprisingly liberating power of changing your mind in public.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in an offer that drains you, scared of being judged for pivoting, or secretly relieved at the idea of burning something down… this episode is your permission slip.

✨ Journaling Prompts to Take This Deeper:

- Where in my business am I holding onto something just because it “works,” even if it doesn’t feel good?

- What old story about myself (e.g. being flaky, inconsistent, or not seeing things through) do I need to rewrite into a strength?

- If I gave myself full permission to change my mind publicly, what would I stop, start, or reshape right now?

If this episode gives you the nudge you need to cut loose the thing that isn’t working, I’d love it if you’d leave me a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It means the world and helps more wild-hearted women find this show.

💡 Links & Mentions:

Workshops
– including All of You, my unapologetic deep dive happening this week: gillmoakes.com/workshops

The Coaching Business Academy

If you're beyond ready to grow your coaching business, The Academy could be your perfect next step: https://gillmoakes.com/academy

We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling Instagram, checking out someone else’s shiny new program, their sold-out launch, or their glossy website, and suddenly, what you’ve built feels… small. Messy. Not enough.

That’s comparisonitis. And here’s the truth: it’s a game you’ll never let yourself win. Because every time you get close to what once felt “enough,” your brain moves the goalposts.

In this episode of ReWild Your Business, I’m breaking down why comparisonitis is such a creativity killer, how it's the theif of courage. Mimicking someone else’s highlight reel will always water down your own brilliance. More importantly, I’ll share how to flip the script, shifting from comparison into connection, so you can reclaim your energy, originality, and confidence.

If you’ve been caught in the trap of measuring your work against someone else’s yardstick, this one’s for you.

✨ Here are the three journaling prompts I share in this episode to help you step out of the comparison trap:

1. Where in my business am I measuring myself against someone else’s definition of success?

2. If I stopped comparing myself to others, what would I create differently today?

3. What would my business look and feel like if I only played by my own rules?

And don’t forget, my upcoming workshop All of You: The Unapologetic Art of Showing Up Unedited is happening on September 30th. If this episode resonated, you’ll love diving deeper with me there. Register here

Monthly Workshops: gillmoakes.com/workshops

The Coaching Business Academy: gillmoakes.com/academy

Private Coaching: gillmoakes.com/private-coaching