"I feel more complete. I feel a lot more confident. I feel more like my own man now than I ever have. Being self-employed is quite a lonely place, but I'm more settled with that now, in fact, I'm very settled with it."
- Rory felt like he wasn't good enough compared to other entrepreneurs.
- He kept getting drawn into debates with his team about how to move forward.
- The Arena helped him trust the skills and expertise he brings to the table, and feel assured that he earned his seat.
"The way that the program was conducted was excellent. I'm a counselor, a teacher trainer, and an award-winning lecturer. I'm used to observing people who teach and train. The way Itamar handled the group and delivered the materials was exceptional."
Rory's business was doing well but he still felt like he wasn't as good as other entrepreneurs. His self-doubts kept him second-guessing himself on issues that were squarely inside his area of expertise. The Arena helped Rory realize he was still trying to live up to his father's expectations, even though his father died many years ago. Understanding this dynamic gave Rory the confidence to live up to his own expectations, which helped him become a decisive leader with a clear strategic vision for his team.
"Even if you're working at a high level, you have your doubts and your worries. By engaging with The Arena, I was able to push my barriers and the worries to the side. To be with other people and hear their experiences and maybe, in some small way, help them on their journey — to get that critical feedback on what you don't see, or the things you do and you just don't realize you're doing them. I think that was invaluable."
What would he say to other entrepreneurs considering The Arena?
"Get off the fence. Speak with Itamar and see if it's a fit for you. But if you're on the fence, you're really wasting your life, because sitting on that fence is bloody painful. You want your feet on the floor or a comfortable seat. If you're sort of thinking, 'I'm not sure it's for me', I was the same. But I'm mightily glad that I stepped in and completed the program."
Find out how The Arena helped Rory Lees-Oakes understand how much his internalized childhood criticism was undermining his confidence, so he could focus on sales and implementation rather than constantly second-guessing his work.
