Corey Wilks is a scientific psychologist turned enterprise coach. He helps entrepreneurs and creators enhance their mindset and overcome self-imposed obstacles. He says a standard impediment is overthinking an issue. Others contain perfectionism, doubt, and even concern.
In our current dialog, he addressed these psychological hurdles and extra. Your complete audio is embedded beneath. The transcript is edited for readability and size.
Eric Bandholz: Inform our listeners who you’re.
Corey Wilks: I’m a licensed scientific psychologist specializing in cognitive habits remedy, the apply of serving to of us overcome unhealthy considering. I now coach entrepreneurs and creators to construct a values-aligned life and enterprise and overcome beliefs holding them again.
I write a number of articles on my web site and for Psychology At present. I’ve appeared on a few outstanding podcasts.
I obtained an early teaching enhance from Ali Abdaal. He’s a outstanding productiveness knowledgeable, YouTuber, and entrepreneur. He put out a 45-minute video concerning the eight issues he struggled with in life and enterprise. It was precisely what I assist folks with, so I dropped all the pieces and, in a day, wrote an article on how I might strategy his ache factors.
I posted it on X, and sufficient folks shared it that he lastly noticed it. We labored collectively for about six months. I didn’t know him earlier than then.
Many good issues have occurred since then. Once I see anyone fighting one thing, I ship them both a video or an article which may assist. In the event that they wish to work with me, that’s cool. If not, they nonetheless have that useful resource to examine again on.
Bandholz: What does your teaching appear to be?
Wilks: Being a psychologist, all of my work is round mindset and prioritizing methods. Widespread obstacles of entrepreneurs are limiting beliefs and private narratives. Most of us know what we wish or how one can get what we wish, however we second-guess ourselves and take heed to what others suppose. We query our intelligence or worthiness of success.
Many entrepreneurs battle with self-doubt and perfectionism. They blame a scarcity of cash, assets, and intelligence for not getting the issues they declare to need. However that may be very not often the case, particularly with how accessible info is on-line.
They speak about it, however they by no means take motion. And that sometimes comes right down to concern. A lot of my work with enterprise house owners is about figuring out and overcoming these limiting beliefs or clarifying what issues. We then determine the place the disconnect is.
Bandholz: What’s your recommendation to folks with expectations that exceed their capabilities?
Wilks: Intelligence after a sure level could be a hindrance since you overthink all the pieces. Entrepreneurship is about figuring out issues and creating options. Sensible individuals are good at fixing issues. However there are an infinite variety of issues, and it’s straightforward to get paralyzed.
I do know many extra profitable entrepreneurs who’re clever however don’t essentially have a excessive IQ. They don’t overthink. Loads of mediocre individuals are excessive performers as a result of they’re not overthinking. That’s an enormous factor.
Bandholz: I’m curious why you left psychology.
Wilks: I received fired from my job as a behavioral well being supplier — a psychologist. I specialised in dependancy therapy, working in rural West Virginia. I had peak job safety. Throughout Covid, I accepted a distant telehealth place in Kentucky. Two months into that new contract, I received an e-mail stating I used to be fired in 30 days.
Within the U.S., the affected person has to reside within the state the place the therapist is licensed. I’m licensed in West Virginia, not Kentucky. I couldn’t discover one other distant job out of West Virginia and wasn’t keen to maneuver again.
Getting licensed in Kentucky would have taken 4 to 6 months. It’s a number of pink tape. I had 30 days and three paychecks to determine my life. I spent 12 years getting my doctorate, and I couldn’t apply remedy anymore. What do I do with my life? I needed to take all this data and apply it to one thing else.
I received licensed as an government coach, which is sort of a four-letter phrase amongst therapists. Teaching is unregulated. A 14-year-old with a TikTok can name himself a life coach.
I made a decision to pursue teaching as a result of the remedy world defines wellness because the absence of sickness. Teaching is about serving to wholesome folks flourish, thrive, and attain their potential.
I needed to discover ways to arrange a enterprise and create a WordPress web site. I did a number of Googling and YouTubeing. I met some variety and useful entrepreneurs on X. We grew to become associates. They took me below their wing and confirmed me the ropes.
I’ve taught myself. I produce beneficial content material to assist of us entice associates and prospects. I inform folks to only begin after which iterate.
Bandholz: The place can folks comply with you and study extra?
Wilks: My web site is CoreyWilksPsyD.com. I’m @CoreyWilksPsyD on X, or add me on LinkedIn.
