January 01, 2013
December 19, 2012
Doing Your Own Thing Well
I have been thinking a lot about comparison, judging others, and not staying focused in our business/creative lives. Face it, we are distracted by the lure of social media, shopping sites, business round tables, what ever drives you away from creating your own personal magic. I believe there are a lot of reasons for that, but mostly it is fear.
What would happen if for several months we put our blinders on and created our own thing? We focused on what we were doing? We did what we were doing really well? I truly believe that we could all be doing something AMAZING.
We don't do that, and I am JUST AS GUILTY as you, because we are afraid of both failure and success. We don't hone into our true talent because what if we blow the roof off or the roof falls in.
So, how DO we do it? How do we shut off the noise and distractions if we are too afraid?
Small steps.
Start every single day with an intention to move yourself forward. It could be writing a blog post, spending a few hours on your craft, writing an amazing proposal, or just organizing your space to get ready. It doesn't have to be everything all at once, but if you start every day with a time and action dedicated to what you and your plans and do that well, you will see you move forward.
Stop comparing. Stop distracting yourself. Focus on doing your thing well. That's it. It isn't rocket science or brain surgery, although if those are your things I hope you are focusing on them! It is about shutting off the TV, Twitter, Facebook, other peoples blogs, other peoples stores, other peoples everything and focusing on what you can do today.
The reason you have to shut it all off is because the comparison of others will kill your drive. It is a slow slipperry slope towards doing nothing. And because of the ease of social media it is super easy to see how well everyone else seems to be doing. Here's the thing, they aren't showing you their messy days. Well, they might be because that might be their "thing"... but that is another story. What I mean is they are taking photos of their perfectly done cupcakes, tweeting about their rocking business lunch with a client, posting their conference speech on YouTube... they aren't showing you the day they blew the meeting, ruined the frosting, lost the job or got the rejection letter. So you are comparing yourself ONLY to thier very best. Not their very real self.
So, just stop and spend that time that you are envying them and dive into you and your projects. I promise that you will see success. Promise.
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August 29, 2012
Single Tasking Experiment - Week 4
In the last couple of weeks I have adopted three new ways of working/living: Not emailing while I am on the phone, putting down the devices when I am in person with someone, and lastly thinking before I speak. All three have serious challengers, mostly my flitting magpie of a mind, but when I actually committed to doing them my conversations were deeper, my work was completed faster, and my words seemed to have more impact.
This week, the last week of the experiment I am taking Sundays off. No phone, no internet, no Twitter, no blogging, no Facebook. I believe that we need time to not be online. We need to live our lives, not just Tweet them. So, Sunday will be dedicated to the spirit or a sabbatical. Soup will be made, life will be lived, movies will be watched, walking will happen and my spirit - hopefully - will be renewed for the coming week.
- The Rules:
- No phone, internet or ipad before 8PM
- No work unless a crisis occurs
- After 8PM I can do an overview of my coming week and check my schedule and task list
Digital Sabbatical - it's what all the cool kids are into and it is the last part of the tools I want to cultivate to work smarter.
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August 08, 2012
Solution Oriented Community/Company Organizing
I'm not a rookie at what I do for organizations, small businesses and small towns. After over 16 years in the field I have learned a lot about how I can help a company, organization or community succeed; that process is called Solution Oriented Community/Company Organizing (SOCO). My goal, always, is to find a common ground and a solution to move forward. It is how I operate in the world and what I bring to the table when I am brought in as a consultant.
My first rule is no whining. No one wants to hear complainers complain. Probably because we have heard a similar complaint before. People get stuck in their stories and they tell the same ones over and over. The more often they tell the story the more "true" it becomes. It may not be really true, but it is what they believe to be true.
Someone can't do one more thing, they are too busy. Someone else just can't get ahead. Another team thinks that one person is to blame for all of their failure. Someone else spouts that about how it was always done in the past. You know these people, you are probably one of these people for some issue, idea, cause. We all are.
What I bring is that I can cut through the stories to find the kernel of truth. Often those repeated stories have some feeling or emotion built into them - most often that feeling is fear. Fear of success, fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of feeling hurt - it is all in there. My technique is to try to listen, then stop the story and re-frame it to help them see another side of the picture they are sharing.
For instance, in my small town the story is often that the downtown shops are not open at night. That was true 10 years ago. It might have rung true 5 years ago. Now, though, that is not true. Stores are staying open longer - especially on the weekends. But what has happened is that collectively the entire town remembers the experience they had years ago and continue to tell that same story. They tell that story to visitors, each other, leaders in the community, the press, and anyone who will listen. Is the story true? No, but the the listener isn't going to do the research 99% of the time to figure that out. They believe the story and so the cycle continues. People think downtown is closed up at 5PM, visitors don't come, shops feel frustrated they are staying open, etc.
One on one, when I hear that particular story I share a new story. The story of how it is today and invite them to experience it now. I coach others to tell the new story. I co-create a Solution to the problem. 9 times out of 10 people can start to find a new story, but often only if they are listened to and coached through the fear of learning a new way of moving forward. My goal is that they learn to tell a story of possibilities.
Next Up: How This Process Works With Individual Small Businesses
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January 19, 2012
The Reformer and Idealist
Years ago I lived with nuns in Orange, California. It was a tremendous experience. One Sister in particular was very dear to me, Sister Olivia. During my time with them they taught me to meditate, about iridology, and about the Enneagram. At at the time, over 20 years ago, all of that was kind of far out New Agey kind of stuff. Now it is all pretty commonplace with meditation being touted as one of the healing properties of our stress filled lives and the Enneagram being used by corporations to better understand thier employees.
When I took the long form Enneagram test years ago I was a 1 - The Reformer. A very clear 1 with nothing even coming close in numbers.
Ones are conscientious and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are teachers, crusaders, and advocates for change: always striving to improve things, but afraid of making a mistake. Well-organized, orderly, and fastidious, they try to maintain high standards, but can slip into being critical and perfectionistic. They typically have problems with resentment and impatience. At their Best: wise, discerning, realistic, and noble. Can be morally heroic.
I took the test this week and, no suprise, I am still a 1. Now there are "wings" I am a 1 with a 9 wing making me the Idealist.
Basic Fear: Of being corrupt/evil, defective
Basic Desire: To be good, to have integrity, to be balanced
So, what does that all mean? For me I know that I am happiest when I believe in the cause I am working for - doing the work to move that forward. I am also happiest when I work with complete integrity. I also have to watch my critical nature - to lighten that feeling with respect. What I wish is that I knew what other people I worked with were. It would be helpful to meet their needs. I know my husbands number - a 4 - and I am trying to see where we fit together and where we can meet in the middle.
In my life, it all boils down to relationships. How we treat one another. How we communicate. How we develop others and ourselves. It is never about the product, the outcome, or the dollars - when I approach each situation with more understanding the better I feel about it all. This is just one more tool to do that. What tools do you use? What number are you? You can take the test here.
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September 26, 2011
Stay Motivated
Sometimes just staying motivated can be incredibly difficult for small business and solo entreprenuers. Some things to consider when you are feeling out of sorts and wanting to just quit what you are doing are:
Wait it out: If you are really doing what you love to do you can begin to accept some of the ebbs and flows of energy. It isn't always like flying to the moon and understanding that makes it a bit easier. If you know you are doing what you are meant to do or are at least discovering that you are on the right path. Ride out the times of unfulfilled moment and busy yourself with small things that will recharge your batteries.
Stay on track: Sure, you can whine a bunch about what isn't going right or you can just keep doing what you are doing. Chris Guillebeau has a great post on using the time "wasted" while waiting for an airplane.
"I knew I’d feel better if I used the time well, so I sat down and wrote. I made myself do it, camping out in a sea of people. There were no outlets, so I worked fast to conserve battery power.
I wrote 1,200 words, and then I wrote another 500 words for something else, and then another 500 words for this post. Four hours went by and I boarded my flight to Jo’burg feeling great. I was behind on my emails as usual, but ahead on my art. I drank bad red wine (shoutout to Kenya Airways again) and didn’t feel guilty about taking a short nap on the way down to South Africa."
Do one small thing: Sometimes it is just the feeling of being overwhelmed that stops us from liking or doing anything in our business. I suggest you do one small thing - anything - that moves you closer to your ultimate goals. That can be making a list, crossing one thing off your list, taking a walk with a friend/ally, doing one of the things you really love, or just organizing your things. That one small act can help you get more focused and ready to tackle it all again tomorrow.
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August 05, 2011
Biz Blogs I Am Lovin'
Are you trying to figure out who your ideal customer is? You should be. Sure, you can sell your product to anyone, but if you are purchasing advertising, looking to sponsor events, or just building your sales pitch you need to know who your product is geared too. Lisa Lights a Fire has a fun post where Carolyn Sewell took the idea and transferred it to a doodle sheet. Print, doodle, visualize your ideal customer. (Attention: this applies to crafters, bloggers, farmers, clothes designers, magazine editors, software developers... anyone doing anything that they are selling to other people.)
Over on Open they are talking about slogans with Scott Ginsberg. I love "Send love letters, not pitches" it is brilliant. You don't want to send nameless, faceless pitches blindly to people - you want to build a relationship where they are as into you as you are into them. Smart.
Last, Kelly Rae is offering her course Flying Lessons. She is one of the smartest art professionals I have watched over the years. She creates a product she loves, it connects to women immediately, and she has successfully built her business in ways that could be replicated - perhaps by you. I highly recommend at least reading the blog if you aren't into the course.
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July 27, 2011
Biz Blogs I Am Lovin'
I have over 200 blogs in my Google Reader feed and it occurred to me that I should pass on some of that fabulousness here. So, on my Life blog I am sharing craft, art, design, cooking, etc and here I will share great posts I find about business, small towns, creativity and productivity.
I loved this post from Open about using Foursquare to boost business - the idea of creating a swarm sounds fantastic! I know that small businesses in areas where Foursquare is just bursting are wondering what to do with it, this just might help.
If you sit on a nonprofit board and you are struggling (who are we kidding, they all are) with raising capital this post from Fast Company is right on. The board is charged with raising funds. There, I said it. You can't just pretend that the money will fall from the sky - help your staff find the money and keep it flowing!
Lastly, because getting your creative juices flowing is so important and I am a HUGE FAN of Sharpie I wanted to share the Sharpie blog with you. When this rolls into my Reader I get so excited. The massive amounts of creativity that flow from the tip of these pens is amazing. Enjoy their new site!
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