The Maroon Suit

When I started Worx 8 years ago, I had no idea how to run a business. I didn’t have any formal business training, I wasn’t sure how to file legal papers and I sure as heck wasn’t able to replace my income from my full time job right away. What I did have was an idea and a burning desire to live it everyday.  I knew I wanted to work for myself and do what I love everyday. So I committed to doing that.

I had been working as a professional in my industry for a few years and was familiar with the idea of being a business woman. I knew they dressed in suits, went to meetings and came back and did their duties. The next day they would do the same thing over again. To me, these women were successful. They appeared to have it all figured out and were living the life I wanted. So, the first thing I did when I started my business was buy a suit.

This wasn’t any ordinary suit. This was a maroon suit. I felt special in it. It had a coat and a pencil skirt, both of which were maroon. I had a nice white blouse that I wore underneath of it and when I had this on, I felt like I had made it. I was one of those successful women.

After wearing it to a half a dozen meetings or so, each of which I took out my nose ring and put my hair in a slick back bun, something started to feel off. I was uncomfortable wearing it. I hated putting on pantyhose and the more I saw the color maroon, the more I hated it. I felt like a fraud. I was putting on a front based on what I saw and felt was “success.”

It didn’t take me long to realize that this was not for me. I’m sure there are lots of lovely maroon suit wearing ladies out there that are killing it! You go girls! But for me, I had to put the suit away. I started dressing more like a creative professional. My fav - blazer and a graphic t-shirt, WITH my nose ring. The more I started to dress like myself, the more I started to talk like myself. The more I talked like myself, the more I attracted clients that appreciated me for who I was and what I could offer them. I went from being uncomfortable and attracting the wrong clients to feeling confident and attracting the best clients.

What are you doing in your business that feels like it just isn’t you? Are you putting on a front, feeling as though you have to impress someone with a version of yourself that doesn’t truly exist? Are you following a business model that someone else is using but feel a disconnect with it? Are you marketing in a corporate way when you’re really light hearted and funny? Are you wearing a suit when you should be sporting your favorite fashion? Are you offering a service that you really do not care for and keep thinking about one you wish you were?

Anytime you feel a disconnect with your business it’s an opportunity to dig deeper and get in touch with who you really are and how you want people to experience your brand. The beautiful thing about being in business for yourself is you do not have to follow the “business rules.” There are absolutely some best practices to adopt, but when it comes to building your business, you have an opportunity to create it in a way that you want to work with people. You can create your tone, your look, what you offer and how you offer it. Your business is unique! Why try to be like another business when you can be like yours. Be a poster business for what others strive to be. Show your courage to be different. Create a culture that is magnetic and inspire others to do the same. Just because someone else is successful doesn’t mean their path is right for you. By staying true to yourself, you will create your own unique path of success.

I donated that ridiculous maroon suit. Today I’m sporting me, and that works.

Whistle while you work

I was doing some routine grocery shopping the other day and approached the checkout counter pretty optimistically. I like to make friendly eye contact and strike up a conversation with the people I come in contact with, whether that be in line or with the cashier. You never know whom you’re going to meet!

The thing that got me about this particular trip though was the conversation I had with the cashier. I approached him smiling and asked him how he was doing. Without reservation, he continued to run the items across the scanner, never looking up at me. He proceeded to tell me how many hours were left in his work shift, how much he couldn’t stand the long lines of people and that he couldn’t wait until Sunday when he had off.

This really made me think about how our interactions with others really sets a tone, whether we’re at work or not. I think most of us have worked a job that we really did not care for at one point in our lives or another. I remember stocking shelves, dipping fries in hot grease, working long retail hours over holidays and designing advertisements that put a limit on my creativity. It’s not fun, or easy, working a job that you do not see yourself working at forever.

Here's my personal reminder: Do what you have to do well until you can do what you want to do long term. 

The energy you put off is magnetic, good or bad. This scenario could have gone differently with a mind shift and outlook change. Does he want to be a cashier for the rest of his life? Probably not. Some people do, and that’s fantastic if that helps them to be the best version of themselves. This fella was probably working towards something that he has his heart set on and is doing this in the meantime. He’s doing what he has to do until he can do what he wants to do.

By shifting your emotions around, you can make the very best of each situation. If we have to work alternative jobs to meet our goals, let’s make the best of them! Here are a few ways you can incorporate this into your work life…

1. Make eye contact – when people approach you, acknowledge them by making gentle eye contact. A simple eye connection can speak louder than words. 
2. Smile – The more positive energy you put out there, the more you will receive. Make someone’s day by giving him or her a grin.
3. Listen to your tone – are you talking short and snippy? What do you sound like to people when you answer the phone or greet them in person? Softening your tone and slowing your speed can change an entire conversation. 
4. How are you presenting yourself? - Are you slouched over, sitting with you hand under your chin? Or are you standing tall and confident? Body language is sets a tone just as much as words do.
5. What is your goodbye message? - When you’re finished working with someone, what well wishes, if any, are you sending them away with? Thank them for their time and wish them a great day. Let them know you are sincerely thankful for your time with them.

These are all key communication tools you can use whether you’re working towards a goal or are working the career of your dreams. We’re all entitled to bad days because we’re human. But how we handle those days is what defines our character. It’s the people around us that will help to lift and carry you through those dark times. If you notice someone having a rough day, take a moment to give them something to lift their spirits, a kind smile, gentle word or even a hug sometimes is all it takes to turn someone’s frown upside down.

Most importantly, know that what you do matters. Your goals are important but so is what you are doing at the present moment. Achieving a goal is built on stacking one accomplishment on top of the last. Consider your current situation one of those building blocks. You’re already achieving so much!

Shout. Shout. Let It All Out.

This may sound a little New Age to some, but it is 100% true. You attract what you put out into the universe. If you are constantly the victim and you never accept responsibility for your own feelings, you will attract people with the same toxic beliefs into your life. If you are someone who views our world as a place of opportunity and value how you spend your time here, then you will attract people with the same positive energy.

Take a moment to look around the room and count all the red items you see. Now go back to reading this and see if you can remember how many yellow items there are. I’m willing to bet you can’t remember very many. You only notice what you focus on.

Now think of someone that absolutely drives you batty. It could be a family member, a client or your best friend that could tick you off that day. You just might be irritated with their behavior because it is a reflection of something in you. This something could be a behavior you are guilty of. You don’t like it because you are ashamed of it.

Instead of getting mad at the person, try to approach it from a place of curiosity. WHY is their behavior bothersome? Is it a reflection of some part of your personality? What can you do to respond instead of react to situations?

It is perfectly fine to get mad, but we have a philosophy here at Worx: Shout, shout, let it all out and move on. Throw an absolute shitfit. Then take a cue from your dog, kick some grass over that turd and move on.

It may sound cliché, but with a breakdown there often comes a breakthrough. You have to dust yourself off and keep going. You are absolutely in charge of how you respond to events in your life. You could play the victim and come up with all the reasons in the world to not do something, or you can make a decision and commit to it. Focus on things that are going well and ignore the things you cannot change. Listen to feedback from others, but don’t let that stop you from doing what you need to do. Don’t be afraid to be so freaking happy that it scares people.

Playing it small doesn’t serve the world.

Sometimes you suck at work

Well, that got your attention didn't it? It's true. There are days when you wake up unable to accomplish anything with grace and by the end of the day you wonder how on earth you survived. I'd like to call it being human. Even the most polished, well-rounded individuals have these days!

Let’s relive last Thursday...

I had several meetings scheduled, a few deadlines and some creative work to proof. Pretty standard day and I was looking forward to it! Then it happened. I lost my ability to act like a civilized human being. In my first meeting, I promise that my tongue and brain stopped communicating. I slurred over my words, forgot our Worx process and had a strange twitch in my neck; makes it kind of difficult to put on a professional front.

Then the afternoon came. Another wonderful opportunity with a potential new client! However, my brain decided it was ready for round 2. In mid-meeting, my elbow loudly slipped off of my folder and my entire body jerked. I took a big gulp of my iced coffee only to find my mouth full of about a teaspoon of sugar, causing me to cough loudly. And, then, in mid-sentence I lost my shoe under the table. So while I'm trying to carry on a professional conversation, my foot is rapidly searching for my lost sandal.

Thursday. You were not good to me.

Why on earth am I sharing this with you; To let you know that we're all human. We all have backwards days that leave us questioning our abilities. Sometimes you suck at work. Does it mean that you're incapable of overcoming it? No way!

I'll share a secret with you. When I'm having a day like this, I call myself out on it in front of people. Like the time I was giving a social media presentation in front of about 30 professionals. I accidentally inadvertently made a sexual reference not just once but twice in a row. As some people started to giggle, I realized that I needed to acknowledge my ridiculous mistake. I stopped mid sentence and said "I think we need to take a moment to acknowledge that I just publicly humiliated myself." We laughed as a group and went on with the presentation. I feel like people gain respect for you when you can admit your faults or low moments.

Everyone has their day and their moment when things don't go as planned. Instead of using it as an excuse to not move forward, I use it as a white flag to slow down. Sometimes these things happen because we're balancing too many things in life. Sometimes it happens for no reason at all! However, the important thing to remember is it doesn't have to define who you are. Don't wallow in your mistakes. Own them, acknowledge them and most importantly, laugh at them.

Tomorrow is another day. 

Weathering the storm

Your business is thriving. Customers are raving about your service and you can't seem to keep up with the demand. It seems like things couldn’t be any more effortless.

Then it hits you; dead silence, slammed doors and the word we all hate, NO. You went from the top of the world to digging in the trenches again. How on earth did this happen? How could you go from being unstoppable to wondering what you did wrong? I've learned over the years the necessity of this not-so-fun process. It's part of the growth and evolution of a business. 

Lets look at your business as a vegetable garden (who doesn't love a good visual?). You plant the seeds and water them, and with time nutritious and vibrant vegetables (customer relationships) start to grow. Then one day you go to the garden and see it has been overtaken with weeds (unhealthy relationships). What do weeds do? They take up space for new thriving plants and drain the nutrients from the vegetables. 

Your business isn't any different. There will be more time to nurture and cultivate fruitful relationships once you admit that you cannot help everyone. If you are putting a solid chunk of your energy into catering to customers that do not appreciate the value of your products or services, you are taking away from the ones that do.

It may be time to weed your garden to make room for the nutritious relationships that are just beyond the bend. During your slow time try to keep things moving forward with a few of these exercises:

• Identify characteristics of your best customers. Who do YOU want to work with?

• Take some time to focus on you. It's hard to work on your business when you're crazy busy!

• Reach out to fresh seeds. Do you have a list of people interested in working with you that haven’t come to fruition?

• Refocus. Look at your goals, dreams and successes. Are you on the right path? If not, what do you need to do to get back on it?

If your garden is full of weeds, where will you plant your next row of seeds? Don't beat yourself up during the down times. Instead, prepare yourself for the next round of bliss that lies just ahead.

Do What Fires You Up!

How you spend your time is how you spend your life. You know all of those things you’ve always wanted to do? The time to do them is now. The circumstances will never be aligned perfectly, and you will never have forward movement without taking risks. If you remember one thing from this post, remember this: You, playing small, will not serve the world.

Say yes to what fires you up. But, how do you get there? Fill your environment with what matters most to you. Physically get out there and do what matters most. You will know it when you feel it. When you are continually focusing on it, your mind becomes quiet, you find peace and clarity, and your renewed state-of-mind will elevate your work and business. When you can define your core, you will attract clients that think like you.

Risk success, because it is not guaranteed. Saying no to one thing is saying yes to something better. Choosing one or the other is always a risk. Maybe this will mean less income, you may lose clients that don’t share your values, or your family and friends may not support it. It’s worth the risk when it matters most to you.

What is physically keeping you from doing what fires you up? Are you worried about what people will think or have fear of failure? Most emotional fears are irrational bi-products of our own thinking. Just because everyone is headed in one direction, doesn’t mean you have to go follow along. Make decisions based on your values, because you can’t be everything to everyone.

You are more than enough, and you are here for a purpose. Everyone ends up somewhere, but few end up there intentionally. To be different, you have to be yourself.

The ability to make decisions will come naturally once you can define what is most important to you. Do what fires you up. Do what matters.

Managing Client Expectations

A lot of work goes into attracting and retaining the clients we want to work with, so it is crucial to manage expectations from the beginning. A solid relationship can withstand bumps in the road and go on to grow even stronger for it. The foundation of a solid relationship is to connect with your clients on a personal level. Know their family situation, what makes them tick, how they spend their free time and what motivates them to do what they do.

Lack of communication can eat away at relationships, personal or business. Be proactive in communicating with good news and bad. Direct and transparent communication builds trust and helps you and the client to handle setbacks. Add to the value of your relationship by offering advice, direction, and input. An open dialogue like this can help establish the respect needed for better project management. You were hired for your expertise and knowledge, and if you don’t share your point of view, there is a risk of becoming a “yes man or woman.”

It is important at the beginning of every project to agree on strategy, goals and timelines. This gives a clear understanding of what success is and how to measure it. Create a document that outlines the scope of work to resolve any confusion about expectations and to avoid difficult conversations down the road. Speaking of difficult conversations, most relationships will go south very quickly if you are not open and honest about budgets. To start, you must be realistic about setting a clear understanding of the budget required to execute the desired program. If you don't address the client until you have an issue you will not only have an unhappy client, you may also find yourself eating the overages.

Lastly, be a good listener. Many clients are unsure of what they are trying to accomplish or not very good at articulating it. Following your gut instincts along with excellent listening skills are a must. One of the best ways to offset a client who communicates poorly is to repeat what you have heard and ask them to confirm the accuracy of details, which will ultimately impact expectations.