No waiting for hugs

It has been a dramatic and exciting year for me and my business. The amount of personal and professional growth has been amazing.

One of the best things I did for myself in 2008 was making the commitment to continuously invest in my professional development, at a greater level and pace than I had before. Taking this step has not only enhanced my knowledge of certain areas of business, but has had the invaluable benefits of heightening my awareness level and building supportive networks.

For example, as a result of attending a conference, I met a group of people who were interested in continuing the momentum and applying our knowledge. We set up a regular weekly mastermind meeting where we share our wins, challenges, and plans, and most of all, request support from each other.

On this morning’s call I raised the topic of balancing mom time with business time, since for many women myself included, flexibility and having time for our children is one of the main reasons we started our businesses in the first place. Our discussion was insightful and helpful to me, and the group dynamic is such that sharing experiences helps each other.

When I finished the call, I asked my 7-year old daughter what she liked most about mom working at home in her own business. She said “When I want a hug, I don’t have to wait until the end of the day.”

Setting up networks that support and nurture you mean you don’t have to wait for hugs — so once again, I am humbled by the wisdom of children who seem to give you exactly the perspective you need! Happy holidays.

Are you dabbling for dollars?

I am a recovering dabbler. This affliction tends to strike creative types – especially authors, consultants and graphic artists who do this work “on the side” while holding down guaranteed paying jobs, or the self-employed who happily accept any assignment that pays – or promises to!

Luckily for me I worked out my affliction while I was still employed. So like most recovering evangelists I feel qualified to diagnose these symptoms in others:

• willing to work for nothing, or lower than standard rates, as a way to get foot in door
• easily talked in to the argument from potential client that the offered crappy 1980s rate is in the fact the 2000s standard market rate
• keeps one foot in aforementioned door, and other foot in safe, but soul-sucking door of corporate or other form of employment
• afraid to focus on one specific market or specialty in fear that it won’t be enough
• may also manifest in a contrarian symptom – will stick to one specific specialty or niche even if it not’s paying off

Here’s the deal – as counterintuitive as it can be to turn work down or refuse to follow the norm in your market, the only way to raise yourself above the market is to be different. Especially today, there is no reason to settle for the old way of consulting or freelancing. There is a HUGE world out there. Hint: we have the Internet now!

I live near Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. It is affectionately (the kind of affection in dysfunctional families) called the Wholesale City. In other words, people want everything cheap. This is not good for artists, writers or consultants. But I have managed to charge top rate and above, and get it, even in the first year of my business – by standing for something, getting known as an expert beyond your geographic boundaries, setting up my business differently than others in my market, and not being afraid to branch out and offer other (complementary) services.

Hey, if I can do it, you can too (people from Winnipeg also have inferiority complexes about living in Winnipeg).

The truth is out there

Since hanging up my shingle, so to speak, so many people have asked me how I handle working alone at home. The reactions range from “I couldn’t do what you do” to “I would watch TV all day” to “I would miss the social contact too much.”

The truth is – I have never felt so connected to so many people. The reason for this is that once you step out and get into the zone that is right for you, you begin to naturally attract and connect with others who are just as passionate about their businesses as you are. This doesn’t mean abandoning all previous friends and networks, it means opening yourself up to the ones that you need, to learn, to do business, to grow.

Emphasis on the stepping out – you have to get out there:

• virtually – use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, etc. Join groups, look up people you admire and see what they belong to and who their friends are, and start building your own network. Join a membership site related to your business that offers training and a member forum – there are tonnes of them out there – many free, or low cost.
• physically – you don’t need to your plan to a “t” to start – just be clear on your service and start talking about it, attend conferences, local networking meetings, and don’t overlook your friends and family and other personal contacts – when they ask “how’s work” or what you do, tell them!
• mentally and emotionally – it has been said that starting a business in the ultimate personal growth tool, and that is the absolute truth! Any insecurities, limiting beliefs about yourself, your value, etc. work against what you say and do, sending conflicting vibes to others. To grow your business, you have to be willing to grow yourself.

p.s. another plus of branding yourself – you get to work in your interests … can you tell I was a 1990s X-Files fan?