Minding Then Finding

Finding Yourself: Yes, I'm talking about you. Somehow, you found your way and made it through. Can't that be your purpose and your mission or does it always have to be something more. Must you always put yourself in packing boxes of stuff you weren't designed to do. Maybe I am talking from personal experience. Thing is it always affects the business. You might not recognize it yet if you haven't made it out. Even from safety on the other side it sometimes takes a while. But if you trust your journey, you can make it worth your time. By staying true to what you know always got you through. At times you might be tempted to compromise yourself. But there really is no profit to be found in that.

Here's why it's so important to have made it through. Your image can get mixed. Tell me, what good it is to share inspirational photos of the house in the swamp with any who would listen. Much less sense it is to re-blog about the mansion that you left. See, if you haven't made it through, it's easy to confuse the two. Yet that's kind of silly when my business isn't either of those. Unless you would rather speak of something else, I'd rather you didn't. For your clients' sakes, you have to make it out if not your own. Trust me, it'll be easier to show others the way from the viewpoint of a guide. For if they're really honest, they'll also want to see. Your story should bring them in droves. There is a wild exotic beauty to be found along that path.

Invites: Now maybe you don't know but you're just passing through. Perhaps I'd like a few more people to stop and visit. It's okay if it doesn't happen all at once. The whole goal is for them to stop or drop by. Once you're here that's more than half the battle. Sometimes the hardest work is just found in safely getting to this place. Let me tell you though. The swamp's a tough place. Shrek's house sure isn't doing anyone any favors, much less their own. So, it sure would be nice if that path to get there had a guide. Sometimes that's where people miss the mark. See, they make the mistake of putting all the guides inside. Yet tell me how it sounds to say, 'you're cordially invited not to get lost, thank you. Bye!' Cause there's nothing worse when the path is cold and you need someone to hold. Sure, sub out the donkey, do whatever you must. Some of your best clients are the ones you've rescued off the path. Nothing shows your commitment to them more. Maybe one day they'll thank you for it. Come back and give them options once they've come to you.

Seeking Clients: Now I can go about this by two ways. First, I could satisfy an artificial need. Yet to do that I'd need to then create it. This is partly how Johanna Gaines convinced everybody they needed a shiplap flip that only she could do. The second is much like the first only with a need actual. This could range from vital to just a whim. When I wrote my interior design book, I really didn't stop and think whether it was needed. It was only nice to have. Never mind the fact it addressed hoarding, fix it up, and different stuff. Sure, sometimes you can do the two. I won't lie, HGTV is looking pretty good. Yet I still have to convince my clients I'm a better alternative than even HGTV. Cause if being on there was easy, everyone would do it. So right there, I already have something that sets me apart.

Here I am with no social. What am I doing but for the necessary. I have need of clients. They don't just magically appear. I confess if they did it would be nice. Now that is primarily for two reasons. Either they are invisible or else they're obvious. Those invisible clients are the type not to recognize a need until it is pointed out. When that must happen, it should be done as tastefully as possible to avoid losing any. Nothing's worse than seeing an ogre in your face first thing to start off the day. I don't care if it is sending lovely little leak stopping videos from somewhere south of the swamp. It's still an ogre and maybe you don't know this, but ogres are offensive. Even more is one insinuating that you might have a problem. On the other hand, we have the obvious. They have got signs and flyers and a plan to meet outside the labor board at 7:30 am sharp because an ogre's health and safety is in question. Those people already know they've got a problem. Trust me, they're the first ones on that channel. If not, they're in business for themselves with that same old like, follow, share, subscribe.

Your Image: Now I don't know what you'd like to be seen as. Yet I know which I prefer. I know the Lord hasn't called me to be a medi-ogre. It might not matter much what others think. But it really does when you're a guide. My all-time favorite part of that movie was when Shrek came out with the ill-fitting kitchen pot and tear-stained face. Poor Fiona didn't quite know what to think. Thankfully she still trusted him, however long that took. that's not even to mention the part about the donkey and I'm almost certain my clients wouldn't appreciate it. Sure, you've got to have your game plan down. But surely it couldn't hurt to improve your image just a little.

Regardless, your image is what really makes the difference between mediocre and medi-ogre. It is called maintaining a happy medium if you will. Then too, if you won't it's up to you.

Commitment is doing what it takes to see it through. Whether it's me or you, it's all the same really. These clients who are in need of what you offer will also need your commitment. It's the same the world over whether a missionary in a remote jungle somewhere or in the concrete world of the corporate office. All these, need most of all to have you there. If they didn't need it then you wouldn't be in the business of helping people then would you. Just maybe your presence is a gift. What then is anything are you doing with it. It's one thing to be there in your business. But quite another to actually make a difference in the lives of your clients. What, if anything, are you committing to? It's a question that must be answered if you wish to move the business forward. Rather that than to stay in stagnation in the midst of the swamp or worse yet to fade into obscurity. Many people make the mistake of limiting their circle of influence to very few. This is a mistake because you and your product, good, or service was made to reach out unto many. If you cannot commit for them, then at least do it for you.

Creating Magic: Business is all about the magic of creation. You can make it look like whatever you want. There's no market and no limits on what you can do. The pitfall with this in the swamp of despond is creating your own monsters. These come in many shapes forms and sizes. Even the talking donkey can resemble a monster if you let it. What you do with it is up to you. That's why it's best to plan well and so plot a course around this common pitfall. It'll swallow your business whole if you let it or bray you right out of the swamp. Meanwhile you're like, I just want to keep warm for the night not be running away from my life.

The solution for that is surprisingly simple. You call 'em, you shot 'em. Instead of calling into creation, try sketching bunnies honey. Can't you see them now? There's one little pair of eyes peeking out from that bush way over there. There's a few more a little closer to you rustling around in the leaves hidden by the mist and the fog. Then one brave little soul hops on out into the cleaning in full view. Learn the art of the craft and master it well. It's a lot easier to sketch what is wanted and desired by the consumers, than it is to call your customers forth.

There is dignity found in the struggle just as there is strength within the work.

What the market can support versus your ability to do. Sooner or later, you will be run ragged by the market. The aim here is to hold your own image, mission, purpose, and brand while still capturing the market but doing less.

Feeling Invisible: There's not a lot of businesses that really notice us. Sure, you can always make a scene to get your voice heard. Then again, what good does it ever do besides simply allowing you to scream.

You get what effort you put in return. The issue with the woman and the beast is everything's wrong with the picture. There's a woman on the loose and not a man in sight. Without knowing any better, you'd really start to think there's something seriously wrong back at the swamp. See, there was the castle and with it, Shrek's coronation day but somehow, we've gotten a tad bit lost along the way.

Freeing people is what it's all about. You know that moment where Belle kissed Rumplestiltskin and curse began to lift. He grows enraged through and throws her down against the stone. Just at that moment, she says the magic words. In Shrek through, something's really wrong if the tear-stained face's any judge. Then again, perhaps it's all merely falling into place. Freeing is and has never been about yourself only. Nor was it ever meant to be. The ogre is to be seen busily saving himself and the rest of his kingdom, though he really doesn't know it yet. They don't know it either if you're honest with yourself. Herein lies the balance of the woman helping the beast. It cannot be done from a viewpoint of control, running amok, nor yet driven by pure instinct.