So you’re going to laugh when I tell you this. I laughed–-out loud. You know I think the universe is a cheeky gal. And I love it when her lessons come with a little wink and nod. I got one of her jokes the other day and I want to share with you.
Talking with the Universe
One of the best lessons I ever learned was:
Listen when the universe whispers before she has to yell and smack you upside the head.
That little whisper, your intuition, is her way of helping you navigate the world.
The Universe is Friendly
If you enjoyed reading The Secret, you know what I’m talking about. It’s about using your feelings and intuition to guide you to have the happiest life you can imagine.
I got smacked in the head a lot when I was a younger businesswoman because I was inexperienced I tended to listen more to others than myself. I substituted her wisdom for my own. Great to have mentors but ultimately you’re the boss of you, right?
One of the biggest reasons I created Positively Wed was to remind you (and me) that you own your business and it is your chariot to speed you to your desired lifestyle. Let me say that again because it’s an obvious yet very profound statement.
Own Your Wedding Business!
What does that mean? To me, it means accepting responsibility for growing my business so it can create the lifestyle I always wanted. Doing what I think is right, helpful, productive, not just meeting the expectations of others. It means promising myself to do more than my best then keeping that promise- no matter what.
Moshe and I talked about motivation on our negotiation call (you can listen in here). I like to pump myself up by dreaming about the life I’m creating. Right now reading design magazines like Boston home and dwell and trolling real estate sites for that illusive perfect country property.
That glorious vision gives me the ummph I need to get Positively Wed ready to support our move to western Mass, building a lakeside family compound there and start traveling to food/music festivals more regularly. I’ve always wanted a have a modern pre-fab set on a couple of acres in the woods. And, this business is gonna help me do that. (Savannah, although so dreamy, is off the relocation short list. Sigh)
What would ‘owning your wedding business’ could mean to you?
What does ‘owning your wedding business’ look like in real life? It looks like:
- finding and applying great resources to grow yourself personally and professionally
- Running your business by your own moral compass
- Trusting yourself to know the right answer or to find it
- Being courageous enough to step up even when you’re afraid
- Bringing your compassion and personality to work every day
Honestly, what holds most folks back, maybe even you, is the fear of being accountable to yourself. Which seems kinda crazy, right. You’d never break a promise to a bride. So, why can’t you make and keep a promise to yourself to do what you need to succeed?
I’m sooo with you
How did I get on this train of thought? I’m living it now. I got stuck between my promise to myself to succeed and the latest marketing thing- making videos.
I love the concept of marketing with videos. Being able to see and hear someone makes a huge difference in how you well you connect. I spent a year on the road traveling around the country when I was an Ombuds so that the 60k employees I served could see and talk to me in person. Capturing their trust and building rapport was too important to do it any other way.
Of course, I know why I should make a video, and found tools to help me be more skillful (try easyprompter.com- it’s great for remembering what to say), but it really bothers me to watch my videos. I was stuck, and frankly, miserable about it.
That is, until yesterday when the universe whispered. And, I listened. She reminded me I already had the answer. My business, my way. My way of doing business is playing to my strengths. My biggest strength is my empathy and compassion for others. I am soooo with you. Whatever comes up in your business, I’ve probably ‘been there and done that’ or I’m going through it now with you.
Once I remembered to use ‘my force’ (Use the force, Luke), the idea of making the video got a little more fun and doable. A big dose of compassion for me. I can find a way to get the immediacy and connection of video that represents Dina style!
This is a lot to take in. Feel free to let it percolate for a bit. You own your wedding business. You make the rules. You keep your promises to your brides and to yourself.
What’s the universe whispered in your ear that you’re ignoring?
Listen up before she gets out her can of whoop-a…
