inspiration Archives - Page 3 of 4

Here's the thing: you're so worth it

Last Friday, I ran a day retreat for some of the women who came to the Small Creative Business Retreat in March. It was a brilliant day of catching up, meditating and talking about looking after ourselves. It reminded me that we need reminding, often, of what we deserve.

This blog is dedicated to the women who came on Friday, and to anyone else who needs to hear it.

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You’re worth a delicious breakfast.

You’re worth calling it a day and going to bed before 10pm.

You’re worth the effort it takes to drink a glass of water for every caffeinated drink you enjoy.

You’re worth three deep breaths when you feel overwhelmed, or like you can’t make a decision, or when everyone wants your attention.

You’re worth a new pair of cosy (even cashmere) socks.

You’re worth a walk in the park, or just a bit of fresh air every day.

You’re worthy of connection with people who really get you, whom you can really trust.

You’re worth the time, effort and expense it takes to really care for yourself.

You deserve whatever it is that will really serve you, will really allow you to do your best work and feel good about it.

You deserve a massage, or just half an hour by yourself in a darkened room, if it will allow you some form of release.

You deserve a delicious meal, cooked by someone else, with no washing up – if that’s what will feed you.

You deserve to be at the top of the list, especially your own. Only you can put yourself there.

You deserve to take time off – even when you’re not making money or getting everything on your list done.

You deserve the praise and acknowledgement for showing up, every day. For keeping going, any way you can. For getting this far.

So here it is:

I see you. I see how much you’re trying, how much you’re putting into this. I see how hard it is, how much it challenges you. I see how you’re doing great, despite the million ways it could all fall apart.

You know what I see? I see anyone keeping it together, even if it’s by the skin of their teeth, I see that as winning, as success.

And even if you feel like you’re falling apart, I know that you’re doing better than you think.

This week, get the care and support you deserve, especially from yourself.

PS Booking for my 2016 retreat will open up really soon. So if you’re feeling like the well of worthiness needs filling up with more than just a blog post, keep your eyes peeled.

Christmas support: catch up on my live call

Yesterday, I hosted a live call to talk about preparing for Christmas and ways in which I can support you over Christmas (especially my new group mentoring programme).

In case you missed it, you can watch it again here (where you’ll be able to see all the chat!) or below:

Spreecast is the social video platform that connects people.

During the call, I talk about forecasting, getting prepared with products and stock, hiring staff, and how you can make the most of the busy Christmas period. I talk about managing ordering enough stock to fulfil orders, while managing your cash flow – not always easy!

If you’re interested in my group mentoring programme, you can read more and sign up here. Alternatively, if you’re interested in a one-off session, help with forecasting, or working with me ongoing, please get in touch.

You might also find Betsy Benn’s guest blog post on preparing for Christmas helpful!

Here's the thing: a wedding vs a marriage

I have a client who is a wedding planner. Talented, creative, organised – she’s everything you could want as someone to help plan a very important day.

However, her greatest strength, I believe, is that one of her guiding principles is to value the marriage more than the wedding.

Working with her own clients, she explores what their relationship is like, and what they want their marriage to be like, in order to create a wedding day that is authentic to them, and that starts their journey as a married couple.

This, to me, is refreshing and brilliant.

I’m all about sustainability. I don’t find quick fixes or flashy short-term plans particularly enjoyable or satisfying – I’m much more about finding the long term goals and aims.

That’s not to say I don’t do short term or one-off – because I do, and this work with clients is often very valuable and enjoyable. But it’s because I use quick fixes to re-orientate towards sustainability and long term aims.

This analogy of wedding vs marriage can easily be applied to a small creative business.

Because both are important. The wedding (which could be a launch, re-launch, Christmas period etc.) sets you off on the right path. It declares your intention, celebrates something very important, and gathers people together. It creates something special, something symbolic, that will be looked back on and referred to as a wonderful, special, magical time.

But the wedding isn’t more important than the marriage. The marriage (day to day business life, the ongoing sustainability of your business) is how you live out your intentions. It includes the full range of life experiences – excitement, disappointment, vulnerability, starting afresh. A marriage requires daily attention, a million forgivenesses, and the commitment to learning, trying again, living by the principles you agreed on your wedding day.

Here’s the thing:

Are you living for a wedding or a marriage?

Did you expect your business-wedding (new website launch, new range launch, advertising) to change everything, to change the everyday of your business-marriage?

If you’re planning a re-launch, new product launch, or simply thinking about Christmas, consider what your principles for the long-term marriage are. How will you demonstrate them at your ‘wedding’?

What are your business-marriage principles and values? (Also, what are your actual marriage principles and values? Different, but connected.)

Are you living them every day? Is anything missing? Do you need a vow renewal with your business?

Ah, I do love a metaphor and analogy to get us thinking differently!

Suffice to say: build a business for the long term, with sustainability. Use any short term goals to work towards that.

(And yes, as always, I’m taking my own advice.)

PS I currently have a spot open for a weekly mentoring client, and space for one-off mentoring sessions, so if you need to edge back towards sustainability, or need help planning a business-wedding, please get in touch.

Here’s the thing:

Enter The Forge