With the launch of the January issue of ISTA magazine just days away, I wanted to touch on something that I wrote about last issue that really spoke to many of you. In order to turn your business into one that is thriving, you must cultivate a very strong personal brand. By branding, I don't just mean good graphics or business cards. I mean developing a specific niche that will attract EXACTLY the clients you desire to work with.
I've been very passionate about creating a brand the speaks to the soul. Not only my clients soul, but my own. Take a look at MY STORY so you can get a little bit better of an idea of where my heart lies and what led me to writing my book, Blissful Living.
You’re a passionate person, you dream for a fuller or richer life and you have a deep knowing that God and the universe holds something spectacular for you out there. It was only just a few years ago that I discovered my mission in this world. I always had a knack for decorating interiors and a strong skill set of art and furniture history to go along with it. I value interiors and made it my purpose to spend my life creating beautiful ones. It wasn’t until I spent several years working as a designer that I realized there is so much more of the story that I want to tell. I started to have a feeling in my gut that I just couldn’t shake. I wasn’t feeling inspired by my work anymore and in all honesty, I wasn’t inspired by anyone else's work either. I had nothing in me to go out and create. Before I decided to make a huge change or switch careers, I decided to do a little bit of digging to see what was in me that needed to be expressed. Did I need to take time out to travel? Was it possible I just didn’t want to be a designer any longer? Maybe I should move from residential to focusing on commercial? After creating a signature system called “mind detox”, I spent 21 days answering questions that needed to be answered. When it came to my business, I needed to figure out the “WHY”? Not just to create beautiful interiors but I needed to take it a step further to gain the clarity my soul was looking for. After deep reflection, I found my passion went from purposefully creating unique and stylish interiors for popularity and magazine stories, to only taking on clients who were up to changing their lives. I wanted to not only help create a beautiful home but to massively make an impact in the world showing people how to design a beautiful life, mind, body and soul. From the inside out and everything in between. Once I discovered the story that I wanted to tell, everything began to shift for me.
I was met with a lot of fear during this time. Thoughts like, what will others think of me? Am I crazy? Can I really do something like this? Will people even resonate with my story? would flood my mind daily. I’ve always been one to feel the fear but do it anyway, so it didn’t stop me. However, it did have me asking myself why I was playing so small? Why was I not making videos, writing a book, creating the magazine? Sharing your story is like running naked in a crowd, right? I knew I needed to stop playing small and get up and play BIG! Why? Because I want bigger things, I want to keep evolving and growing, I want to keep discovering things and learning more and most of all, because I want to be expressing everything God created me to.
With a completely newfound inspiration and a desire to share more of myself, I began only taking on clients that were up to something amazing in life. I began working one on one with some deep, inspiring and passionate people to not only turn their house into a home flowing with bliss but to take it one step further and create a luxurious life full of radiant success. This became the type of work that my soul was lit up by. This is exactly what propelled me to write my new book, Blissful Living. It’s more than just styling a home for beautiful photos but creating a rich and meaningful life to go along with it. This is the story God has been wanting me to tell.
What I’ve realized through the process is that there really is no need to feel competitive. We each have a different perspective and a unique story to tell. No one can tell your story quite like you. Your experiences, values and skill sets make you who you are. It’s important for us to take that responsibility seriously and live full out in this world.
Is there a story that you are meant to tell? Are you playing small in your life? What’s holding you back from designing your dream life?
DROP THE COMPETITIVE MINDSET.
Understand that instead of feeling competitive, we must get creative. Focus on creating your own version of whatever it is that you love. Don’t worry about how it will compare to any one else's choices. Dig in and ask yourself what you really are all about, your values, who are you meant to serve and in what way do you want to change the world?
TAKE YOURSELF OUT TO LUNCH
Make a date with yourself at your favorite place. Spend some time reflecting on the things that make you feel good and confident. One of my girlfriends feels her best when she goes for champagne at the Plaza. The soft jazz music and meticulous staff make her feel alive. This is where she feels most herself. Here she can see what values and qualities speak to who she is and her story. The Plaza is glamorous, confident and calming, there is excellence in customer service, everyone is dressed up as if it were a special occasion, people are polite and charming. What would your favorite environment say about you and your story?
BE YOUR OWN HEROINE
Is there something out there you are needing or wanting? What do you desire in life? Most likely there are other people out there who are looking for the same solutions as you. What desire can God trust you to be the example for how to fulfill it. How can God speak to you and through you?
