And unless you’re a beyond stubborn entrepreneur (high-five to my sisters from other misters), then it’s easy to let what everyone think you ‘should’ be doing dictate what you DO end up doing.
I know because when I started out, this was exactly what happened. I listened to my clients and let them decide who I was and what kind of work I did. For me this meant colouring between the lines and following the trends when what I REALLY am is a add-champagne-and-watch- me-bubble introvert/extrovert that loves hot pink, cookies, sneakers and MAKING trends.
But … my clients know best. Right?
But here’s the thing … your clients can’t run your business for you.
They’re running their own business and, newsflash, it ain’t yours.
They’re also:
+ Not the ones that have to be in your biz every day.
+ Not the expert in your industry/field. YOU are.
+ Not living your life.
+ Not the ones with your unique set of experience, skills, talent and passions.
But I get it. When your clients tell you should do something … it’s natural to listen.
For years, I ran a business that felt wrong for me and right for my clients. The clients that, actually, when I sat down and thought about it, I didn’t really want to work with in the first place because they weren’t my peeps (i.e. my dream customers).
This meant I ended up with a stationery business when I had no interest in building a stationery empire. This meant I worked in an industry that I had no interest in. This meant made decisions that weren’t aligned with the life, business and lifestyle I actually wanted. This meant, basically, I was trying to convince myself to love a life that somebody else wanted for me.
Spoiler alert: It didn’t work.
Thankfully, it didn’t take me too long to realise I was off track and today I run a business – and lead a life – that I’m tickled pink with.
Which is why you can’t let your clients decide how you should run your business and what type of person/entrepreneur you want to be. That, sweet thing, is up to YOU. Just like it’s up to you to decide:
+ What lights you up and gets you out of bed every morning.
+ To chase the things you LOVE doing.
+ What kind of lifestyle you want.
+ What kind of BUSINESS you want to build.
+ What kind of work you want to do.
+ How you want to spend your time every day.
Want deeper clarity and purpose in your business … but have no clue where to start? Lady, I got chu.
Say hello to ‘Figuring Sh*t Out’ Challenge (don’t worry, it’s free, and fast, so don’t freak out on me).
What if you could book you design biz in for a health check-up … and then give it a little nip and tuck while you were at it too? The ‘Figuring Sh*t Out’ Challenge is a free five-day challenge specifically designed to help you get clarity in your design biz.
