Something that I've always struggled with.... I mean always... even outside of business.. as a teenager... college student... Is this idea that BECAUSE I am different... and completely AWARE that I'm different.. that I'm not AS good as someone else....
It's never been that I'm not confident in who I am or what I have to offer -- but for whatever reason... I've always had a little nagging in the back of my head asking... "does being different make me less than or unequal!?!?" Treating everyone the same and accepting and trying to understand everyone's differences is something I've always valued, but it's always been something I've feared wouldn't be reciprocated.
Another thing that I've always struggled with... is small talk... I truly down to my core find it full of shit. Walking by someone and saying "How are you..." and never stopping to HEAR their answer is so shallow to me. I think that's why most of the time, I will just walk by and smile! At least THAT can be genuine. Don't get me wrong -- I totally do this too, but will at all costs... avoid conversations like this! HA! I've just never understood the desire to talk to someone when you really don't care to hear their answer...... I'm REALLY not trying to sound crass either!
If I look at you and ask you.. How are YOU... seriously.. how are you feeling?!?! Are you having a good day?!!? That's genuine.. not a half-ass attempt at a conversation like small talk. Ugh.. I'm terrible at it. Breaking the ice, creating conversation is not my strong suit ESPECIALLY if you are easily offended by the tough questions... because that's how I like to start conversations.
Why am I telling you these things?!?!?! Because it's so important to understanding ME.... in order to be a good FRIEND... to love YOURSELF... to run a successful business.. you HAVE to acknowledge the things you struggle with AND the things you succeed at.
It's imperative to healthy relationships - being confident -- success.
In my opinion at least.
So what are some things that I've always THOUGHT were bad traits of mine but rather... are actually STRENGTHS!?!?
1... I see the best in others - their worth/potential... truly...
2... I believe in doing the right thing.... even if it puts me in the corner.... puts me in last place... requires a HUGE ego check of my own... I believe it. I believe in so much more than 'me'. I am a believer... when things get hard, I believe.. I believe in Him... in struggling to see sunshine.. and to appreciate it. I believe.
3... I am extremely empathetic.... and this actually CAN be unhealthy at times... I tend to WEAR other people's struggles as my own.
So WHY are all of these struggles and strengths SO important to my business!?!?!? How does this help my business grow at all?!!?
Well for instance.. let's look at one of the things I specialize in... Women's Beauty.
I have this gift of seeing worth... of seeing so much damn good in someone that it IRRITATES ME when they can't see it themselves. I see their beauty in the little moments of insecurities. I can read people very easily... I can 'feel' what they're feeling... I'm intuitive. What BETTER choice of specialization than women's beauty.... in a world where we all have a tendency to be BULLIES to ourselves.... I want to break that... I want you to see your worth.
My struggle with being DIFFERENT has actually made me successful... maybe not the trendy (and not in the bad context) version of success... but in a way that makes ME happy... I have this thriving business in a small town Virginia... I'm at home with my family most of the time and teaching others to chase their big ass dreams... I can't even tell you how much joy that brings me!
Wearing sweatpants and making my 'weirdness' a part of my brand has attracted like-minded people... hell even people who AREN'T like-minded but who are intrigued by this ridiculous creature that I am =) I HATE small talk... large social gatherings... I would MUCH rather sit down and really talk about what's weighing on your heart... how your marriage is doing... I would MUCH rather eat ice cream and floss at the table with you... well.. maybe not with you, you'll likely just be staring at me. I've loved denim before denim was cool again... I named one of my dogs after Vin Diesel because... well because it's Vin Deisel...
Can you imagine how successful I WOULDN'T be if I booked brides who thought flossing at the table was rude (and trust me, I know people do.. lol. I just really... can't help it), who hated being asked the tough questions, and who wanted to meet me at coffee shops to chat about the weather and different lattes (is that the right word?!?)... Oh my gosh the anxiety that gives me.. you don't even understand. If I tried being anything other than MYSELF... I would be failing.... AND I'd have a ton of crap in my teeth. that NO ONE WOULD EVEN TELL ME ABOUT.. oh you people and your politeness....
You have to be self-aware in order to create a TRUE representation of your business.. to create a BRAND.
My sweet friends -- Mary + Justin -- are GREAT examples of this. They are poised and soft-spoken -- classic and truly in LOVE and they are true representations of their brand and attract like-minded clients! They are completely aware of WHO they are... and that directly affects WHAT their business is and what it stands FOR... their 'WHY'.
Sharon Elizabeth Photography is a true representation of ME..... And that didn't just magically happen... It has taken 8 years of growing this business... understanding WHO I wanted to work with... WHAT I wanted to specialize in... and HOW I wanted to be successful.... I'm a small town -- simple things -- sweatpants and pizza and wings -- flossing at the table -- loving yourself because you are WORTHY -- Believer.... kind of a girl....
SEP is all of my strengths AND all of my weaknesses.. but if you aren't self-aware... then you can't begin to understand YOUR brand.. and if you don't understand your brand you can't be successful... no matter what your definition of success is. You could be attracting the WRONG clients for YOU... because you don't know HOW you're portraying yourself or WHY!
I challenge you to be a little hard on yourself and write out your strengths and weaknesses...
How can it directly correlate with your business!!!?!??
Did I also mention that going to the post-office is also a weakness of mine... so I've had to hire an office manager...
Ain't no body tryin-ta lick no stamps and smell like cardboard..... Real talk.
It's never been that I'm not confident in who I am or what I have to offer -- but for whatever reason... I've always had a little nagging in the back of my head asking... "does being different make me less than or unequal!?!?" Treating everyone the same and accepting and trying to understand everyone's differences is something I've always valued, but it's always been something I've feared wouldn't be reciprocated.
Another thing that I've always struggled with... is small talk... I truly down to my core find it full of shit. Walking by someone and saying "How are you..." and never stopping to HEAR their answer is so shallow to me. I think that's why most of the time, I will just walk by and smile! At least THAT can be genuine. Don't get me wrong -- I totally do this too, but will at all costs... avoid conversations like this! HA! I've just never understood the desire to talk to someone when you really don't care to hear their answer...... I'm REALLY not trying to sound crass either!
If I look at you and ask you.. How are YOU... seriously.. how are you feeling?!?! Are you having a good day?!!? That's genuine.. not a half-ass attempt at a conversation like small talk. Ugh.. I'm terrible at it. Breaking the ice, creating conversation is not my strong suit ESPECIALLY if you are easily offended by the tough questions... because that's how I like to start conversations.
Why am I telling you these things?!?!?! Because it's so important to understanding ME.... in order to be a good FRIEND... to love YOURSELF... to run a successful business.. you HAVE to acknowledge the things you struggle with AND the things you succeed at.
It's imperative to healthy relationships - being confident -- success.
In my opinion at least.
So what are some things that I've always THOUGHT were bad traits of mine but rather... are actually STRENGTHS!?!?
1... I see the best in others - their worth/potential... truly...
2... I believe in doing the right thing.... even if it puts me in the corner.... puts me in last place... requires a HUGE ego check of my own... I believe it. I believe in so much more than 'me'. I am a believer... when things get hard, I believe.. I believe in Him... in struggling to see sunshine.. and to appreciate it. I believe.
3... I am extremely empathetic.... and this actually CAN be unhealthy at times... I tend to WEAR other people's struggles as my own.
So WHY are all of these struggles and strengths SO important to my business!?!?!? How does this help my business grow at all?!!?
Well for instance.. let's look at one of the things I specialize in... Women's Beauty.
I have this gift of seeing worth... of seeing so much damn good in someone that it IRRITATES ME when they can't see it themselves. I see their beauty in the little moments of insecurities. I can read people very easily... I can 'feel' what they're feeling... I'm intuitive. What BETTER choice of specialization than women's beauty.... in a world where we all have a tendency to be BULLIES to ourselves.... I want to break that... I want you to see your worth.
My struggle with being DIFFERENT has actually made me successful... maybe not the trendy (and not in the bad context) version of success... but in a way that makes ME happy... I have this thriving business in a small town Virginia... I'm at home with my family most of the time and teaching others to chase their big ass dreams... I can't even tell you how much joy that brings me!
Wearing sweatpants and making my 'weirdness' a part of my brand has attracted like-minded people... hell even people who AREN'T like-minded but who are intrigued by this ridiculous creature that I am =) I HATE small talk... large social gatherings... I would MUCH rather sit down and really talk about what's weighing on your heart... how your marriage is doing... I would MUCH rather eat ice cream and floss at the table with you... well.. maybe not with you, you'll likely just be staring at me. I've loved denim before denim was cool again... I named one of my dogs after Vin Diesel because... well because it's Vin Deisel...
Can you imagine how successful I WOULDN'T be if I booked brides who thought flossing at the table was rude (and trust me, I know people do.. lol. I just really... can't help it), who hated being asked the tough questions, and who wanted to meet me at coffee shops to chat about the weather and different lattes (is that the right word?!?)... Oh my gosh the anxiety that gives me.. you don't even understand. If I tried being anything other than MYSELF... I would be failing.... AND I'd have a ton of crap in my teeth. that NO ONE WOULD EVEN TELL ME ABOUT.. oh you people and your politeness....
You have to be self-aware in order to create a TRUE representation of your business.. to create a BRAND.
My sweet friends -- Mary + Justin -- are GREAT examples of this. They are poised and soft-spoken -- classic and truly in LOVE and they are true representations of their brand and attract like-minded clients! They are completely aware of WHO they are... and that directly affects WHAT their business is and what it stands FOR... their 'WHY'.
Sharon Elizabeth Photography is a true representation of ME..... And that didn't just magically happen... It has taken 8 years of growing this business... understanding WHO I wanted to work with... WHAT I wanted to specialize in... and HOW I wanted to be successful.... I'm a small town -- simple things -- sweatpants and pizza and wings -- flossing at the table -- loving yourself because you are WORTHY -- Believer.... kind of a girl....
SEP is all of my strengths AND all of my weaknesses.. but if you aren't self-aware... then you can't begin to understand YOUR brand.. and if you don't understand your brand you can't be successful... no matter what your definition of success is. You could be attracting the WRONG clients for YOU... because you don't know HOW you're portraying yourself or WHY!
I challenge you to be a little hard on yourself and write out your strengths and weaknesses...
How can it directly correlate with your business!!!?!??
Did I also mention that going to the post-office is also a weakness of mine... so I've had to hire an office manager...
Ain't no body tryin-ta lick no stamps and smell like cardboard..... Real talk.
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