UTurn^TV

For those of  you out there who run your own businesses as I do you will understand some of the challenges that I sometimes face.  The continuing search for clients, balancing the books, delivering a quality service or product and just generally staying consistently on top of your game can be a real battle.  As  I work in the personal development and training arena which means we have the added challenge of having to ensure that I check in on my work/life balance and make sure it’s not overly tipped one way or the other, otherwise I could easily be seen as a hypocrite.

So far, the majority of my clients have come to me either through recommendation from existing clients or because they met me face to face and instantly ‘got me.’  This is wonderfully gratifying and it means that I know that everyone I deliver to is there because they understand that they will have a moment of clarity about the issues they are facing and be in a much better state of mind than when they first came to me.

In the last few weeks as I have been upping my game I have had a number of conversations with others where I have had to stand still and check in on what I am doing to make sure I am still on track. Given my line of work it is inevitable and right that I should do this.  I’m sure most of you out there do the same thing but I wonder how often you change direction, even by a tiny amount, based on how influenced you have been by outside forces.

Clearly there are some outside forces, such as the economy, which many of you have had no choice but to adapt to in order to survive.  However, I do wonder how much we are influenced to change direction and later regret it because we didn’t stay true to our core beliefs, what we are truly good at and what we love doing.

Whilst I will never have a problem with change for the better I think sometimes it’s very easy to think that an idea proposed or an opinion given should be cogitated over, absorbed and implemented.  For those of you who run your businesses alone, not having someone to bounce ideas off when these new shiny things jump up and down at you can be a much greater challenge.

I know that sometimes from the outside my work can be seen as ‘namby pamby’, ‘weird’ or just plain daft.  Added to that I tend to approach things in my own quirky, unique way which may look unconventional but really really works for me and my clients.

I never check out ‘the competition’ because I know it would be a waste of time and energy, and whilst some businesses need to do this to survive, it will never work for me.  I don’t do suits.  I would probably lose the will to live if I had to wear a suit to win a piece of business.  I don’t do brochures because I know that the majority of them will end up in the bin and a piece of paper could never express who I am. I dare to be different.  And it makes me very happy to work this way.  And ultimately, isn’t that the point?

I am so looking forward to growing my business in the way that I have chosen to do.  And what if I fail I hear some of you cry?  Not an option.  I love what I do too much for the money not to follow.

I would love to hear from you and particularly if you have some daring ideas on how you want to run your business but think it might be a bit too ‘out there’.

I wish you much love and joy and hope that life is treating you amazingly well.

Jules

Posted in: Business Coaching,Moments of Clarity,Motivation
Tags:business,customer service,dare to be different,personal development,training