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I am in the process of writing two books and developing some products for my business. One of the biggest stumbling blocks in these processes is getting going. Like any good perfectionist I can easily get stuck in a state of analysis paralysis, searching for all the right information and everything I could possibly need before taking step one.
Until I read a great blog post that was exactly what I needed to give me kick in the pants and get me going. The information wasn't new but the combination of talking about my issues and reading it at a great time did the trick. Even though Jennifer Loudon at Comfort Queen wrote Why Hildegard of Bingen Didn't Have a Niche several months ago, I just discovered it. I still don't quite understand who Hildegard of Bingen was and why she teaches this important lesson but this part of Jennifer's post hit home:
The myth part? That’s focus as savior as in
When I get focused and know my niche, then I will feel confident, believe in my work/self/creativity and I will never rarely doubt myself or get sidetracked or waste days searching Etsy for the perfect throw pillows again.
This is a myth.
It goes hand in hand with the myth that you have to do one thing to be successful....
- Pick one thing - not because that’s what focus requires but because you have to start somewhere. You can add more things in soon. Pinkie swear.
- Slow down and consider what you do know – most of us discount our talents and knowledge; they becomes invisible to us but they are gold to others.
- Teach people from what you know rather than thinking you have to go learn more first. Are you talking to me?
Now for a marketer like me the idea that you don't have to have a defined niche is a kind of heresy. It sounds like it veers dangerously close to the opposite extreme summed up in the saying: "If you try to be everything to everyone you won't be anything to anyone." Or something like that. Focus is what allows you to connect with those who want to know you and hear from you. Focus is the key to success!
Or so I thought until I read Jennifer's post giving me permission not to have to tightly define myself in my personal life and in how I express my talents. It might be true for marketing but, hey, I can cut myself some slack. Especially when giving myself that permission to be a little bit messy, a little bit unfocused and a whole lot glorious in following and expressing and sharing my unique crazy mixed-up diverse interests frees me up to be so much better than does waiting for perfection.
And so I give myself permission to be multi-faceted, to not apply the rules I would to a brand to myself (though I'm open to someone outside of me helping with that), to maybe stumble and fail or maybe to be great and awesome and to help others by teaching in my messy imperfection far more than I could wrapped up in a cocoon anticipating the perfect timing to spread my wings.
Is there something you need to give yourself permission to do or feel? Or, if you have done so in the past, how did you give yourself permission and what were the benefits?
Related Reading:
BlogHer CE Rachelle Mee-Chapman: Soulcare: What Gift Will You Give Yourself?
Ronnie Ann at Work Coach Cafe: Why Do I Get Nervous During a Job Interview?
If nothing else works: Give yourself permission to fail. That’s right…tell yourself it’s ok if you answer every single question completely wrong and come out looking like a complete idiot. You might also tell yourself this is just practice and it doesn’t really matter to help ease some of the tension. Then just say “what the hell”, be yourself, and go for it!
Rosemary Wahtola Trommer at Parenting Squad: How To Write Your Child A Song
How to “Find” Your Child’s Song
I suppose I am at an advantage for “finding” a song. I’m a poet and singer, and though I seldom write songs, it’s not much of a stretch for me, either. So putting on my creative writing instructor hat, here are some ideas for you to create a song for your child.
1) Give yourself permission to create something imperfect. You’re not trying to win
