Difference Maker!

Difference Maker!

This week’s difference maker is going to be vague. I love all those involved, and just like I’m sure I’ve pushed people to become stronger without even realizing it (in a negative way), they have done this for me. And I am grateful.
 
It is true, people in general never leave a place where they are happy. Money is not what pushes us over the ledge, it is when comfortability and inclusion gets removed. It is when we realize we are the square peg trying to fit in a round hole. It is when we consistently see things happening, the results of them, and try to fix it to no avail. It is the isolationism, the lack of teamwork, and communications.
 
I learned there is a distinct difference between being a leader and a manager. And a manager needs a leader. The absence of these essential roles creates a gap or an opening. The opening for opportunities.
 
I have experienced this twice in my life.
 
First was soon after graduating from college, I had a basic job where I was happy. It wasn’t in my degree at all, but it was good for me. It didn’t push me, but I was able to pay for the bills and then some. I bartended. I was young, not ready for more responsibility, and complacent.
 
A friend of mine, who has the spirit of the matador, taking the bull by the horns, offered me a job that I should have jumped on. She was an amazing influence on my life. But because of my complacency, I delayed my response. Looking back, kills me.
 
Then one night I went through a horrible experience with the owner of the place I was working. Typically, other staff members had those experiences, never me. One busy evening the owner flipped out on me, punching the wall by my head. I promptly grabbed my purse never to return.
 
His action caused me to say yes to my friend! I literally could say, if it wasn’t for him, I would not be where or who I am today. There’s a good chance I would’ve never moved away, met my husband, had amazing experiences, went for additional education, etc., etc., if it wasn’t for his moment of rage. Which by the way, was because I placed a food order in before his kitchen staff was able to eat.
 
The second, was not dramatic in the least but just as impactful. After obtaining my brokerage license, my friends and family were/ are amazingly supportive telling me I should start my own brokerage. They just could not grasp why I wouldn’t. I would have excuse after excuse, until one day I said, “I just didn’t want to open one.” Why? I was complacent. I love the people I worked for, so why go? Until one day, I decided I wanted more, reality is I needed more, to be more connected, to be more involved. I was trying to figure out ways to bridge the gap. I was rejected, and to their defense I get why. Remember what I said about leaders and managers.
 
I also MUST say, these people are beautiful, who I do love and respect, even if they don’t feel the same for me, I will always love them. They are patient, understanding, and are going through the same pains as everyone else who are entrepreneurs. And they definitely have the hearts and spirit of true entrepreneurs.
 
Nevertheless, I am so immensely grateful for their rejection. If it wasn’t for that I would never have taken the leap of faith to create Dandelion Properties.

Evergreen and Everlasting!

Evergreen and Everlasting!

“It’s about the convenience for our customers not ourselves.” My dear friend said this to me when I was complaining that nonprofit who I was trying to donate money removed the ability to PayPal or Venmo them because it was more work for them. I know it sounds like I am complaining about a nonprofit, but I’m not. The point is more than the entity I’m speaking about. I’m still going to donate, because the cause is dear to me, but honestly, I still haven’t gotten around to it yet. The ease and the convenience were removed for me; therefore, it gets put on a list of to-dos. I know I sound high maintenance and demanding, and yes, I am both things, but I am also 90% a one-woman show. I’ve one startup company, and just started another. I am on two boards, and three committees. I am a mom of two boys, a puppy, and I have a husband who travels a lot. So, removing ease when I am wanting to give, does have an impact. I also know, I am not the only one who has a lot on their plate.
 
Therefore, “it’s about the convenience for our customers not ourselves” should be one of the golden rules in business. When structuring our customer service, we need to take into accountant who are our clients. Does this mean having a person to answer more phone calls? Yes. Does this mean having email correspondence? Yes. Does this mean working harder? Yes.
 
Our focus should be creating an experience that is as easy as possible for them. This philosophy transcends all generations, services, and sales. This is also why it is so important to know your client.
 
Each client persona has their own pain points, and our goal should make those pain points easier for them.

Edible Fact!

Edible Fact!

I would like to take a guess that at least 85% of people on earth have experienced being overwhelmed. The other 15% are the problem. Just kidding, 100% of us are the problem. It’s like that movie Romy and Michelle’s Highschool reunion, when what’s her name discovered that while she always thought she was the victim of bullying, she never thought about how she played the bully to the girl less popular than her.
 
But I digress, there are times we are being pulled in a million directions. It’s not a feeling; it is an actual occurrence. Within one minute, I could have anywhere from 5 people or more asking me to do things for them. Whether it be answering a question, make a phone call, fix a problem, respond to an email, put out a fire, start a fire, open a door, you name it. All things taking you away from what you must accomplish to get an opportunity to breathe.
 
And it doesn’t matter, whether you have one business or three, all of us are suspectable to being overwhelmed.
 
The worst part is, we never want to admit it. Because it shows we are fallible. We agonize over what others will think about our dreams and aspirations; therefore, we must always be strong. We worry that we aren’t enough. We can’t handle it. I promise you all, when this feeling rears its ugly head, you are not alone, and it is temporary.
 
So how do you deal with it? For me, I take a break and breathe.

I know people have no clue what I have going on, or how many people simultaneously are always reaching out to me. All of us, including myself, tend to only see ourselves and our own needs. It’s an unfortunate truth that we don’t recognize the hardships of others until a person responds to us in a way that catches us off guard. Only then do we -hopefully- think about their personal experience and adjust our behavior accordingly. And might I add: if you’ve never experienced this self-reflection, then you need to really think about how you treat people.
 
I will also advise this, pay attention to those around you in your work life, just like friendships, ask yourself who is withdrawing more than they are depositing.
 
I also find writing therapeutic. There was definitely some inspiration behind this edible fact this week.

 

Sun or Shade?

Sun or Shade?

I like to describe the past couple of years like swimming in a lake. The water is murky with little to no visibility. The lake bottom is filled with various soils that give that icky squishy feeling between your toes, branches, leaves, sunken human garbage, and I will not say what else. We, in turn, keep swimming, treading water, not really wanting to plant our feet into the ground for the feeling of stability. We are tired, overwhelmed, and have no clue what’s around us.
 
The pandemic has brought a lot of shifts, changes, cancelations, and limitations. And we don’t like it. None of us want to root ourselves onto the lake bottom, so we keep swimming.
 
Whether we realize it or not, this has impacted our beings to the core. I do not know the answer to bring us forward, I can only say what I know would help me.
 

  1. Travel: Get out there and explore the world. Not for a mental break, but for mental growth.
  2. Community Participation: Reconnecting to your home, beyond your four walls, is so fulfilling to the soul. It could be delivering food, planting flowers, cleaning up, or building something. Heck, it could be just a walk in the park and saying hello to everyone you pass by.
  3. Eat, Pray, Love: Elizabeth Gilbert is an extraordinary woman. I’m not saying drop everything and travel the world as she did… unless you can and want. What I am saying is that we are all on our own personal journeys in life, give yourselves grace, as much as others ask for it to be given to them. Figure out what you love and make it a priority. Figure out your higher spiritual being and follow it.

 
I write this to remind myself, this is what I need to get out of this lake. Just three things, all accomplishable, and I will plant my feet again.