Lifestyle Key: Authenticity

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking over the past month about who I am and what I’m putting out to the world. The first 6 weeks of 2020 have be tough for me business-wise: I started the month the sickest I’ve been in a long time, then I was traveling for a wedding, then my daughter got sick the same week my husband was assigned to a jury. All of this meant I spent less time working in my business then I would have liked (giving myself permission to enjoy the forced downtime wasn’t easy) there were phone calls that got pushed off, meetings that had to wait to be scheduled, and marketing materials that didn’t get drafted.

Because I was forced to take time off, I had a lot of time to think about who I am as a entrepreneur and then question it all. Luckily, I’ve got great people around me who have been reassuring me that I’m being authentic and who I am comes through in what I’m putting out to the world.

• A past client invited me to tea and told me how much the handwritten notes I’ve sent meant to her and her family.

• An acquaintance I talked to about business strategies told me my website came off as very authentic and resonated with her.

• Friends told me over breakfast that my newsletter is one of the few they actually read.

There were plenty of other small moments that reminded me to stay the course. The take away for me is to stay the course, stay out of my own head, listen for the positive feedback, and not to fear authenticity.

This weekend I was able to deliver house warming gifts to a few clients who recently moved-in to their homes. I give out house plants because they remind me of my mom, add a bit of cheer, and freshen the air in your home. And that allows me to share an authentic piece of myself.