“I come from a place of NO…”
OK, true confessions: I’m also a self-professed “control freak.” I work best with clients who let me drive the design train. Of course, I’ll listen to you–who you are, how you want your home to function and feel, and then you get out of the way and let me decorate. You’re going to love it, I promise. You’ve hired me for my professional opinion and I’m being paid to make sure that you don’t make mistakes, to save you from yourself (I’ve actually had a client thank me for doing this).
But sometimes this can be misunderstood and can be a detriment rather than strength of mine. (I think I’m hearing an “amen” from a few of my clients, or should I say former clients-sigh.)
It’s true! I come from a place of “NO.” I always have…my friends and family like to joke about it and I own it.
However, in a spirit of pursuing personal growth, I know I may need to move from no to…well…maybe.
One thing 2014 taught me is that our marketplace has changed (bad news for an old dog like me). Consumers are online and have more access to products than ever before. They can order up just about anything and have it drop shipped to their door. And along with that sense of power is also the impression that it’s probably out there for a better price, if they could just find it. Couple all this with a societal lack of trust, and you’ve got me feeling the ground tremble and quake.
So, what I am experimenting with is something that I learned from another one of my favorite philosophers, Bon Qui Qui… (You tube Bon Qui Qui. You’ll thank me later.) She says, “You can have it YOUR way…but don’t get crazy.”
That’s it! That’s my new mantra. So for 2015 I promise to pursue:
— A more flexible approach to my Billing and Fee structure. “How would you like to work?”
–A more flexible approach to projects/consultations that are outside of my box.
–A willingness to advise my clients and then let them make a mistake if they insist. (This one is going to hurt!)
So my ONE resolution, my “word for the year,”
Here’s to a great 2015!