The Ripple Effect

One of the most thought-provoking and positive things about sharing our journey online is the ability to impact people we’ll never meet.

We get caught up in our metrics and achieving new goals, and we forget that others may admire something entirely different. Our tendency is to keep the list of incomplete items front and center, so we can’t possibly miss it. We narrow our focus and skate over what we’ve accomplished and the lessons we’ve learned - how far we’ve come.

People are moved by more than success in your journey. You never know who’s watching and how they interpret your efforts. Often, you note failures and missed opportunities while others celebrate your persistence, willingness to get up and go again, and ability to learn, think differently, and do better next time. In other words, they aspire to your level of determination and growth, and just maybe, it encourages them to stand up and try one more time.

What do your kids see in your journey, your neighbor down the street, the struggling Mom in another state, your coworker down the hall, or the frustrated young woman around the globe? What if your work inspires one person to get up and try again for their goals, to believe in themselves enough to make a fresh start?

Your work has a powerful ripple effect. Keep showing up and moving toward your dream, and imagine the wave of women, young ladies, and students who are emboldened to do the same.

This is how we spark a movement of people who see and believe they can do what they love at work and play or how we generate a wave of new business owners who take the next step and bring their creative skills to the world. Let’s ride that wave.

Where the Magic Happens

When the box is opened, the outfit is worn, or the photos are framed—whatever your creative element—having clients select, share, and celebrate your work is one of the most fulfilling aspects of running a business.

Most people quit before they reach this moment because getting here means talking to people they’ve never met and facing rejection. It also means fulfillment, satisfaction, and pride.

As you look to build your business, I encourage you to stop spinning in the comfort of the creative process and step into the power and growth of making client connections. Imagine the impact of your work helping one family today, inspiring one person, or elevating one customer’s experience.

Meeting future clients allows you to talk about your product, see what flows naturally, and determine where you need more thought and practice. You’ll hear questions that never occur to you. Why? Because we’re too close to our work. You don’t know what assumptions you’ve made until someone comments or inquires about something you thought was obvious. This is how we learn. This is how you make your offer more succinct. It’s how you get to your big dreams.

When the voice of doubt creeps in, be proactive and redirect that noise. What if it all goes great?! You’ll meet new people and glean valuable feedback no matter what happens. Like it or not, it’s all tied together. This is the road to success. Be willing to make the video, have the call, and go on the appointment.

From your client’s perspective, they appreciate a genuine conversation over a slick sales deck. They know when you’ve done your research and hear the passion as you share how your product adds value to their life or business. Even if they don’t buy today, this is how long-term relationships are built.

Connection is where the magic happens.

When the Unexpected Happens Look for Cracks in the Sidewalk

This year did not kick off quite as planned. We had a schedule, a lineup, and a detailed plan. We were ready to rock it. Then the unexpected happened (family emergency) and we had to shift to Plan B. Despite this abrupt schedule change, including unexpected travel, two business opportunities appeared in our midst that otherwise may never have happened. 

Before I get to those two items, it’s important to note that a real focus of mine has been to get better at learning to breathe and look at the unforeseen as a positive adventure. (To be real, this is long overdue, and I’m not suggesting I’m an expert at it, but progress is definitely being made.)

Okay, back to this year… In January, a serious illness occurred in the family that called for travel to Colorado - which meant ten days away from the business. Now, this is a good news, bad news story because if you have to fly off for an emergency, Durango, Colorado is a pretty spectacular destination, especially if you’re in a business that connects with artistic creativity. That said, it was ten days largely out of pocket, with my time committed to working together to support family.

Two things happened during this trip that reinforced my effort to be open to adventure. (As James Wedmore shares on his Mind Your Business podcast, “allow opportunities to come to you.”) Before I departed for Durango, I searched on a whim for ‘ceramic artists’ to see if any of potential interest were located in Durango. What I found was Lorna Meaden Pottery. If you’re into quality craftsmanship, as we are at Red & Rugged, this was a blessing. I reached out, we exchanged several messages, and in the end, I was able to swing by and visit her in studio, in person. What a joy! This led to finding a little gallery on Main Street in town, (Called “&”) to purchase more beautiful pottery.  Beyond the new purchases, I learned of prominent websites and organizations we should be aware of, and the name of a ceramics industry event Lorna suggested we attend. The chance to find beautiful new items potentially for placement in our custom gift boxes, and add to our list of networking events with influential artists, is at the core of our business. Jackpot!

Lorna meaden at her studio in durango

Meeting the artists is so important to us, and on the flip side, having us be more than a name on an email to artists, is also key. Business is still all about relationships.

The second opportunity that presented itself during my two mile “commute” was the discovery of an amazing photo shoot location. Fort Lewis College is perched high above the town of Durango and offers a spectacular 360 view. I drove past the College every day. And as luck would have it, we had access to a cool Willys Jeep truck that was perfect for the backdrop. (Side note: family was able to join us for this blast of fresh air and enjoy the scenery with us!) We did not hire a photographer, we used my cell phone and went to work. As you can see from the photo examples in this blog, we now have unique profile photos to use as content across our web site.

photo shoot at fort lewis college, with a few of Lorna's ceramics

"red" and the willys truck

Being out-of-pocket was not ideal, and yes, I missed a few self-imposed content deadlines as a result. However, as Jenna Kutcher says in her Goaldiggerpodcast, I had to give myself some grace and let it go.  Ironically, I'm typing this blog from the hotel, at the NCECA conference, which Lorna brought to my attention during this trip. (And you know I now have even more beautiful ceramic pieces in hand!)

As you deal with the unexpected in building your business, look for cracks in the sidewalks where the flowers bloom. You might just spot a surprise for your business that otherwise never would have appeared.