Achieving The Impossible Has a Cost
Note: I wanted to say doing the impossible ain’t cheap, but cheap is a relative term.
There’s a definite value to being able to do something other people say you can’t. Being able to recognize both the cost and the value, however, is where the rubber meets the road.
Today, my first real day “back to work” since Creating Irresistible Presence (#CIP) in Atlanta, I had to do both.
A potential client set up a pre-screening call to discuss her goals and for me to get to know her business better. This is something I regularly do before developing an online strategy for a new client. It helps us hit the ground running when the actual strategy session takes place.
I called at the appointed time. No answer. I left a message and sat down to fill my time with another project until she called back.
Here’s where I waffled: I called her again 10 minutes later to see if maybe we missed each other. We connected and I spent the next 20 minutes discussing her business, her goals, and what she’d like to accomplish.
Since this was a barter arrangement, I explained my fee, how the barter program works, and what she could expect when we scheduled an hour of time to work on her project.
She balked. BIG time. And I could feel the terror of “losing a client” rising inside me.
While she went on about how she couldn’t see the value in working with me for only an hour, justifying in her mind that she really didn’t want to work with me at my current rate, something transcendent happened. Her voice seemed to fade as other voices rushed in:
My assistant warned me yesterday: “She seemed to have a bit of an attitude, and didn’t sound excited.”
My #CIP friends: “You are a-ma-zing!”
Past clients: “I can’t believe how much we accomplished in an hour!”
And on.. and on.. I almost feel bad for the woman on the other end of the phone. I really wasn’t listening to her.
I was listening to ME. To my gut, to my God-voice telling me that this woman will be more headache than she’s worth and that I shouldn’t be trying to work with her.
So while she was trying to find reasons to not work with me, I was trying to justify not working with HER!
Finally, I politely said, “Well, I can understand that if you don’t see the value in working with me, or that you’re not able to afford it at this time, that’s no problem. I have to let you go now, I have another appointment in a few minutes. If you change your mind, you’ll know how to reach me. Have a great day!”
And I said it with confidence, clarity, and courage. Without desperation oozing from my voice.
Frankly, I hope she never calls back, but if she does, she’ll know that working with me provides great value, AND there’s a cost.
Opportunity costs are the things we give up in order to get the things we have. Sometimes the costs are small: a few dollars to have lunch with a friend instead of a new blouse. A new toy for our child instead of a new book for our learning library.
Opportunity cost means sacrificing one choice in favor of another.
Before I went to #CIP, I was presented with three incredible opportunities:
- The #CIP, 3-day intensive, where I could mix, mingle and learn in a live environment
- An 8 week virtual course, that literally helped me make $5000 without even registering for it.
- A trip to Vegas to hob-knob and rub elbows with some movers and shakers at a private party for a friend of mine.
I chose #CIP. And as Robert Frost said, “That has made all the difference.”
Before Atlanta, I struggled with the voice of The Renaissance Mom. Who was she? What was she really about? How do I connect to her and through her to my audience?
This was the reason I chose to come to Atlanta. At first, I was afraid it wasn’t happening. I wasn’t going to be able to find that voice. I had to let go of what I thought I knew.
I thought my “audience” was mompreneurs/working moms. That’s part of it, but not every mompreneur resonates with me – and a lot of my followers aren’t moms at all (you guys know who you are!).
Finally, I had to recognize that The Renaissance Mom… is me.
That was incredibly hard for me to swallow. Because I didn’t want to believe it was about me. I wouldn’t even put my face on the cover of my albums because even my music wasn’t about me.
And that, too, has a cost. Becoming a superhero means creating (and living up to) an identity. An identity I didn’t want to embrace.
Because I’ve never thought that my business was about me. It’s always been about helping other people achieve their heart’s desire – in life, in business, whatever. That’s been my passion.
But the opportunity cost has been too great:
- Lost income opportunities
- Lost relationship opportunities
- Lost business opportunities
All that self-deprecating was getting me nowhere fast.
It’s time to give up on what I thought I knew and embrace the new truth: it is about me.
It’s not that I’m arrogant, or becoming some kind of an elitist. It’s just that it’s time to give myself proper credit, and value myself in the same way I coach my clients to value themselves.
To stop chasing clients that are wrong for me, and be confident in who I am and what I do for the clients that love me.
Inasmuch as I have a super power, I must have a super hero name. Wonder Woman was already taken.
The Renaissance Mom is about re-birth, renewal, and transformation from the old “impossible” mindset into a new way of viewing all the possibilities in life and the world around you. To STOP believing in the impossible, and instead, embrace creative ways to achieve the improbable.
I’m trying to convince my husband that he’s my trusty sidekick, but he’s not buying it yet.
The phoenix is the brand on my chest. Like Superman’s “S” or the bat on The Caped Crusader’s yellow emblem. The ultimate symbol of re-birth, renewal and transformation at the elemental level.
Gosh, everything seems so much clearer now, doesn’t it?
So strap in, my friends, because this is the beginning of a very public re-birthing process for The Renaissance Mom. My plan is to make the impossible happen, right here, where you can bear witness.
It will probably be messy. When you’re first learning how to be a superhero, it can be quite awkward and clumsy. I’ll probably dive into the phone booth a couple of times and smash my face on the glass. Les McKeown said in his book “Predictable Success” that “sometimes reality just refuses to be neat and tidy.”
You heard it here first.
So to that woman on the phone today, please understand that I’m not slighting you, I’m choosing instead, to value myself. If you’re going to stand around, hemming and hawing, you’re not ready to grow your business like a real business.
That’s an hour of our lives we’ll never get back, so why waste it in the first place?
Read MoreChristians Swear? The Horror! [Day 0 - 30 Days to Renaissance]
One of my bad habits is holding back the full truth until I can’t take it any more. Then it becomes some sort of “moment of confessional”, when I come across more dramatic than even I intend. Sadly, this realization comes now, just as I need to get something off my chest – again.
I have been known to utter profanity. Sometimes very loudly, sometimes under my breath, and yes, it might be aimed at you.
Well, not you specifically, but you get the idea.
See, when you publicly declare your faith for all the world to see, suddenly every action and misdeed is under a microscope – kind of like the Hollywood A-listers. But unlike the a-listers, forgiveness is rarely found for the person who claims to be a Christian.
Like it or not, we’re humans first, Christians second, and while that observation does not excuse my behavior, it certainly illuminates it.
I don’t make a point of swearing, but yeah, I’ve been caught on video speaking an expletive or two. While I admit it’s not the most proper way to present myself, it’s also dishonest of me to pretend I’m someone I’m not. I’ve tried to live my entire life thus far as an open book. Don’t ask if you don’t want to know, and all that jazz.
But here’s the thing. I would prefer you know, like and trust the REAL me – not some phony facade I put on for work. There’s something horrifyingly dishonest about being less than myself. And it’s time to nip it in the bud.
And you know what? I couldn’t be happier about it. Dave Lakhani says that polarizing personalities sell – you either love them or you hate them. I’m not out to win any popularity contests, and I don’t seek to offend people, but really, if the occasional burst of vulgarity bothers you, we need to part company. Sooner rather than later.
My entire business is built around teaching people to build a life they love without being apologetic or making excuses for who they really are. How can I hold myself out in any other fashion?
Tomorrow we begin the 30 Days to Renaissance journey here on the blog. Many of you have already jumped on board the e-course, and I hope more of you will take me up on this challenge as well: To live your life in balance without apologies or excuses.
For many of you, it will be like getting a fresh start. For others it’s confirmation of a process you’ve been “working on” for a while. But here’s the situation: You must insist on being 100% yourself. Anything less is a ripoff.
So for those of you that are wondering, I’m clearing the air here:
1. I swear – usually when I’m incredibly upset or incredibly happy. In those moments, it’s generally because I’m speechless (yeah, me. go figure).
2. I love God. I was born and raised as a Christian and have no plans of changing anytime soon.
3. I believe science and God can co-exist. Was God an alien? Who knows? Does it really make God any less powerful? Do we have all the answers worked out yet? Nope. And that doesn’t prove or disprove the existence of God in my book.
4. I try to do right, but I still screw up. If my mom hadn’t already given me a middle name, “bad choices” might be mine.
5. You can be a mom, a wife, and a business owner. It’s freakin’ hard work, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re willing to do the work, the rewards are amazing.
6. Balance doesn’t look like the scales of justice. Very often, it looks more like a contortionist. Everyone has a different sense of and need for balance. Finding your balance point will ease much of the tension and stress in your life.
7. Helping you guys find success on your terms is my mission. I can’t NOT do this. I believe God planted this in my heart and until he uproots it, I’m not going anywhere. he gave me a gift to help you brainstorm, find solutions and hold you accountable. So here I am doing my darndest – with your permission, of course.
8. I can’t make you successful, just like I can’t make you like me, trust me, or buy from me. What I can do is offer suggestions, guidance and prayer for your situation. god gave us all free will, so the rest is up to you.
9. My life isn’t perfect, it will never be perfect, and whilst I may grumble from time to time, remember I am human just like you – regardless of my religious affiliations. I do the best I can with what I have.
So there. As we take this 30 day journey together, realize that not everything I say will make you happy. That’s not my role. My role is to open your mind, and offer you options you may not have considered before. Stop being reluctant in your own life and embrace the renaissance waiting for you.
We begin in the morrow.
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About Me
Edutainer. Results-getter. Performer. I'm expressive, results-oriented, and a connoisseur of ideas. When creative people are ready to stop making excuses and make something happen, they call me. Sometimes I talk to God. Sometimes God talks back. Sometimes I talk back. I'm building an ark here. Wanna ride? Be sure to say hi, leave a comment and get involved. That's how I roll. Lisa’s Music
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