What Are You Trying to Grow? Part III of III

Ducking the Shoulds, Facing Fear & Embracing Your Passion

I declared to myself at the end of May that June was to be my "personal transformation month" and what an adventure it's been so far! As I move into the last week of June I realize that it has been a time of fascinating transition for both myself and the clients I'm working with. Yes, it's really been a time of growth.

And wow, is it shaking some interesting things loose. It's bringing some wonderful clarity and creative synergy into alignment. Two new clients especially, Aliye of BeachGreens (if you click you'll learn her recipe for what to do with the season's amazingly sweet tomatoes) and Kerri Zane are really flowering into the heart and power of their own stories, and how these stories can inspire and assist others in living healthier more vibrant and delicious lives.

On that note I have to thank my friend Charlie Gandy for helping me in my goal to become more fit and strong this summer. And I've been very inspired by all of the people out using our beach biking and walking path when we're out in the evenings on our jaunt to the pier.

A few years ago I did my best to stop using the word, "should." Being in the business of offering marketing and public relations advice it is just too easy to start conversations with my saying, "you know you really should..." I switched instead to the phrase, "I invite you to consider..."

Let's be honest. People have a tendency to duck the shoulds. So recently I decided to take that up a notch and just not attract or seek out any more clients who see me, no matter what language or approach I use, as the big "should master."

What I offer aren't shoulds, they're solid best practices at very affordable rates. My advice isn't new or different. There are a plethora of talented marketing and PR people out there, many of whom I follow and read regularly.

What I hope is that my style and approach and story are what attracts you. What I hope is that my willingness to listen, and to not make you do the thing that really aren't right for you counts, that my goal of connecting clients with their authentic story, and using that authentic story to more engagingly connect with their right media and clients, resonates with the right people.

Afterall, all of the social media profiles in the world won't help you grow your business if you're not using them in ways that engage the right customer base.

And the interesting thing is that the more authentic I become in my approach, the more interesting to me the clients are that seek me out, and the more magic we create together.

Here is something that I'm really getting now in a clearer way than ever before - that which is has been such a struggle for you, that which has been so challenging, and so filled with fear, can be the very thing that turns out to be your great strength. Oh yes, I've read and heard this time and again, from all kinds of wise gurus (including the great Buddhist teachers), but I wasn't yet read to hear. Now I am. How about you?

For my part I have decided to come out of the closet about experiencing regular migraines. You may have noticed I've written more about dealing with them on this blog. The truth is that 99% of people have no idea when I'm experiencing a very tough headache (I almost always have some kind of headache). I've learned how to do what I need to do even when in the midst of one .

What migraines have taught me is not to overbook, and to make sure to take care of the basics. I have had to slow down, and that's been a good thing. I've learned not to push myself or my clients too far beyond comfort, enough for a good stretch, but not so much as to cause a pull.

Think about it, one can optimize the growing climate for a plant. We can make sure the soil is topnotch, that the sunlight is optimal for the type of plant. We can keep the bugs away, and get rid of weeds that might crowd it out, but we can't force the plant to grow faster - it has it's own right speed.