Ok, Laura – you want us to be blogging about risks we’re taking on purpose…well, honey – here you go.
It’s Monday, right? And it’s 1pm and I’m still in my pajamas. (Don’t ask.) And I had a WONDERFUL appointment this morning with a client struggling to identify her target market and niche. In the course of our conversation, I referred to a favorite marketing book that I happen to own a few copies of (yes, I’m a word nerd, through and through. When I find a book I REALLY like, I buy multiples to give away.)
So I’m extolling the virtues of this book to my client, and before I know it, what do I hear myself saying to her?
“Oh, you know what? Don’t even bother ordering it. I’ve got 3 copies sitting right here on my bookshelf – I’ll give you one!”
Well, given that this client is one of a very short list of clients I have who lives right here in the Tulsa area…you know what her next question was, right? Yeah…when can she come by and pick it up.
To which I – again – heard my crazy self responding:
“I’ve got appointments until 3pm, but you’re welcome to come by anytime after that.”
Oh. My. Good. Lord. Did I really say that?
I did.
And you see what else I said…”appointments until 3pm”…which means no time to clean up the house from the weekend aftermath. No time for a shower.
In other words, I am risking her meeting the ‘real’ me. Not the real me I take out into the world, but the REAL me that is here everyday wearing sweats, a hoodie and a ponytail.
Me and my big mouth.
Suzanne Bird-Harris would like to say she made the leap from Corporate America to web coach / WordPress developer on her own terms...but no, she lost her job after the CEO ran off with the 401K funds and went to jail. So, she started her own business with 3 kids, 2 dogs and a cat in tow on Dec. 6, 2002. It's been a wild ride, worth every risk, and she now proudly deems herself "pyschologically unemployable".
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LOL, I am cracking up about this! We “at-home” workers have to sometimes confront the veil of our true identities!
Sometime last summer, I dashed out for a quick errand to the bank. I wasn’t planning to get out of the car (drive through), so I didn’t bother to change from my raggedy, grunt-work-around-the-house sweatpants… but then (from the safe bubble of my car) I forgot myself and zipped over to my biz mailbox to grab my mail. Which means getting out of the car and walking into the shop.
I realized it was a risk (but I never run into anyone I know there). And, lo and behold, there was a former co-worker from my corporate days. The shop is small, she saw me right away. We hadn’t seen each other in years. There we stood in happy reunion — she in her stylish lady suit and me in my “holy” sweatpants (did I mention the gnarly tennis shoes?). I was sure she thought I had completely gone to pot, LOL!
We soon connected on Facebook and she seems to still like me.
All is well, and if she were the sort to judge me about my appearance, I wouldn’t want her in my universe anyway.
Go, Pony Tail girl, Go!
Martha,
Well, it appears I had the same positive type of experience. She came, we talked, I gave her the book, she thanked me and left (walking, not running) – so I guess I wasn’t too scary. Either that, or she’s got really good manners.
Either way – I like her a lot. So, I survived my risky behavior today – reputation as WordPress Wonder Woman not marred in the least. (Good thing, though, that I never claimed to be Suzie Homemaker! LOL)
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Been there, done that. The last time I forgot to take a look at myself before saying “sure” to a client, I was covered in paint.
Roxann,
It wasn’t the sweats or the ponytail that had me going as much as it was the state of my living room and office (which bleed one into the other.) But, right as soon as I hung up the phone, I did a 27 Fling Boogie (a la FlyLady.net) and reduced the chaos to mere clutter. Whew!
It’s clear to me that I will not be focusing on a local client base until the kids are grown and moved out! LOL
LOOOOVE this, Suzanne. Thanks for saying this “out loud.” It brought a big smile to my face and the thought, “I resemble that remark.” I even coached a client once at my house, in my pajamas. And no, I wasn’t sick!!! Stacy and Clinton of “What Not to Wear” would have had heart attacks! Maybe secretly (or not so secretly anymore) I am STILL hoping someone will nominate me for that show!