Words: Time to Take a Risk

Have you ever wanted to do something personally or professionally but you've kept telling yourself why you couldn't do it or why it wouldn't work?  I know that I've done that before.  I come up with all kinds of ideas all.the.time.  If I'm going to be honest, sometimes the fear of the unknown paralizes me.  I'm afraid that it's going to bomb or people might not take the idea seriously.  Does this sound familiar?

Well, your challenge and my challenge is to take that leap of faith and focus on everything that is right with that idea.  Flush out all the pros and cons, but don't let the cons stop you if its something you feel strongly about.

What are some of the things you've wanted to do, but have focused on all the things that could be wrong with it?

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A Unexpected Dose of Inspiration

I drove into San Francisco a couple of days ago for a meeting at the design center.  I've been to that area before, but I have to say - I haven't "experienced" it before.  I really didn't know what to expect.  Heck - this was just a meeting to discuss a Halloween Party.  I know - random to have it at the design center, but it was convenient for both of us.

I have been feeling this need for a little inspiration and boy did I get it!  Inspiration is all around you.  Sometimes you forget that.  You get so engrossed in your own profession, that you forget that some of the best ways to be inspired is to get out of your element.  I plan events for a living but what I forget is that I don't have to look at other events to feel inspired. 

This space below would be fabulous for an intimate cocktail party.

Love the wood element in the fireplace.  It's a beautiful and impactful way to accent the space.

I love the use of natural elements.  So many times when you're creating a seating area for events, you lean towards leather and chrome.  Linen and greenery is great way to add texture and softness to the space.  Sometimes you don't need flowers.

Succulents is such an unexpected surprise and lasts a long time.

Board #8: Pinteresting Backyard Oasis

Spring is has sprung and the flowers in our yard are staring bloom.  I love this time of year.  It has me thinking of the fun we will have in our backyard this year.  Here are some of my Pinterest Backyard Oasis favorites.  If you want to follow me on Pinterest - you can do it here.

{image credit: row 1: modern backyard: original, pinterest; outdoor dining: original, pinterest; backyard pergola: original, pinterest; row 2: dining with a pop of red: original, pinterest; porch: original, pinterest; rooftop oasis: original, pinterest; row 3: fireplace: original, pinterest; firepit: original, pinterest}

Encouragement:: Who Do You Want To Be

 

Happy March.  I can't believe 2 months have already flown by.  I'm heading back to Utah today.  I'm going to be there with a client, launching their new name and all new brand.  It's been a really exciting project to work on.  This company has undergone a complete transformation and it got me thinking.  Are you portraying the image that you want?  Does your brand reflect who you are?  People change just like company's change.  When I started my events company 6 years ago, I had a vision of what I wanted it to look like.  Over time, that vision has changed.  

Well, that's gonna be changing.  I'm going to have a little downtime over the next several days and I'm taking advantage of that.  In the evening, I don't have to put on my mama hat on (except for my nite-nite facetime chats and to see how the little misters day was).  I can use this time to reflect and focus on what it is I truly want and what I want my company to look like.  Who do I want to attract?  Who do I want to be?  It's both exciting and scary, but this is a leap year and I've been standing on the cliff long enough.  It's time to jump.

I love the saying: She took a leap and built her wings on the way down.

This is a year of change for me - I can feel it.  Wanna come along on this journey.  It's going to be fun.

(image credit)

Encouragement:: Be Yourself

I have to say...sometimes this blogging world is hard.  Sometimes having your own business is hard.  Sometimes, you rack your brain trying to come up with an original idea only to see that it's been done 20 different times.  You can feel deflated.

You look at others and think - wow, they are so successful.  I wanna be just like them.  They have so many followers on their blog or they have so many clients.  Can't that just happen to me?  What can I change so I will be like that?

Ever had those feelings?

I sure have.  Then I give myself a little pep talk and it looks like this:

Do I think I'm successful?  Yes I do.  

Do I have as many followers that I want following my blog?  No I don't, but it takes time. 

Do I love blogging?  Yes I do.

Do I have enough clients?  It would be great to have more, but I'm picky about who I work with and value each one.

If you view someone as a success, would it be easy to copy what that person or company is doing?  Yes it would...BUT for me, I have to remember that I don't have to do what everyone else is doing to be successful.  I can incorporate my spin on the elements if it fits with my goals.

It's important that people put their own unique twists on things, on blogs, on events (in my case).  I follow so many different types of blogs because I have so many different interests.  But what I do is look to these as inspiration.  What is going to inspire me to think differently.  

I love to create.  It's what I'm passionate about.  My blog is my creative outlet.  Heck, even my day job is my creative outlet.  I'm always trying to figure out how to put a creative spin on a roadshow or a conference or a tradeshow booth or a party.  There will be people that like my blog and their will be others that don't.  There will be potential customers that will be so excited to hire me to plan their next event and there will be others that we just aren't the right fit.  

One thing is for sure.  What you get is ME!  Not a replica...not a knock off.  You get the original.

{image credit: Be yourself}