A couple of days ago I placed an order for my first business cards for A Recipe 4 Happiness, the umbrella company under which I run all my businesses. A few years ago I ordered some of the free ones from Vista Print, which are great and all you pay is postage and packing, but they never arrived. And I never got my money back.
Quickly, I placed the order after double checking the spelling three times and letting go. I didn't want to give my perfectionism to kick in, and end up wasting time going over and over the designs and wording, eventually not ordering anything for fear of making the wrong decision. .
I thought I had resisted having business cards for several reasons, including:
- I hate labels and didn't know what to put on the cards
- I'm living as Eco friendly as I can, and I didn't see the point in printing a load as I would have a tree felled in order to make the cards
- lack of money
While experiencing some discomfort prior to placing the order (but after spending the best part of four hours at the library designing the cards) I did some inner questioning and realised that I'm a full on commitment-phobe.
I used to think I was the queen of commitment, but actually, I don't like it. It's hard committing to just one thing. I always wonder how in the world anyone chooses the person they're going to marry. It blows my mind. I'm fickle and flighty and change my mind and dreams all the time.
HOWEVER, (and as you can see, it's a big however) since reading all the usual "self help" books like Think And Grow Rich, and following a few dreams to the conclusion, I realise being fickle is not the most effective way to get wealthy or be successful. So I'm making small adjustments, and gradually working towards committing to my dreams and sticking with them to the end.
Unless of course it's apparent I'm going in the completely wrong direction and need to do something different.
I wanted to make the title of this post "moving forward fearlessly" but it didn't resonate as my truth. I am afraid of lots of things. But they're not stopping me from moving forward with the dreams and plans I have in my life. Therefore, doing it fearlessly isn't true. A more accurate wor is courageously.
I think it was Mandela or someone who said that courage wasn't the absence of fear, it was the ability to keep going even when we are afraid.
Since setting up some deep security on my email accounts since my gmail was hacked a few months ago, any time I log on I get a code text to my phone which I have to then input before I can go any further.
The code I got as I logged in to get images for my business cards off my google+ account included '888' (codes change every time) so I thought I'd check out what they meant on my go-to angel numbers website.
I felt encouraged and excited by what I read. Especially since one of the fears was that I'd made a mistake deciding to focus more on the workshops and ar4h Inner Beauty Consultancy than the documentary. But this was the final (of several signs) confirmation that I'm going in the right direction with this.
So #HappyDays
I'm so excited to see how they turn out. I was clearly guided to sow into my business and not just get the cheapest/free version. No VistaPrint for my precious brand. I know the message I want to convey in all I do, which is one of excellence, integrity and authenticy. Therefore, rather than worrying whether I'd not get work if people saw I was a black woman and so not put my images on the cards, or try to limit the work I receive by labelling my services on the cards, I simply added the minimal information i could, and placed the order.
I was going to even go as minimal as the cards in Hitch with just a name and number, but added other contact details too. Maybe I'll be super bold on the next batch and put just 'consultant' or something like that.
Anyway. It's done. No changing them now. I'm excited to see how they turn out. as long as there's no typos and the layout is nice I'll be happy. But I think the investment of some nice cards will pay off in the end.
When I chatted with my son about it at home, he said that in one of his books it says its good to invest in good quality marketing materials, which include business cards as they are often how the potential client remembers the interaction you've had. Especially when selling a service rather than a product. It makes a difference how the potential client remembers you.
So I've ordered the cards and feel excited about it. Naturally I've found at least ten affirmations that I would have preferred id put on them, but each time I see one I add it to a list I've created in Evernote for the next batch of cards. So I'm better prepared next time.
#businesscards #marketing #ar4h #faith #moveforward #blog #vlog #happydays