You Are Needed
This post is a little outside my usual modus operandi, but it felt necessary.
I’ve begun to dig into my own business lately, and why I do what I do, and what my brand is. And that led, in turn, to my own ‘ideal client’. (I know, I know… seems business-cringe-salesy, but this is important to the story and the point of this post).
When I looked back over my years of working with a variety of individual business owners, I realized that my favorite clients have all shared very specific things in common – and then I realized that those people needed to hear something very important:
You are needed
One of my very favorite clients was a woman who reached out a few years ago to work with me. She is a deeply grateful and introspective person, and was very open to guidance and expert leading on her project. The business she was starting with her husband was clearly a passion project, and one they’d dreamt about for many years. She felt very drawn to this project, and wanted it to be a place of community, rest, retreat, healing, love, and support for the people who would visit.
Her motivation was deeper than just making money or restoring a historic building or establishment - rather, she cared deeply about the people she would serve. Her drive to create this space led to reaching out to a designer with a similar mindset.
Not just making money
Something that was modeled to me when I first dove into business ownership (especially as a young woman working in the creative spheres) was that hustle was life. I needed to move move move, and network, and be very intentional with anything I did. Everything suddenly needed to be content for my social media, every story needed to be used in my marketing, and every interaction needed to develop into a relationship which would then develop into a paying client. Services were not enough; I also needed to create passive income streams, teach classes, and even become a coach if necessary!
I did some of those things. The others I let gently slide and quietly left them by the side of the road. My business would not just be about making money. I knew that hustle culture was not for me. And it seems like it’s not for others, too – the trends I am seeing now are slow movements, intentional business-building, and developing communities and relationships instead of contacts and sales.
This isn’t to say those things aren’t important. To be an entrepreneur is to need to make lucrative decisions and yes, to sometimes ‘hustle’. But I believe the culture of small business we are in today is different. People are placing more value on genuine, honest interactions and caring community. The sales or bookings still come, are still important, but they are more results of connection and less of push push push.
You are not out of place
Your caring nature and desire to build a business that serves others and builds a place of community and love and support is not out of place here. Maybe you don’t care so much about the bottom line as you do about the people you’re serving, and that might feel counterintuitive in the business world. But you are allowed to care.
Your approach is not too soft or loose. You are so needed in this world! Your approach to business and your desire to genuinely support and nurture others with your business is so important right now. You are needed.
What community support do you need the most?
If you are looking to serve your community with your business, chances are you have realized your own need for a community. You recognize the value of a strong support system, and like-minded people in your life both personally and professionally.
As my client wrote so eloquently in her project application to me, “It takes hard work to start a business, but more importantly it takes the right people to hold your hand and guide you to your dreams. That is the key to success. You can't do it alone, it takes a village.”
A relationship of mutual respect
When it comes to marketing your business as a caring business owner, you most likely need done-for-you design with a highly collaborative approach. You need to feel heard and supported through clear communication, a professional lens, and a relationship of mutual respect with your designer. You need to feel like your ideas are being heard, your desires are clearly understood, and your dreams have the potential to come to life under the skillful hand of your designer. (I want this too!).
Your business is a reflection of you. And you are so needed. I hope this post encouraged you!
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