Quest 2016 Prompt # 3 today came from high-level designer and brand strategist, podcaster and author, Debbie Millman.
Her challenge was:
“How would you do business as unusual in 2016 if you knew – no matter what you chose – you would not fail?”
This question makes me reflect on how I’ve done business in the past – and how I see other people doing what looks like the norm, the model, the ideal of “business as usual.”
I have not attained that level of professionalism yet. But my own version of business as usual has been cautious, putting out small, limited, very specific offers, often at a discount, not fully indicative of the full range of what I know I’m capable of. I’ve been operating at reduced power, with the idea running in the background of “I’ll get to that later. I’ll unleash my true work later.”
Here’s my shot at Business as Unusual for 2016:
Business as Unusual is putting my highest level creativity out in the world now; not waiting till later.
It’s also partnering with my intuitive gifts and using them to create with. It means always turning within (or above) for direction, guidance and inspiration, for content and language – and trusting that.
It’s partnering with my creativity, my intuition and guidance, and my highest inspiration – and putting that out into the world in as big, free, and joyful a way as I can.
It include elements of art, of inspired words, and going for my high-heaven vision! And trusting that those who are my true tribe will respond to and recognize the energy I send.
So doing Business as Unusual means joining my innate love of creative expression with an urgent message that my soul (and my “upstairs” connection) are continually feeding me… and putting out a vibrational frequency flow that combines urgency with joy, beauty, and celebration, poetry, humor, and daring.
And it means using technologies that are within my grasp, that I can use “well enough,” so long as they serve as tools for me to express with.
Business as Unusual means removing my veils. It means not trying to look like anyone else, not doing things the way I see others doing them. Not trying desperately to conform and hoping I can “pass.”
It always comes back to the Ugly Duckling syndrome.
The Ugly Duckling question is: Why am I once again trying to be a good duck (and failing) when I’m actually a swan? Why am I embarrassed to reveal my swanness to the world? Especially when I know that the world – and my tribe in particular – are clamoring for swans!
So doing Business as Unusual for me means not trying to conform, not trying to “pass,” not trying to follow the leader and “do it right” – especially when I know I can’t. Because, frankly, I really suck at “doing things right.”
It means the return to that long-seen and still unresolved paradox of mine … To stop trying to be a “good duck” and continually failing… When all the while I’m really – and secretly know I am really – a Swan!
I need to fully grasp that the world wants, needs, and is calling for more Swans, not more ducks. Not more “do it this way, play it safe, impress people, look like a real professional” conformist look-alikes (appearances to the contrary notwithstanding).
I secretly know that what the world – what people – are longing for, craving, and rejoicing in when found – are out of the box original daring creative visionary high-flying soaring angels with big white wings…. who may be extremely awkward when trying to walk on the ground… but who suddenly reveal their true nature when they glide into their natural element and take our breath away.
Yes, doing Business as Unusual for me in 2016 will be letting my Swan nature take the lead. Trusting her, rejoicing in her, knowing that when I let her lead – and let ‘er rip – I cannot fail.
My business identity for 2016 is:
SWAN: SOULFUL WONDROUS AMAZING NAKEDNESS!
Bring on the Swans! No more Ducks!
