The Cat’s Out of The Bag
October 1st, 2009 by Cristina Favreau
[Beware: Grab yourself a fresh cup of coffee or make yourself a green smoothie; This is a long (but important) one.]
Today, I presented Secrets to Using the Know, Like and Trust Factor to Get Clients at the 4th annual Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC).
I think I loaded the audience with WAY too much information, but overall I think it went OK!
At the end of my presentation, I apprehensively made my first public announcement about the new direction I’m going. So I thought I’d share it with you here before you hear it from someone else.
[I wanted to write it here first, but I was too busy putting my presentation together -- last minute as usual.]
So… I’m taking my business in a new direction, as I already said.
Since having all 3 kids at home with me full time since January, I’ve been painfully reminded each day that I’m less and less “in the know.”
My days are now spent refereeing parenting, gagging changing diapers, making peanut butter sandwiches cooking, cleaning sticky mystery stains, wiping runny noses, washing pee-saturated garments, and doing the Hokey Pokey playing with my kids. To pretend I’m doing anything other than that, for the sake of appearances or to feed my ego, is just wrong.
At 8pm, when I finally get to put on my ‘ambitious entrepreneur’ hat, I have 3 hours to play catch up, pick up where I left off the night before AND try to make headway.
During that time, I have to squeeze in preparing presentations, going through email, catching up on social media sites, writing blog posts, working on an awesome JV project, coaching/being coached, hosting/attending teleseminars, planning, implementing the plan, and more…
Don’t get me wrong, I still LOVE marketing and I still love the VA industry.
But… (there’s always a but)
… I’m just not in the thick of things like I used to. My finger is no longer on the pulse. It feels forced. And because I’m not tapped into –not keeping up with– the fresh marketing sources coming out each day, I feel like an outdated broken record.
I’ve built my business around sharing and being the go-to person. As such, I’m recognized as a trusted resource for anything having to do with the VA industry. I’m actually doing everyone a disservice by staying on the VA/marketing path, since I know I’m no longer IN the action, at least not in the way I want to be.
So… where does that leave me?
My husband would like me to give up the whole running-a-business-from-home thing and just be happy raising our kids.
Unfortunately (for him), I’m a born businessperson. Being an entrepreneur courses through my entire being. I walk, eat, sleep business. I would rather read a book on kick-butt guerrilla marketing techniques over a novel anytime. A relaxing outing for me is when I can spend long, uninterrupted hours at Chapters pouring over books and magazines from the Business and Self-Help sections.
So… NO! The whole giving-up-of-the-running-a-business thing isn’t happening anytime soon. (Sorry hon!)
Because I’m in a transition phase, it’s hard to know EXACTLY where this path leads. I will tell you what I do know:
- I’m getting away from the marketing arena. The marketing industry is going through a transition of its own, and I’m just not in the head-space to lead you safely and successfully through it.
- I want to empower people to be the absolute best human beings they can be, not on anyone else’s terms and not based on what/whom others think they “should” be.
- My passion is helping people grow from where they are now, by discovering their unique combination of strengths and personality to unlock their true potential.
- I want to get people excited about their lives and I want to show them how totally awesome they are, just as they are.
- I want to create a movement.
As you can tell, the details are still vague. What is the exact phrase, term, or title? I don’t know. What will people pay me to do? I don’t know. Will people give me their money doing my thing? I don’t know. Will I be serving women, moms, parents, everyone? I don’t know.
And I’m OK with that.
I do have this burning fire in my chest, aching to just get out there and spread my empowerment message — which I plan to do (more on that in another post).
What does that mean for The Savvy Entrepreneur? I don’t know.
Should I sell/hand it to someone else? Do I keep publishing quotes and random posts about stuff I pick up on marketing? Do I shut it down or do I leave it up to gather cobwebs? Do I archive everything and build a new blog over top? I don’t know. This is all new to me, and I can’t help but be excited about the possibilities!
I’m open to suggestions.
So… that’s the big news going on around here.
I look forward to getting your feedback! 
The cat’s out of the bag. Here’s what I’m up to, sort of –> http://bit.ly/1aHweH
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
What you describe sounds like a coach to me. And I *think* you can get coaching certification online from several sources. You'd be good at it.
Hey Ron! I actually have a piece of paper that says I'm a trained and certified coach.
And, yeah… I get that it still sounds like coaching, even though I don't want to use the word “coaching” — sounds too… limiting? I'm not sure why, I just know that I don't necessarily *need* to come up with the term just yet, especially not if it means creating a fancy 'coach' label to it…
Thanks for being so quick to reply!
It's a tricky and precarious feeling, isn't it? To be knowing that you're not quite doing what you want to be doing (or even what your “soul purpose” is), and yet to also know that you DON'T know what to do next.
I don't have any suggestions for something specific, but I do have suggestions for the inbetween, before-you-know time.
Stay curious.
Befriend any parts of you that might be afraid (I can hear that You aren't, but there may be some parts of you in the shadow that are).
Start conversations with Spirit (or whatever you term your particular higher power).
Listen.
And listen more.
I'll bet you know this all already, but it's always validating to have a reminder that you're doing the right thing.
You are.
So says this former secretary who is now an alternative healer/psychotherapist/workshop leader!
Many blessings!
Cristina,
I want to honor you for coming to this realization. Wow! What a breakthrough. Acknowledging that a shift has been made and we don't “fit in the mold” (recognize the French expression here?) seems like the first step for incredible growth.
As for the title or label, I suggest you start by the results you'll bring to your clients and then come up with your own label. …maybe it's one of your clients who will find it for you when they talk about you.
Enjoy the journey!
Did you catch my “coming out” announcement? http://bit.ly/1aHweH
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Pam Hower. Pam Hower said: RT @Brainstormist: Did you catch my "coming out" announcement? http://bit.ly/1aHweH <Good luck with your new direction. Keep us posted.> [...]
As I was reading your post I was thinking that I wish someone would focus on helping people “start up”. I guess that would be considered coacing but I think it would be more of a niche.
I've been out of the business for more than ten years and would like to have a “niche” but have no idea what businesses are looking for, anymore. I'm reading everything I can, though. Had one “failure” trying to get back into transcription work…a lesson learned there. So I'm kind of skittish about everything.
I love your newsletter and hope you keep on publishing it. Random thoughts are fine by me!
Hmmm…probably better improve my spelling/proofreading before I set off on a new venture…that should have been “coaching” in my last post. Sorry.
I must commend you on your realization. Nothing prepares you for having a family until you have it. You could find your self going through this several times as their needs change and grow. Our children are now teenagers but still have many needs. Go with your gut and do what you feel is right. Best of luck!
Wow, Christina – you are a brave lady! I appreciate your honest and humor about difficult subjects. I know more than a few VA's who are getting out of it right now – I'm looking forward to your next chapter.
Hi Cristina. This is a GREAT post and I love your integrity and spirit.
Would you please contact me: trev [at] wizardofwisdom [dot] com – as I have an idea that might move both of us forward. (I'm a UK based self empowerment author/life coach).
I hope you do – and that there aren't too many mysterious sticky messes for you today!
Cheers!
Trevor Emdon.
(Twitter: wizardofwisdom)
Cristina,
But you'll probably have lots of fun as you find out.
I applaud your honesty in admitting your current challenges and how you plan to handle — or not handle — them as your business continues to evolve. I think that by being as passionate as you are to help people, and so open to exploring new options, you'll end up exactly where you're meant to be. And where will that be? I don't know.
p.s. Any good green smoothie recipes you can share?