Blog No 9 - Better is not worth striving for
You might be asking yourself why I would say such a ridiculous thing. Better is not worth striving for? Really? This, from a self-proclaimed “perfectionist?”
First, you’re right.
And second, I didn’t say it – but we’ll get to who did in a moment.
About a week ago, I was scrolling through social media while sipping an iced coffee and I came across this post. It said,
“Better is not worth striving for-
Be the only.
Be the one and only one that does it right, does it now, does this thing…………be the only.”
It stopped me in my tracks.
“Be the only.”
I can’t even tell you how much I needed to hear this on the day it showed up. Whether in my personal life or my business life, this resonated on so many levels. I have been spending all of 2024 building my business in a way that I can expand it, push it and take it farther than I have the last 6 years. I have hired team members to help me build my brand, market my business and re-design my website.
I have needed to listen to their input, their expertise and their advice and decide whether or not it was right for me and what I hope to achieve. I don’t normally enjoy making tough decisions. But at the end of the day, and at the end of this year, I will need to be able to look myself in the mirror and judge whether or not I did everything I could to achieve my goals. And it turns out, I only needed one piece of advice to make every decision I usually struggle with simple.
Some find it confusing that I represent both products I make myself and products from other companies. Apparently, I should find my “niche.”
“Be the only.”
Some find it strange that I sell art supplies and things to use in your kitchen. Don’t we all do art in our kitchens?
“Be the only.”
And yes, I do make signs and sell signs from an amazing WI based, family-owned company whose sense of humor really tickles my fancy. Aren’t they just my competition?
“Be the only.”
There is a story behind why I have chosen to do each of these things. “Experts” find these things a little weird and even advise against most of these things. But no one has lived my story and no one but me is responsible for the success of 554 and Company. So, I have decided that I’m going to “be the only.”
If you’re wondering who impacted my week with such a simple statement, that would be Mary Beth Berns. If her name sounds familiar, you may know her from her previous life at Craig Berns Salon & Spa. These days, you can find her behind her new venture, MBB Small Business Coaching, as she partners with small business owners who are striving for growth. While I’ve known of Mary Beth for years, I was more recently personally introduced to her through a friend at a meeting of WMAI (Women Making an Impact). My two favorite things about Mary Beth are her smile and her thoroughly genuine warmth. I invite you to see what knowledge you can glean from Mary Beth by visiting her business page on Facebook: @MBBsmallbusinesscoaching
My friend, Mary Beth Berns of MBB Small Business Coaching