My word of the year is IMPACT.
I actually tried not to have a word of the year – it seems so hokey! – but it found me anyway.
This year and this time in my life is about stepping into the impact I truly desire to create. No more hiding behind my little girl playfulness or making myself small so people don’t notice that I’m up to Something Big.
I’m here for playful impact, to inspire people to know themselves as creation and CREATE from the overflow of joyful aliveness.
So there’s that.
And as I’ve been contemplating the impact I’d like to have and what it looks like, I’ve been exploring some options, revisiting the strategies that have been good to me over the years, and noticing what feels right.
Last week I spoke to a PR expert. He pitches news agencies, journalists and publications. He was intrigued by my contrarian message, but concerned that it lacks substance.
“It’s great to have the etherial vibe and personality, but you need case studies and proof of tangible results,” he said.
And he’s right. If you want to play the PR game, those elements are a factor. It would mean leaning a bit more into, “this is what you get with me.”
I saw that IMPACT is owning and acknowledging these results, not shying away from them, but for me, it doesn’t necessarily look like leading with them, either.
Then I met with a friend of mine who is an expert at SEO and content marketing. He knows me well enough not to suggest Facebook, social media and running ads. Thank goodness. 🙂
He recommended speaking presentations where I take people through my process or case studies, dropping tidbits and mentioning tools available for free on my website, to entice them into a sales funnel.
“People need an experience of your energy, and then you can sift for the right ones,” he said.
Very strategic. Also, good points.
I imagined myself at the popular business and marketing conferences, and the topics I’d have to address to go mainstream. Sure, I could do it. I’ve done it before. But…YUCK.
Then I considered the spiritual conferences, alt-business and conscious entrepreneur summits. Better. Much better.
I had a lot of thinking about all of this. Sometimes it looked like these experts were right; I’d have to make myself more mainstream to play the game. Other times, I rebelled and recommitted to doing it my way, regardless of what “they” say.
Here’s where I’ve landed (for now) after all this mental back and forth:
If I can do this any way – and I can – playing the PR game and the public speaker game isn’t it. I like the idea of doing some PR (selectively) and some speaking (when it suits) but playing those games full out isn’t for me.
But here’s the fun thing:
I want to create a hub for the conscious entrepreneurs, regenerative businesses, innovators in green tech and change-making businesses creating big impact.
And it just so happens that I’m involved in a project that positions me perfectly to do this.
I’m already connected to a network of VC fundraising experts, founder hubs, angel investors, cryptocurrency gurus, DAO enthusiasts, leadership trainers, governance educators and transformational coaches.
Why attend someone else’s gathering, I can create my own? It puts me right at the center of it all, making connections, learning, facilitating, coaching and having way too much fun.
This is my favorite way of being seen: creating something cool and inviting people to co-create with me inside it. This feels right.
It’s letting the Universe use me simply by being me, rather than contorting myself to play a game that wasn’t designed for me.
What am I sharing this with you?
I’m not saying this is the best strategy and I’m certainly not suggesting that it’s for you. Only you would know that.
I want you to see how it really works, this Game of business.
- You get to play it your way.
- You get to choose your game to play.
- You get to try things and change your mind.
Or (Un)Marketing, the short version: let yourself settle, see what occurs to you, and then do it.
It’s natural. It’s easy. At some point, you’ll know what to do.
Hey, you’re going to have to do something to create a business you love. Why not choose an adventure that feels like you?
Yours in love and play,
Steph
