Girl About O-Town

This Christmas will be a bit different.  This year, I will be on a strict budget as my business is still in its early stages and I’m not yet laughing my way to the bank.  In the past, I’ve always had good intentions about following a budget, but have inevitably lost track as the spirit of the season took over. This year though, there really is no option.

Interestingly, I can’t recall a December when I’ve felt less stressed. Perhaps it’s because the expectations I have of myself have changed, but I feel like I can really focus on having fun and bonding with my family. For the first time in years, I’m thinking about homemade and ‘experience’ gifts to give, and I’m not really worried about that “last minute rush”.  I’m also encouraging my little girlaboutOtown to give back in little ways instead of focusing on what she will get.  I’m proud of her growing awareness and generosity, and hopeful we’ll be able to continue to offer a helping hand beyond the holiday season.  

One might surmise my situation has been simplified only temporarily.  I’m not so sure.  Instead, I suspect my concept of the Christmas season has been significantly altered, and permanently.

Image source

That said, even though my list has changed a lot compared to the past, there are still a few things I’m hoping for this year.  Here goes:

1. Strength & energy

For those of you who have been reading awhile, you may recall the story of my tooth extraction. Well, I’m sorry to report I’ve been suffering side effects ever since. More specifically, I’ve had a face ache. Yup. A face ache. Which is really more of a nasty headache focused at the front, but it’s been every day for almost 2 years, and I’ve been only functioning at around 75%.

For this long, I’ve felt older than I should have, less vital, and less able to manage the demands of a young daughter – with no explanation. Fast forward to this fall, after too many months, a dozen different doctors, and a plethora of prescriptions, my problem was finally diagnosed (following one canceled trip to Spain)!  It seems my sinus wall was cracked and a fragment of bone dislodged into the cavity causing an infection to fester long-term. Um ya. Yuck!

Anyway, I’m grateful to say that the solution proposed was surgery, and that I willingly agreed. It was a tiny bit spooky, since the whole thing was so close to my eyes, but it in the grand scheme of things it really wasn’t all that serious. Besides, this time the surgeon was a pro. And, now that I’m on the mend, I’m starting to remember what life was like without a headache.

In the big picture my sinus problem was slight, but nevertheless, it did set me back. It also brought me important perspective. Throughout my “saga” I found myself thinking of my many friends and family who have bravely confronted serious illnesses and who have survived. Their courage, grace and optimism have been profoundly inspiring, and now – in a very small way – I can appreciate what it feels like to have a second chance.

So as I approach another new year, I can’t help but commit more consciously to a healthier way of life, focused on building strength and energy. Health is wealth, as they say and now more than ever, I agree.

2. Some business-related mojo

While waking up with a headache everyday hasn’t been wonderful, I have been working like crazy all year long on my new design-minded house hunting consultancy Housters & Co..  Like any new entrepreneur, I’ve experienced the full range of ups and downs as this entity has evolved. When I look back, I can’t help but be happy about how far I come, but I do know there is still a long way to go.

I do confess I’ve wondered what the hell I was thinking almost as often as I’ve been boldly confident, but I’ve kept marching on because I have faith in my abilities and in the end, I know everything will be ok. And, now that I finally feel like it’s all coming together, I’m totally pumped about the potential.  I just need more time and some help from the universe to see me through. 

Admittedly, I just bought a little advance gift for myself:  Session Three: True Strengths and the Metrics of Ease by one of my new heroes, celebrated author, business coach and authenticity guru Danielle Laporte.  Session Three is just one small sample of the wisdom contained in the Fire-Starter Sessions,  Danielle’s hot selling digital experience for entrepreneurs.  I already feel like I’ve kick started my new year with some serious business –related mojo, and I’m fired up.

3. Serendipity

Here is one you might find surprising (note the sarcasm): the older I get, the wiser I get. You see, as I  continue to refine my personal style, it seems I’m getting more particular about the things I acquire – especially when it comes to putting my best face forward.

No longer satisfied with dressing in less than flattering stand-ins, I quality seek stuff that is proportioned properly and suits me to a “T” (even if I do still spend a lot of time at the thrift store). These days, I expect to wait for the right thing to come along, and I have to be prepared to pounce when it does. There is no small measure of serendipity and good fortune involved, and this year I’m wishing for a bit of both. Or, if you’re out & about and you happen to see one of these, drop me a line and let me know where!

• Leather pumps with a hidden platform, a 3” stacked heel and an almond toe – in one of black, gray, brown, navy and/or nude. Why is this too much to ask? These would be an ideal design for someone like me, but I can’t seem to find anything remotely close anywhere. “Down with dainty” I say, “no way” to either stubby toes and 4” stilettos!
• Organic or all-natural oil-free anti-aging night cream. I know eh? You would think this would be a no-brainer, but nope. Cannot find. I just want to fight a few wrinkles without creating oily-skin chaos or polluting the earth!
• High-waist boot-cut jeans in a dark rinse with back pockets placed inwards & down. Hello?! Anyone? I’m 39. Low-rise skinny jeans just don’t cut it. End of story.
• Oh…and one more thing. Slightly unrelated. Why isn’t anyone making 100% whole wheat raisin bread??? Ummm…..duh….it would be a sure-fire money-maker!! 

Image by penguincakes via flickr

So, as I sit here and reflect, I think this season is shaping up well. I’m refreshed in business with a renewed face (less it’s ache), and I’m prepared to wait patiently for those few small things I know will make me look and feel great. Best of all, I’ll be giving from my heart and getting lots of love in return.

What about you? What are you wishing for this year?

As many of you may have guessed by now, this girlaboutOtown has slowed down in the blogging department. These days, I’m aiming for once a week, and sometimes even leave it a day or two longer. While I certainly don’t feel the need to make excuses, I do think I’d like to explain.

Image via we heart it

More than two years ago, girlaboutOtown started as a personal experiment. I craved a creative outlet, and was keen to rediscover a city that had begun to bore me. Kicked out of my computer-related complacency at a conference, I was also determined to learn more about social media, and wanted to push my comfort zone. So, I reduced my hours at work and set aside one day a week to transform my ideas into reality.

Pretty soon, I was writing three or four times a week, taking loads photos, and finding fun in all four corners of the capital. From time to time, I would come across an encouraging comment from a reader – and press on – empowered by the thought that someone might actually be following along while I figured out how to do all this new stuff. After a year or so, I started to get emails letting me know about what was coming up, or inviting me to join in at an interesting event. I was doing things and meeting people I never would have otherwise, and thoroughly enjoying the reality that was the result my idea.

The same is still true.

I’m proud of this little corner of the interweb that I’ve created, grateful for the friendship you (my dear readers) offer, and excited about all the things I’ve learned about myself along the way. Not only do I feel part of the Ottawa community, I am fortunate to be one among an increasing number bloggers and social media enthusiasts who are changing the way our community connects. This is an honour and privilege I don’t take lightly, and for this reason, I am committed to continue writing girlaboutOtown.  Just not as often.

Do I know where it will go? Definitely not.  My ambitions for this blog aren’t big. My “klout” score, or the number of subscribers, or page views I receive don’t matter much to me, despite my bad habit of comparing.  Sure, I could be doing a lot more to attract readers, promote the site and improve my content but instead, I try to contribute something valuable when I can…something that might surprise, or inspire or interest a reader or two.  And, since most of the time it is just me, I’ve had to let go of my impulse to keep up with big-time publishers, contributor-style blogs and newsy event-oriented sources. Sometimes it is a struggle, but when I start to feel uneasy about it all, I remind myself of why I started in the first place.

Besides, back then I had a steady paycheck.  Other than feeling as if I was stuck in a rut, life was comfortable, and I had plenty of creative energy to burn. These days, things are different.

As many of you know, since last January I’ve been working hard to turn another idea into reality, and my brain has been busy elsewhere. Building a business is not easy at the best of times, but starting from scratch with a concept for which no “how to” template exists, has been enormously challenging. Perhaps naively, I thought things would be further along by now than they are, and I thought it would all fall in to place once I was able to dedicate my time, energy and resources to my passion.

Image by Bud Caddell

Well as it turns out, there has been a lot to adapt to, and in the process it seems I’m uncovering as many weaknesses as I thought I had strengths. For instance, I’m not great at reading instructions and I’m afraid to do things wrong. This means new tools and technology are a genuine obstacle for me, and it takes both considerable time and a conscious effort for me to overcome my anxiety. Also, I find it difficult to articulate my ideas coherently and succinctly. Writing this blog is more personal, and my tone is conversational. Putting words together to clearly explain the ‘features and benefits’ of the business concept my fella and I have developed, and to persuade people to consider buying in, is another matter all together. Just about every day there is something completely new to learn, and at times it can be downright overwhelming.

Image source

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining at all.  I’m miraculously motivated each morning to get started, deeply content to be creating a purpose-driven lifestyle, and totally energized about what I have to offer the world. But, I’m also resigned to the fact that I’m a relative beginner in business, and turning this latest idea into reality won’t be easy. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever pushed my comfort zone this far!

Anyway, I thought I’d share a bit about why my brain has been so busy. First, here are just a few of the things I have had to get a handle on (aack):

• Web-based content management platforms
• Graphic design & web development
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• UX web design (user driven web design)
• Copywriting
• Email marketing tools
• Structuring web content, marketing collateral (brochures, newsletters etc)
• Social media (Twitter, FB etc)
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) & list management

Now, here is just a sampling of what I still need to figure out, and fast (yikes):

• Instructional design
• Webinar & online course delivery
• Online invoicing
• Advanced presentation software (ie: Prezi)
• Publishing & distribution
• Web based payment (ie: PayPal)
• Online advertising
• Content marketing
• Public speaking & presentation skills
• Podcasting & video editing
• Streamlining social media management
• Creating & managing an editorial calendar

Then, there is the work I continue to do to develop my products & services, the always-essential business networking, and of course the one-on-one client work, which I absolutely love!

Even though my days are jam packed, I often feel like things are moving too slowly. Realistically, this pace should probably come as no surprise, but emotionally I seem to be in a rush. So, to manage my own expectations and to mitigate my irrational fear of embarrassment, I occasionally have to take a step back, look at the big picture and celebrate the successes I’ve experienced.

Image via we heart it

Here then, are a few things that have happened since January:

1. Our idea has become a company, with a name. This was not as easy as you might think. Housters & Co. (pronounced House –ter) is based on a word my little girlaboutOtown invented to describe a person who offers help (design coaching) to people shopping for homes. This is what I do, and I really like the way it sounds.

2.  Housters & Co. is a brand. For a design enthusiast with some marketing in my background, this step was critical.

3.  Housters & Co. has a website. I’m not one to just “throw something up” and fix it later. This took an extra long time, and you can see why by reading the list above. That said, based on what I’ve learned since, I’m already keen on a major overhaul!

4.  You can find Housters & Co. on Facebook. Again, this wouldn’t be rocket science for many people, but I still find Facebook intimidating. If you’re interested, we’d love to have you join us. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two?

5.  Housters & Co. has earned some media. Sarah Brown, editor at Ottawa Magazine, was intrigued enough by the Housters & Co. concept to feature us in the October “Homes” edition. As beginners working to develop and promote a unique business concept, we couldn’t dream of better luck! The fella and I are thrilled.

6.  Best of all, Housters & Co. is serving clients. Not enough to support a shopping habit or spend winter south of the border, but enough to know that the help we offer does have a positive impact on people’s lives!  This is our ‘modus operandi’ and makes everything else worth it. 

So, there you have it.

This girlaboutOtown goes on, but has to change with the times.  And, you know what?  I still believe that changes are chances.