'Lost in the Madness... and Where to Go from Here'​

'Lost in the Madness... and Where to Go from Here'

A few years ago, my husband Brett and I were visiting a popular art festival in Laguna Beach along with our kids. (We typically vacation in the area for a few weeks every summer to escape the triple-digit Arizona heat and be near the ocean.) I was looking for a special piece to hang on a wall in the main hallway of our Scottsdale home, which has a large, lit alcove. It had been empty ever since we moved in, waiting for just the right piece. 

Our kids loved the variety of colorful crafts at the festival, but I was disappointed in most of the offerings there, which were more amateur and tchotchke in nature. 

(I soon learned this was the one ‘un-juried’ festival in town. Anyone could exhibit, giving it more of a flea market feel. On the bright side, it was a fun way to spend the day. They had great bands, good beer, and activities for the kids.)

While browsing among the booths of dangly crystal earrings and paintings of German Shepherds on black velvet, something on a wall at the far end of the path caught my eye… it was large, flat, abstract, and beautifully shimmery. It was much nicer than anything I’d seen the whole morning. 

Could this be the one? I asked Brett to wrangle the twins for a bit (then only age three) while I took a closer look.

But I couldn’t focus on it, and I couldn’t bear to even ask about it. Because it was jammed smack in the middle of a display littered with dozens of 8” x 10” plaques of a similar design, but with junky icons plopped in the middle — stars, crosses, pro and college sports team logos, and cheesy mottos.

The artist tried to design everything to please every person of every budget and taste, and packed his booth to prove it. 

Absorbed within the middle of all the junk, that stunning piece couldn’t speak to me if it tried. 

I made an effort to evaluate it more closely, but now it didn’t feel special to me. I walked away.

When you stand for everything, you stand for nothing. 

There was a point years ago that my online business featured more than 15 different training products and courses. If you needed it, we had it. From learning social media to gaining a millionaire mindset. From list building strategies to building a scalable enterprise. 

While I never set out to try to be all things to everyone, we fell into that trap by constantly surveying our list and asking what they wanted, and then creating our latest product or course-o-the month. We were also running five different tiers of programs… from a $10-a-month club to $100K coaching and consulting packages. 

Now, I will say they were all solid products and programs that I still hear today were life-changing for many of our customers and clients. 

But what started happening was our audience became less and less clear on whom we specialized in helping or what we offered.

We were trying to stand for everything business success. For everyone

Which meant…

We stood for nothing.

It was a wake-up call. I’d completely lost my positioning. And it was time to clean house.

Starting with a blowout sale, I got rid of all our products. Then I streamlined my programs. I leaned out my team.

Then, once I had the space to think clearly, I decided whom I wanted to work with, and what I wanted to offer. 

Yes, decided.

No surveys, no asking, no polling, no pouring over data. 

It was MY choice where I wanted to go and who I wanted to come with me.

And right now, in the middle of the mess, is your chance as well, to decide. And lead.

Henry Ford famously said, “If I’d asked the people what they wanted, they would have said ‘faster horses’.” 

He made the decision to lead the people to the idea and reality of the automobile. And even during the Great Depression, his business continued to grow. 

Right now, coping with a worldwide pandemic, it’s easy to panic, pivot too quickly, and grab the first opportunity you see that will bring in some cash.  

Yes, fast action is good, but I’m seeing too many entrepreneurs and thought leaders immediately jumping to offer all kinds of new services, programs, or products simply to appease their market. 

Of course, do what you have to do right now to keep things going, and 'get them bills paid'. But...

I invite you to see this time as an incredible opportunity for something greater than that.  

YOU seeing the future, considering what your people need, and inviting them to come along where they need to go — sometimes before they even realize it's what they need...

That’s leadership. 

And this time in business history will clearly separate the leaders from the followers. 

Today in one of our virtual gatherings of my members of The Trust, my new private network for 7- and 8-figure women business leaders, this was our topic of discussion. How much to pivot versus staying true to our core missions. And the conversations were extraordinary.

Take extra care to make sure you are surrounding yourself with business leaders who are thinking at higher levels, especially in times like these. It's critical you make any weighty decisions from a place of personal power — not panic. If you spend too much time with 'most' business owners, you'll get pulled down into the mess.

Right now, more than ever, it's a wonderful chance for you to take action on those inklings you’ve had about what you REALLY want to do, say, and be. And who you want to do it with. 

This time could actually be 'turning the page' to your best chapter ever.

Yes, I love Ali Brown. Debra, thank you for sharing!

Like
Reply
Kelly Fidel

⭐️CEO No Glass Ceiling® | The Powerhouse CEO®

3y

Legendary insights from a true thought leader. Been going through this process & I’m done with tired cycles - ready for that open space!

Anne Arvizu, PharmD, FASCP, PCC

Creator of THE CORELIFE METHOD®, Top Globally Recognized Pharma Business Keynotes 2022 / Top 50 Influencers in Pharmacy 2022 / HBA Luminary 2020 / Florida Top Docs 2022 / Top 20 Medical Information Experts Worldwide 2018

3y

Decide. One powerful word. Love this.

I forgot to mention the real estate speculators and land lords of Scottsdale.

It seems every or almost business person who operates from Scottsdale, AZ is trying to get rich as he or she can as fast as he or she can, by charging more for his or her products or services, as compared to those similar kinds of businesses operating mainly in Phoenix or other suburbs of Phoenix. I am referring to mainly medical doctors, dentists, lawyers, bar and/or restaurant owners, and other retail businesses, such as stores of various kinds and sizes, operating in Scottsdale. Because they tend to charge relatively high prices, I avoid buying most products and services from them.

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Others also viewed

Explore topics