At the turn of the new year, I decided that I am ready to do some contract work. I don't want a 'real job' because I love my flexibility but I would like to contribute beyond my home and family.
The first thing I started doing after making this decision is trying to come up with a company name. I immediately came up with a couple of edgy names and registered both of the corresponding web domains. When I ran the names by my husband, he said "why don't you just be you"? At first I found the question kind of funny, then I thought, yeah, why don't I just be me. And then I realized I was afraid - fearful to put myself out there - what if nobody buys me, what if I'm not enough. Wow - good question Jeff - without that question, I wouldn't have dug deeper into who am I and what do I want to bring to the world and I know, I would not have built a successful business.
Ok - so decision made - jodidawson.ca is registered and in the creative process.
I immediately phoned my dear friend Janet, photographer extraordinaire of Visual Hues to arrange a time to get some updated photos done for my site. Then, I promptly cancelled our date. Whoa - I totally freaked out! Why am I doing this, do I really want this, am I any good, I need to lose weight and get my hair cut before I get pictures - and on, and on and on...
So - reset - and I am now busy writing content for my new website (Janet, I will rebook photos - don't let me off the hook). As I write about the kind of work that I am uniquely positioned to assist people with, I am challenged to find a title or word that captures it accurately. I first realized this when the website provider I am working with asked me which category my business fits into. I don't know - I don't like categories and labels and anything else that makes me conform and fit nicely into a box. I believe in unique strengths, that there is nobody else like you or me in the world - but the world likes us to follow the rules and fit into a pretty job description, so people know what they are buying. Arghh, they are buying me!
OK - so rebel Jodi is trying to conform and it shows me how restrictive names/titles can be. Am I a coach, consultant, CEO, COO, Business Activator, Possibility Maker, an expert in Business Development, Marketing, Leadership, Team Building - I don't know, I can do bits of all these things. How do you convey who you truly are through one word or even a series of words - you have to meet me, get to know me...
Anyways, it's a funny process, sure exposes some beliefs and ideas and frustrations that I didn't even know lurked beneath the surface. Stay tuned, one day soon Jodi Dawson, xxx will be released in the world and my hope is that you will have some idea of why you would want to get to know and hire me:)
No comments:
Post a Comment