I'm back (and I have thoughts)
I’m back, or that’s how it feels right now. That sentence is wishy-washy, which is the opposite of what I want to portray for my business—I’m the rock my clients can come to. But also I will always prioritize them, so if my clients need me, then maybe this newsletter won’t become as active again as I intend it to. But I’m setting the intention here: I’m back, and I want to write to you at least once a month again!
What prompted this? Well, a few things:
When our current president came into office and made immediate sweeping changes, my business was affected like so many. I went from having a thriving subset of clients in the nonprofit field to now only one. Clients who were considering raising their commitment to our work together had to back off as their clients were tariffed. I say all this not for sympathy, but to be honest with you. I originally started this as a way to market the business, and I need that right now to grow the way I want to!
I’ve realized that in stopping the newsletter, I got out of sync with some of my own creativity, and began fall into focusing solely on client work rather than pushing myself in other ways.
I continue to feel the need to practice what I preach. I run newsletters for almost all of my clients, and this is a great proving ground to test new ideas and what the latest environment is before I bring it to them.
I’ve been lucky to still bring on new clients in this challenging environment, and in talking with a friend about the newsletter, it made me realize that this is a window into who I am beyond what my clients see of me.
I got inspired: I’ve continued my practice of listening to largely nonfiction audiobooks. When I was listening to Barbra Streisand’s autobiography, she mentioned a speech that she gave in 1992 to accept a women in film award, and the text of it inspired me because it still rang so true all of these years later:
We’ve graduated to being called tough cookies, foxes, bitches, and witches. I guess that’s progress. Language gives us an insight into the way women are viewed in a male dominated society. Take our business for example. Though I’m sure this would hold true for women in positions of power in any field.
A man is commanding – a woman is demanding.
A man is forceful – a woman is pushy.
A man is uncompromising – a woman is a ballbreaker.
A man is a perfectionist – a woman’s a pain in the ass.
He’s assertive – she’s aggressive.
He strategizes – she manipulates.
He shows leadership – she’s controlling.
He’s committed – she’s obsessed.
He’s persevering – she’s relentless.
He sticks to his guns – she’s stubborn.
If a man wants to get it right, he’s looked up to and respected.
If a woman wants to get it right, she’s difficult and impossible.If he acts, produces and directs, he’s called multi-talented. If she does the same thing, she’s called vain and egotistical.
It’s been said that a man’s reach should exceed his grasp. Why can’t that be true for a woman?
All this to say that, clearly, men and women are measured by a different yardstick and that makes me angry. Of course, I’m not supposed to be angry. A woman should be soft-spoken, agreeable, ladylike, understated. In other words, stifled…
…I’m here today because I think we have to recommit ourselves to supporting one another. To being more generous with each other.
I was shocked at how much her words affected me. They made me realize that I want to use my voice and platform again, no matter the size. I had the unfortunate experience of former colleagues calling me some of the things listed above. I don’t identify myself that way, and whether I was or wasn’t back then, I deserved an environment that would help me grow instead of push me down.
So I’m back because I want this to be my way of doing something.
And I want to grow: grow the business, grow myself, and as Barbra says, “recommit to supporting others.”
Lesson learned: Your voice will find itself again when the time is right, and for me, I think that time is now.
