There is something to be said about reflection and the new energy it generates.
Regardless if the reflection is about something positive or negative, it is another opportunity to change or explore the possibilities of change.
This is not a personal story about being lonely or a love breakup, but about working alone. It is more about discoveries that have generated business growth and expansion of my network.
This post is part of February’s Word Carnival under the tasty leadership of the Word Chef. Please take time to review all of the other posts written by the other carnies under this months topic.”The Single Most Important Thing You’ve Learned Last Year“! It is always a delight to read the various perspectives under one topic. This month will be really good!
The most important thing I learned in 2011 – is that it’s OK to BE ALONE…but it’s not ok to STAY ALONE. It was time to do things differently, be confident, and not complacent. A spark was needed.
Stop, Reflect, and Shift
One of the first things that started my shift is when I drove alone from Georgia to California. I learned that determination WILL take you places. There was plenty of time to be with self and think!
I had nothing but time. Each day I drove, there was a beginning, a destination, and an end. Point A to Point B..
Relax…
Enjoy where you are and look forward to where you are going.
Meet the RIGHT people
I actually love working from home and if I get lonely or need to shift my energy, I head to my office - Starbucks. 
But my true lesson came as a result of joining and engaging in groups on social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn.
I began to realize that the paid groups I was a part of had not yielded any valuable partnerships.
I never felt connected. I met a few people, learned a few things, but nothing that made any long-term impact.
As a result, I kept it pushing, going it alone.
Shortly before my departure for LA, I joined a group on Facebook that I really enjoyed. The group was helpful, friendly and engaging.
Their energy encouraged me to engage as well.
A suggestion was posted to sign up for a beta course titled the Test Kitchen.
This course was exactly what I was looking for.
- I needed something that would help me re-define my niche.
- A course that would force me to truly dig deep as to who I really wanted to work with.
- Most importantly, uncover who “I” was in my business…what was different about me vs. others.
This was going to be a lengthy commitment and I needed it badly. The timing worked out because it began a month after I was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles.
The course was great. Not only did it meet expectations, it exceeded them. The connections that manifested, motivated and inspired me like never before.
I learned once again, that we have to invest time IN ourselves if we want to EXPAND who we are, even if we don’t have time. We must open up.
Support Others
It’s key that those we connect with are supportive. One connection will lead to another and so on. Supporting others that support you is a winning situation for anyone.
Opening up, admitting that something was not working and and a change was necessary, being vulnerable, allowing new energy, and stepping out of the norm was scary. BUT……it feels pretty damn good right now!
How has joining groups on any social network helped your business? If you have not explored that yet, why not?
