When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens...

We've all heard the saying "when one door closes, another door opens", but did you realize the rest of Alexander Graham Bell's quote continues as, "but we so often look so long and regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us".

This is true in so many cases.  We get hung up on a mistake or missed opportunity that we don't see our priorities or "free" time has changed to allow for something possibly better and more beneficial for us.  

As you may have seen, or will see, I do try to keep a positive outlook on life.  This has been crucial for me and my business.  Due to the fluctuation of my business, I have to know that everything is going to work out, otherwise I would be stressed out all of the time.  Instead, I believe when a situation happens that I wasn't expecting or wanting that it is only occurring because something more substantial is in the works.  

Earlier this week, a client who uses me several times a week called to let me know that due to changes in the family's schedule I will not be needed as much.  Of course, in having your own business you depend on those consistent clients and when that changes it can throw you for a loop.  Instead of stressing out, which was my natural instinct, I knew something else was waiting for me...there are tons of people with too much going on and not enough time so they need me, right?  

Well, this proved to be true.  Not even two hours later, I received a phone call from a client that uses me from time to time asking for as much time as I can give to a project he is working on.  Case in point to Mr. Bell's quote, at least the part where one door closes, and another opens.

To continue proving this to be true, after that phone call, I received a text from another client that has used me periodically from the start of Your Go To Girl and most recently started using me more. His text explained that his company wants to use YGTG to help with an ongoing task.   

After receiving the initial text earlier that morning from the client that no longer needed me as much, I said, in almost believable voice, that something better is coming...after saying it several times, I did believe it and then look at how the day unfolded. I kept saying this quote because this was only one day of many that I found this to hold true.

As Juliette Barnes said on the television show, Nashville, one of my guilty pleasures, "sometimes we are so busy trying to keep out the bad that we don't let in the good".  That just stuck with me because we do want good things to happen, but we feel that we have to control the bad.  That not only consumes a lot of our time, but a lot of our energy which makes it hard to see the good or to let it happen.  

The lesson of the week, is to know there are always opportunities waiting for us to accept them.  Some times we just need to be more open to seeing them and not getting hung up on what did not happen. 

*The cheesy quotes and analogies continue, but hopefully you are getting a lesson or a smile from reading my blog. 

Believing in my business...took some time, but finally got there!

Wow, has it been a while!  I knew when starting this blog, I would have to push myself to share about Your Go To Girl, but seriously?

Well, I'm back and I have to say I have more to share.  The one thing I have learned since starting my business is I have to believe in what I am doing if I want to succeed.  Sounds easy enough, but for someone who is surrounded by successful people and always being amazed by their success made "running errands" seem trivial.

But I finally got it!  It is reflection of myself by those around me...and if they believe in my business, then the obvious answer is I need to believe in my business.  Duh!  I'm a positive person and knew I would get by, but I needed to believe I would succeed.  Once I realized that, my business started growing...funny how that works.

I believe your best accessory is your confidence and we all need to know how to wear it.  Not only does this idea pertain to your personal life, but also your business.

When starting your own business, you have to justify and prove yourself to your clients because they don't know you or if what you are offering them is worthy and reliable.  For this reason, you have to believe in yourself.  It starts with you.  

As I continue to learn about running a business, I continue to learn about myself.  I have to remember that there will be those that may question if it is worth it for them to use Your Go To Girl as their personal assistant, but just as easy as there are those who may question it, there are those who find my services priceless.

Once I realized what I was doing for my clients, "running errands" was not so trivial anymore because that is not all I do for my clients.  Some days I check on their loved ones, whether it be elderly parents or their furry loved ones to being project manager for their home projects to picking up groceries, and so much more.  As one client shared with me, "I'm happy to be working with you.  I've only needed you the last 15 years."  I have been able to help my clients take their businesses and personal lives to another level.  I have accomplished my goal by saving my clients time and stress.

The shift happened when I saw my clients enjoying their free time more and hearing about how their businesses were growing.  Their accomplishments showed me the important role I had in their lives, by giving them peace of mind and the ability to focus on the things that mattered to them and leaving the rest to me.

I noticed when I talked about Your Go To Girl, I had more excitement, more confidence, and was able to explain how I could help someone save time for the more important things in their life.  This is when my business started to grow.

I have been very fortunate by those successful people I surround myself with who have always believed in me, but once I believed in Your Go To Girl that is when my clientele grew.

It is very true what you put out, you get back.  I've always believed this, but when I practiced it and put my confidence and belief in Your Go To Girl, that all came back with new clients and more business.  I've learned the best accessory is confidence and it goes with any outfit.  Sounds cliche, even cheesy, but so true.

Look for more posts on what Your Go To Girl is doing for clients to save them time and stress, while watching me learn more about myself and others.