Accept . . . and build. I'm being taught my own lesson.

The universe has a wonderful way of teaching us the lessons we need to learn. In my case, it’s chosen to impart a lesson that I’ve been teaching others for five years now. Oh sweet irony!

I decided to take the leap into starting my own business over a year and a half ago, slowly building my work around my day job until I was ready to take a pragmatic plunge. My business plan was strong and I had beautiful clients with work waiting for me. I had EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL.

Except, obviously I didn’t. Turns out a business based entirely on the concept of groups of people coming together in person doesn’t make sense during an unprecedented public health crisis. I have, of course, experienced the sort existential crisis one would expect from such an unmitigated case of bad timing. But, hey, I’m here, I’m healthy and I’m nothing if not open to a bit of creative chaos.

The realisation that actually, I have absolutely nothing beyond my own immediate actions under control, has been hard to stomach. This is despite the fact that improv is almost entirely structured around this very tenet. We simply have to accept and build on whatever the hell happens next in a scene. I’m having to apply this directly to my life. It’s worth noting that I'm not the best at always taking my own advice, so I’ve taken the guidance of my mentors, friends and family and am accepting that my plan might need to be rethought.

So what does this mean? Well I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’m making a start. I’m also getting that sort of excitable flutter in my tummy that something really cool might happen. I’m building some online packages for business to consider, using some neat online conferencing tools and will be developing some joyful team-building activities for remote workers to come together. I will also be pulling together a ‘Bounce-Back’ package for teams to reunite their staff once this is all over.

In the meantime, consider reaching out to me if you want some coaching on diversity & inclusion topics, communications skills, personal brand, executive presence or public/video speaking. I can lead team meetings if you want to keep your people talking and engaged at this time. I’m here to help, and if you’re in isolation there’s no better time to boost your skills. Now is the time to invest in yourself and in supporting small business and freelancers.

So if, like me, things are looking a bit wild for you at the moment, let’s accept that we actually have little say in the shape of the universe, and see what new exciting stuff we can build instead.