Why?
Well that’s a strange title, isn’t it! You are probably wondering what on earth I am talking about!
Well… I have recently been watching some videos and reading some literature about the importance of finding our ‘why’. This is probably where I need to confess that the whole ‘self-help’ genre is not really my thing and I have probably previously dismissed asking myself this very question because I thought it was a bit too ‘out there’ for me.
But the reality is that we all have a core purpose or set of values that both define us and drive us forward. The problem is being able to articulate this information in a way that makes sense - not just to others, but also yourself!
Today I watched a few videos by Simon Sinek (look him up - he is great) and I realised that finding my ‘why’ would not only help me as a human being, but also as a business owner.
Like so many small business owners, every day or so I post on social media about what I offer and how I can help you. But what I don’t do anywhere near enough of is to explain why I want to help you. Why I do what I do!
So after a morning session of swimming lessons for the boys, I let them have some screen time and sat down and asked myself ‘who am I’? “what do I believe in?” Pretty big questions really, but I found a helpful website that let me define some of my core values. Check out Personal Values - Free Online Test if you are interested.
The breach this morning - how could you not be inspired by this?!?!
The results pretty much confirmed how I see myself - someone for whom family and health are very important, but also someone who is very focused on honesty and accountability and who demonstrates significant discipline in the way I approach life and work.
Indeed, in my former life as an economist, I was always much more concerned with being respected than liked - although I would like to think I was also reasonably likeable ;-)
For me, interior design is a way to combine and benefit from some of my core drivers.
How?
Well, fundamentally, I love the way a beautiful home or room makes me feel - the calmness and serenity it provides. The sense of order. Home is a place I feel I have control and security in equal measures.
Living in a home that is both beautiful and functional makes me feel as though I can breath for the first time!
Indeed, I take great pride in creating something both beautiful but also practical. I am a family-orientated person, so I understand that spaces need to be not just aesthetically pleasing, but also FUNCTIONAL! This is why I often work with parents of children and teenagers - I understand their needs and the reality that living with children means you can’t live in a perfect home.
During my two decades as an economist, I was often the youngest and only female in the room. I lost count of the number of times people would turn to my male staff and in those first few moments, assume they were in charge. All because they were an older, male figure. I learnt early that I had to deliver if I wanted to be both noticed and respected. It is easy to promise the world, but if you fail to deliver, then your career is likely to be a short one. Someone once said that it was better to under-promise and over-deliver and this is a creed that I try to live by. Being authentic (buzzword!) and honest is genuinely important to me. You might not always agree with my views, but so long as you have a real understanding of who I am and what I can offer, then we are in the perfect starting point.
Being honest doesn’t amount to much though if you aren’t disciplined enough to do the hard work. Thankfully this is something that I have always been strong at. My husband likes to call it my ‘steely desire to succeed’ and he is correct. I want to excel, I want to do well. And I understand that this requires consistent, disciplined application. One of the benefits you get working with me then is that you can be certain that I will not only get the job done, but it will be completed in a timely and organised fashion. I have an organiser’s mind - no hard to follow emails or calls from me. I will always make sure that I convey information to you in a clear and logical manner.
At the end of the day, I chose to shift to interior design, not for the money, but because of a geniune passion. I honestly want to help you. I want you to have that beautiful and functional room or home that you have dreamed of. I won’t tell you that I can help you if I can’t and I wont’ give you false information or timelines. My word is my bond as the saying go - I am here because I want to do a good job. Receiving testimonials that refer to me as being honest and reliable absolutely make my day!
Let me help you create a home that works for the whole family.
Don’t forget - If you want to chat to me about how I can help you (now that you know WHY I want to help you), then please book in for a FREE 15 minute Discovery Call. Sometimes you just need to speak to someone to know if you can trust and work with them. Click here to book in.
Axx