Surround Yourself... With Coffee?!
Generally accepted wisdom (and Tony Robbins) tell us that we should surround ourselves with quality people to help drive success. For instance I try not to hang out with serial killers or people who don't like chocolate... and I definitely try to log some serious coffee-time with positive people, whose ideas and ideals push me forward.
After a few weeks of digging in on new business development, and having a little wiggle room to spend time in coffee conversations with clients and friends – many both – I realized the richness and wonder that having a cuppa' and diving deep with interesting and varied people brings.
Plus, we drink coffee. WIN-WIN!
Near the epicentre of my business, there are so many amazing people that inspire me on a deep level, and whatever the interaction – an out-there discussion on art, or a dialled in dissection of internet marketing, I always come away a better version of me.
How utterly amazing is that?!
So here is my little tribute to only a few of those who bring so much value to my life. Perhaps you'll be inspired to surround yourself with some new peeps that help to adjust your lens, give you pause for thought, or unwittingly kick you in the butt towards something really great.
Thank You ALL! (You know who you are)
1. The Activ-Artist
Over coffee recently my friend spoke her future to me. One, I was honoured to be the tree in the proverbial forest and two, it inspired the hell outta' me. Suffice it to say, it involved structuring her business so that she could get up every morning to pursue her art and forge global social change from behind the lens of her camera. Her mantra is this:
Think it into existence.
Speak it into existence.
Write it into existence.
Work it into existence.
This one smacked me between the eyeballs, could I... would I... dare speak into existence my biggest, raddest, boldest life goal?! The truth is: not yet. But I do know who will listen to it when I'm ready.
2. The Trailblazer
You know that person that just goes out and does it? Maybe it's you... it sure isn't me generally. If you'd asked me two years ago if I'd be running my own company and bossing my own darn self around, the answer would have been a resounding nuh-uh. But here we are. Jen Schmaltz Boutique Design Studio is real and because it exists I get to meet with people who want to share ideas, use me as a sounding board, maybe even use our coffee chat fodder as a launch pad for their next exciting chapter.
Holy shit, that is rewarding. I mean really! The heavy lifting I'll admit is not done by me, but I am ever-so-happy to be a cheer-leader, listener or brainstormer. Rooting others on towards success feels so good, I'm a-gonna' keep on doing it. It is now officially part of my business model.
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." – Goethe
The lesson-slash-inspiration, go bold, big or bad-ass. There is always more out there.
3. The Goddess
Recently, (yes, again over coffee) a friend told me that love and magic are the same thing. I'm not sure why, but this blew – and continues to blow – my mind. Love, that's easy. I think about that a lot. Love of husband, daughter, family, friends, nature, beauty, design... trees, pink, the list goes on.
But magic, that one is a little trickier to wrap your head around. I'm definitely going to keep ruminating on it though, because a wee fissure has opened in my brain to push my belief boundaries in a very good way.
I cannot even quantify or verbalize the amount of magic my client-turned-friend has brought to my life, she is a goddess and a gift. She is love.
"Love is the closest thing we have to magic." –Jay Ann
Love is magic. I'm not sure how yet, but I know this concept is now written on my heart, and will become a cornerstone for my business. And I definitely know this; I don't really want to be a part of anything that doesn't bring more magic to the world. So I guess I'll start there.
4. The Healer(s)
I'm lucky enough to have more than one healer in my midst, and it appears a theme is developing here, because I'm hard-pressed to not consider them friends, regardless of which direction the professional relationship flows. And it's not just their healing hands or generous spirits that bring value to my life, it is their unique vantage point and overwhelming humanity.
There is plenty of toxicity and dysfunction to go around – especially in business – but hang out with a few healers, feel the positivity absolutely oozing from their pores and I challenge you to approach your next business meeting the same [old] way.
"Healing yourself is connected with healing others." –Yoko Ono
In the midst of these inspiring women who serve, mend and tend for a living I am reminded that it is my duty to bring my own brand of harmony and healing to relationships and interactions however I can.
5. The Dreamer
Regardless of my arts background, or deeply creative side, I was raised by an extreme pragmatist, and it kinda' stuck.
Luckily, I've managed to weave this engrained practicality and love of structure into my creative process, and quite honestly use it to get shit done. That is definitely a win, but sometimes I forget to feed that artistic side and give it some space to breathe and explore.
So when you need a little jolt of what it's like on the other side of the fence, have a sit-down with someone who sees no barriers and dreams big... real BIG. That kind of audacity and bravery can't help but spark something in even the most focused, heads down do-er.
“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” ―Oscar Wilde
I certainly could stand to walk in the moonlight a little more! As of today, I'm putting day-dreaming – scratch that – all kinds of dreamin' on my to-do list. Lol, because if it's not scheduled... it's not real.
My biggest take-away from my coffee conversations is this: nothing beats profound discussion and true connection.
While I didn't set out to log these hours in the business development column, I can't think of anything more valuable than the wisdom, beauty and inspiration I gathered in these recent 'sessions'.
I hope you have persons of significant quality to surround yourself with. If not they can't be far... you just have to seek them out and definitely buy them a coffee! Well worth the three bucks!
I leave you with this:
“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself.” – Edmund Lee