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"Failing at the right thing."

"...that is why I am standing in front of you today, I may fail, but I'm failing at the right thing." Melissa D'Arabian.

I heard this phrase recently from the winner of The Next Food Network Star, while she was in the midst of competition. Wow I thought, that is a statement. I think it sums it up for many who choose to start their own business and those who choose to follow their passion and dream.

Think back on some of the reasons you started your business. What motivated the idea and what was the journey you took to get to that idea? In there lies the answer, for me anyway, on how to run my business and set my goals. All the things I would never do. How I would structure. How I would and would not treat clients and employees; how much money would I be satisfied with. The list is long. All the things I would do. Perservere, embrace each success or failure as a learning experience; listen, listen and listen some more.

Staging and Design are so out there...meaning in front of everyone...your ideas are in front of everyone's faces to see. People will love it or hate it, sometimes there is an in between but not often.

You call that a "living"? Who is responsible if your work doesn't work? You because you are the public face, pictures and all? If the client or agent changes things, moves, adds to or deletes your work, it is still your face and reputation out there.

Add to that the responsibility of knowing in most cases, people are putting their most valuable possession in your hands. Trusting you to make it all right or help them move on.

I really love seeing the work of fellow Stagers and Designers. It is a piece of each and everyone's heart and soul (yes... even the depersonalizing part!) It is someone telling you who they are and that they do what they love.

We are a people business in more ways than one. It is a challenge everyday between marketing myself, fighting stubborn clients and handling life in general around it. But I am happy doing it and as Melissa said if I fail, it will be failing at the right thing.

How do you feel about what you do?

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and on line. We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.

Posted by AccentPositives Corona, CA on 08/03/2009 02:06 PM

Comments (23)

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23 Comments on "Failing at the right thing."

AUG

Hey there Ana,

I really needed this blog.

I had a disasterous presentation for a client this past weekend to redesign an entire house. Let's just say that every single thing they had planned was an equity-suck, from moving the kitchen to the livingroom (so the front door opens into the cooking area) to putting artificial log siding all over the Victorian structure.

When I attempted to explain the consquences of such drastic plans, equity-speaking, one of the owners took me firmly be the shoulders and looked me sqaure in the eye and told me "This is Louisiana!"

I didn't know my state was exempt from the boundaries of expected function and design.

So thank you for this timely blog. I may have failed miserably - but I was failing at the right thing.

~Michelle

Ana ~ Thanks for a great thought-provoking post! How do I feel about what I do? I feel privileged that each day is an adventure. If clients are stubborn, I move on and find some who aren't. Life is short and we should really love what we do and have faith in our talent. Sellers need our services now more than ever in this market and what we do allows them to move on. I have a feeling that to be truly successful in this business you have to be a bit of a risk-taker. I've taken calculated risks, and it has worked for me. But we're only as good as our last project, so we constantly look ahead!

Thanks for this post, Ana. I, too, find this such a rewarding job that I can't imagine doing anything else. I was a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom for 17 years before my best friend asked me to join her in this adventure, and I'm so glad I did. It is so satisfying to make a difference in people's lives, and to get to make things beautiful. We aren't failing (our accountant says we're not employed -- we're investing...), but it's what I'd want to fail doing.

And Michelle, now you can brush the dust off your sandals knowing you did your best to spread the good news. Good try!

Oh Anna -- what a great reminder to all of us. We all have those days, for sure. How great it is though to feel confident that we do what we have a given talent for and also maintain a constant passion! That could never being failing!

I love that quote. Thx for sharing!

Michelle, I am glad this helped a little, you always seem to be on the right side of things, keep on keepin on girl.

Thanks Maureen, priviledge is a great word to use, I feel this every time a new client invites me into their home no matter the situation. They don't know us from the next guy...trust and risk on both sides.

Hi Laurie, making a positive difference is what makes the difficulties fade away right?

Hi Karen, u r welcome!

Thanks for the feature!

I saw that episode (and was so glad she won - I will watch her show for sure!). They were very powerful words and I agree that we really need to mull them over and consider if we work the same way... if we fail, did we fail at the right thing??

Ana; I won't go into all of the reasons, but your message is so timely for me. Thank you for putting into words what is going on in my heart.

AUG

Keep on blogging!! YOU ROCK!

If we know we are doing the right thing, do we fail? I don't think so. I understand the thought behind this statement; however I think when we use discretion and are ethical, we don't fail.

Hi Melissa, thanks for commenting

Hi Peg it really touched me too, glad to pass it on.

Hi Cathy, Stagers rock!

Hi Sharon, you are right, we don't fail when we do these things, and that was what I took from her...

Be true to yourself and the things you are passionate about, make every effort to touch others in a good way, and you will have no regrets.

This is so powerful and like others have already stated, I needed this right now! Thanks for passing on the quote and for building such an inspiring post around it! Thanks for reminding me of my passion!

Thanks Sharon

Great thoughts. Add to that, "If I fail, it will be doing what I love!"

AUG

thought provoking post

Hi Ana,

Great post! You have great ideas and thoughts. Keep thinking along these lines of entrepreneurship! You're a great asset to our Orange County RESA Chapter and we all love your ideas!

Excellant post Ana! I needed this blog this week. We do put a little (or a lot) of ourselves in every job we do. I feel I get back so much more then I put in when I get to help a client! A win-win!

Hi Kim nad Virginia thanks for commenting

Hi Diane, thanks. missed you at the Stager meet up, hope to see you soon!

Hi Janice thanks and I agree totally!

AUG

Hi Ana,

While there are some clients that 'challenge' my positive feelings, I LOVE STAGING. I am so happy that I made the effort to change my career. Every day I get to go out and do a job I love .... meet new people .... be creative.

AUG

Ana, I went back to this older blog post of yours and I really love it! It can be hard being judged in front of others but man I really love what I do.

I carry my floral and greenery designs w/ me on consults & redesign, I pulled out one design and the client said "Oh I really don't like that one!" Well hey how about this one...she liked it and bought it, so I try to never do look back.

You are right people will love your work or hate it. That's how I am no in-between!

Thanks Cynthia,

the one thing I can count on is that people/clients I come in contact know that I am very passionate about what I do and why I do it. I so much admired this woman who made that comment because she was the opposite of what everyone expected and she showed her passion meant something and created great stuff!

Side note, I am a transplanted southerner formerly of Douglasville and Lawrenceville. It's been a few years since I been in your neck of the woods.

AUG

Just a short note Ana, I'm a transplant from Maryland, been here 4 years and I do love the area I'm in. You have a great day!

SEP

I have to admit that I am happy that I work for myself and that I am doing what I do. There are days that don't go the way I want them to, but so many more that go well.

It is my belief that you are much more likely to succeed when you enjoy what you do. There may be parts of your business though that you don't enjoy or do well at that it might make sense to get help with. We can add a little peanut butter to the jelly perhaps.

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