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"Failing at the right thing."

By Ana Hitzel

Home Stager with AccentPositives Home Staging 658279

August 03, 2009 07:06 AM

"...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.

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Laurie Calhoun

Gloria Home Staging, Inc. - Winter Springs, FL

Seminole County FL Home Stager

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!

Aug 03, 2009 08:11 AM

Karen Dembsky

Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA

Atlanta Home Staging

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!

Aug 03, 2009 09:43 AM

Ana Hitzel

AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA

Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

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!

Aug 03, 2009 02:10 PM

Ana Hitzel

AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA

Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

Thanks for the feature!

Aug 03, 2009 02:11 PM

Melissa Marro

Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL

Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

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??

Aug 03, 2009 02:37 PM

Peg Prather

Vancouver, WA

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 03, 2009 03:40 PM

Cathy Lee

CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Keep on blogging!! YOU ROCK!

Aug 03, 2009 05:51 PM

SHARON CHARBONEAU

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - Sechelt, BC

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.

Aug 03, 2009 06:04 PM

Ana Hitzel

AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA

Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

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.

Aug 04, 2009 01:30 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

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!

Aug 04, 2009 02:08 AM

Ana Hitzel

AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA

Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

Thanks Sharon

Aug 04, 2009 06:06 AM

Kim Dillon

Creative Eye Home Staging - West Chester, PA

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

Aug 04, 2009 07:19 AM

Virginia Tatseos

Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

thought provoking post

Aug 06, 2009 12:18 AM

Janice Sutton

1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA

Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta

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!

Aug 06, 2009 04:01 AM

Ana Hitzel

AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA

Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

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 06, 2009 05:09 AM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

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 07, 2009 10:34 AM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

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!

Aug 26, 2009 11:17 AM

Ana Hitzel

AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA

Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

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 26, 2009 03:16 PM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

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!

Aug 27, 2009 02:06 AM

Charles Perkins

Charles G. Perkins, CPA - Burien, WA

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.

Sep 07, 2009 06:51 PM