Yes, sometimes life has a way of working itself out and a series of mishaps can result in something positive. I had a couple of incidents that really bummed me out; but in the end, they've led me to a better place.
So, 2 weeks ago, I got my new T-shirts with my new "The Flooring Girl" logo. The color was perfect and I was happy...until after I saw what I looked like in it. Let me just say, it was not the most flattering look for me, and it helps show that I need to lose some more weight. (I knew this, and I will work on this.). So, I told Donna that we have to come up with a new plan for the shirts...I can't wear these if I don't look good in them.
Fast forward to earlier this week. Believe it or not I had a customer (who is going to buy some hardwood for me) give me some candid feedback. I was wearing a different t-shirt...so that I wouldn't look as fat...and she said, "oh no...this won't do for you...you need to dress more upscale. You look too casual and sloppy. I can see you are very professional and you know what you are talking about, but you don't look the part. I know this is sexist, but I'm telling you this for your own good because I'm going to help you grow your business." I was in shock...but honestly, she was right. So we came up w/ a plan on what I should wear...how to make the logo thing work on a nicer shirt and then a long sleeve shirt to cover my arms and then the right type of pants that would work (given that I spend part of my time on the floor, and need something comfortable and flexible and still look good at the same time.
So, I spoke to Donna again and asked if it would be okay if I bought nicer shirts at Chico's (rather than from her catalog since they didn't have the right purpler and it was important to try it on). She said sure. So, today, I finally had time to go to the mall. It's good and bad that I had time to go to the mall...Apparently, my biz has slowed down a bit...as we hit the holidays and everyone is going away. I'm so lucky that we've been so busy throughout the entire summer and that so far August has been a strong month. But, when I looked at the appointments for next week, it looks like a light week and we didn't get many leads this week. (This is okay...it always slows down now, and I need time to catch up...and once we hit 1 week after Labor Day we hit the BUSY season. So, I'm both happy & sad about this...happy I have some time but concerned that I need to maintain my a decent level of sales for the next 2-3 weeks. So, off to the mall I go...and realize I hadn't been there in ages (since I've been so busy).
So, I find the perfect shirts...purple - the perfect purple and it looks great w/ my eyes, an it's just the right size. The only issue is that they only had 3 of them in that color. So, the woman volunteers to call another store to get some more shipped to me (for free). Meanwhile, the woman next to me is curious why I'm buying all the same color shirts. I then explain to her that I'm trying to get logos silk screened on nicer shirts. I pull out the t-shirt in my bag and show her the new logo (which she loves)....and, wouldn't you know it....she needs carpeting!
So, I start talking to her and the woman behind the counter starts asking me questions. So, then the woman behind her asked for my card, too. It turns out she is a decorator. Not only that, she had a great idea for me. She suggested that I give some of my cards to some of the furniture stores (and maybe even offer them an incentive). This is an idea I had thought about a while back, but never had a chance to implement...so maybe this will be one of my late fall/early winter projects.
As I was walking back to the car, I realized that I should try to spend more time at this mall...and figure out how to leverage some of the stores here. This is a higher end mall, so it attracts higher end customers...and they are the type of customer I love to work with. And, of course once I have my new shirts, I'll be a walking billboard (but in a tasteful way...I hope).
So, while my 2 "downer incidents" really kind of threw me for a loop, now I'm seeing how the universe has tied things together for me and brought me to a much better place.
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