In Make Customers Love You

Birdy Diamond, Roving Robin & Paranormal DivaIt’s hard.

Personal hard (like losing a job) or global hard (like what happened in Japan), it’s still hard.

You want nothing more than to curl up in the furthest, deepest hole you can find and just stay there until it’s all over.

Except for the fact that it will never BE over.

For your life has changed.

Forever.

It doesn’t matter what it was that caused it. It’s not the size that counts.

What matters is that you are in that place of pain and fear and you feel like you can’t get out but you know you need to try.

Lately, I’ve seen so many of you here in this place, afraid to shine, afraid to reach out, afraid to be your brightest, bestest self.

Here are some suggestions on how you can break free, dearheart, gleaned from those times I’ve felt like hiding too.

Reach Out

Here in #customerlove, we are blessed to be surrounded with a community of wonderful amazing people, who are happy to help in whatever ways they can.

So reach out.

This isn’t about therapy. This isn’t the place for that. If you need help, then get it. But if all you need is a friendly voice, or a Tweet to remind you that you are not alone, then reach out.

Ask.
Receive.
Pass it on.

Find a Place

Here in #customerlove we also have many ways to talk to each other, fit in, and be part of the community and the love.

  • Tweetchat, Tuesdays at 6p ET (3p PT and 11p London time), and Sundays at 2p ET (11a PT and 7p London time).
  • Skype chat Saturdays at 2p ET (11a PT and 7p London time).
  • Guest posts here on the blog.
  • The forum.
  • The hashtag.

Then there are the ways from the wider world:

  • tweeting,
  • liking,
  • promoting
  • someone’s blog post/offer/etc.
  • telling someone else about an offer you saw on or through #customerlove

Spreading the love.

Allow yourself to take Baby Steps.

It’s hard, this place where you are. Whatever the circumstances that have landed you here, you’re in a time of major change, good or bad, and that can be an overwhelming thing.

Allow yourself to take steps as small as you need to take.

Remember, one small step is still moving forward.

What does this all have to do with CustomerLove?

This.

Starting a business, is, by definition, a Time of the Tower.

A good one, normally, but a time of radical change nonetheless.

You are changing, growing, learning, expanding.

That can be hard.
That can be overwhelming.
That can leave you wanting to hide under the nearest object and not come out.

Got news for you though: you can’t shine if you’re in hiding. (Goodness knows I’ve tried! :-D)

Weaving the Web

But here’s the thing: the safety net you long for is woven of the strands of connection you make with others.

So by reaching out and making them, strand by strand you weave the comfort that you’re seeking.

And along the way, you also create a very fine way to help and be helped, to spread the news of the joy and the awesome.

Isn’t win-win a wondrous thing?

Useful Talking

So, you’ve decided to reach out.

What to say?

Share your wisdom. You are a unique individual with unique skills and a unique perspective.

Share that wisdom and that uniqueness. In blog post, Tweet, Facebook entry. Skype, chat, e-mail. Face to face even, as circumstances allow.

Ask for help or advice. If you are having a place-of-stuck, ask for help. As I’ve mentioned, there is a whole community of people here just waiting for the chance to be of service.

Make their day.

Give help or advice. If you see a place where your knowledge can help, ask if that would be a welcome thing. Chances are, the answer will be ‘yes’.

Add to the conversation. There is a whole web of conversation out there. Find a place that interests you and join in.

It doesn’t have to be about your business. That can come later, once you’re back in your game.

Over to You

So, there you have it. Time of the Tower or no, you don’t have to go through it in silence.

My Question for you: how will you be speaking out, this CustomerLove challenge and beyond?

Recent Posts
Showing 2 comments
  • Sandi Amorim
    Reply

    Birdy,
    I love this post and all the avenues you’ve shared for us to choose from! We don’t have to go through it alone and that was the biggest opening I experienced in my 10 years of being self employed. For those just starting out, use the wisdom in this post to help you move forward. It will return the greatest rewards!

  • Birdy Diamond
    Reply

    Thank you so much! 🙂

    That’s what is making the difference for us this time for sure. So much awesome online: information, support, PEOPLE! :>

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.