I’ve been trying to figure out what to do here on The Complete Flake ever since — oh, I don’t know, forever? But really, since I decided to move the #customerlove challenge to its own site. Because I gotta say, I fell in love with Customer Love — not just the concept but the people, the excitement, the idea that businesses (and lives) can be changed by such a small thing.
It’s magic, I tell ya.
Soon after the end of the November challenge, I got an email that made me cry:
“I wasn’t sure how the mortgage was going to get paid this month, and now it’s COVERED, so this has been a HUGE boon.”
This Customer Love challenger grabbed the opportunity, jumped in wholeheartedly and worked her ass off to achieve a big success. Customer Love didn’t do that for her — she can claim all the credit — but it gave her a place and a format within which to spread the word and build excitement about her product.
I have never felt so fucking USEFUL in my life.
This is what I want to do from now on, to help even more struggling entrepreneurs kick-start their businesses so that they can make those mortgage payments and take care of their families.
I am working with Jonathan Wondrusch (@bybloggers) to create an amazing course — that I have to keep my mouth shut about, dammit. I WANT to shout it from the rooftops. Just trust me, it’s gonna be good. And I’m pretty sure it’s gonna help cover some more mortgage payments. But more about that in a month.
Right now, I’m wondering how to integrate Customer Love and The Complete Flake in my life. I don’t want to ignore my dear flakes, but I’m just not passionate about procrastination any more, you know? It’s a problem I will always struggle with, but I don’t find it fascinating AT ALL. I just don’t want to write about it any more.
What I’ve learned from Customer Love is that flakiness can be overcome with motivation.
If you want something badly enough, you will find a way to get it done.
It might not be neat and organized, it might be at the last second or even late, but it will get done.
If you have to force yourself to do it, maybe you need to look at your reason for doing it. Do you really WANT to do it, or do you feel like you HAVE to? If you feel boxed in and without a choice in the matter, I’d say take a look at that and see if there’s any way you can give yourself a choice.
That’s it, the sum total of my advice about flakiness, resistance, procrastination — whatever you want to call it.
Am I going to abandon The Complete Flake?
No, but I’m not going to focus on flakiness any more. I think it will just be my personal blog and I’ll talk about whatever without feeling the need to teach you anything, which seems to bring up all sorts of resistance in me, lol.
I’m not going to waste any more energy trying to make myself do what I don’t really want to do.
So let’s relax. Let’s just be ourselves here. What do you think?
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I LOVE this LaVonne!! I love that you’re shifting to something that feels better to you and that so touches people. I’d signed up for the last Customer Love challenge but wasn’t quite ready. I’ve got the e-book (which I still need to finish…eek!) so I’m wondering whether I should sign up again or work it from the e-book… does it matter? (Oh, and I cannot wait to hear what’s coming in about a month ;-)) Woo-hoo!
Yay, so happy you agree with me, Angel! And yes, you should definitely sign
up again because what we’re working on will help you all through the
challenge. Shh!
I think you’ve made an excellent decision, and I wish you all the luck in the world with your new projects!
Thanks so much, Ryah! I love what YOU’RE doing, btw. 🙂
Wow. I bet this took balls! Like you, I’ve been trying to figure out what direction to take my blog/site/online presence in, and I think I’m finally there. I can’t wait to hear about what’s coming up!!!
Lol, it didn’t feel like balls, more like a big relief. It’s fascinating to
watch how people are evolving through their blogs. Really looking forward to
seeing what’s coming up for you!
Ack! Just tried to sign up again and it told me that I’m on it already…. What to do, what to do?! 🙂 (Thanks a bunch LaVonne!!)
Oh, that’s right — should have told you, if you’ve signed up once, you’re
in until you unsubscribe from the list. It’s just an email list, nothing
official. You’re free to take part or not, no obligation! 🙂
LaVonne, this is wonderful news. As you’ve probably figured out by now, NO ONE does the same thing for long when they’re in business online. The online world is nimble, and quick to recognize opportunities and also knows when to move on.
Marlene, I’m just starting to figure that out, lol! Thanks for the
encouragement. 🙂
Three cheers for clarity and boldness! There can be some hesitancy around dropping or even minimizing a part of your brand-up-to-now {trust me — I’ve been there}, but when it’s time to shed a part of your identity, you KNOW it and you MUST act. Happy for you, LaVonne!!!
Coming from the niche expert, that’s high praise indeed, thank you! You’re
right — I started the post not knowing what I was going to say and by the
end… I HAD to post it. I feel so much better now!
“I have never felt so fucking USEFUL in my life.”
LaVonne – I think this is just swell. You’re on your path. Kudos!
Ha! Thanks, it was so much fun to write that headline, lol!
Haha, Lavonne–wasn’t I tweeting recently that you may have to have another persona?? 😉
Congrats on your newfound (altho it was likely there all along) non-flakiness, and your part in the customer’s ability to pay mortgage-awsome!
Yes, you were! I will never doubt you again – until the next time. :p
Thanks!
Hi LaVonne!
From one flake to another :-), I have changed cloaks on my blog so many times over the past year it’s a bit dizzying. But I think what’s true (and great) about the online world is that the fast pace and flexibility allows our creativity the freedom to roam wild – truly a wonderful thing! Bravo to you for continuing to follow your creative instincts…and inspiring us all in the process!
Thanks, Tisha! That’s what I love about the online world too — it’s not only okay to change your mind, it’s expected. Woot!
Yay Love On! I’m so happy to hear that you’ve gained some clarity and that you’re working on exciting stuff with Jonathan.
Isn’t this just a great hint: “I have never felt so fucking USEFUL in my life.” (I also noticed not a bit of “flakiness” in your approach to customer love…you put together an amazing community. I’m in awe.)
I think, too, that you’re entirely right: if you have to force yourself to do something, that’s an indication that something is wrong.
Looking forward to seeing what you do next!
Thanks for remembering my fake hippie name, Patty!
To be honest, I struggle to keep it together in customer love, but I’m learning that nobody keeps it together all the time. For years I thought, “I’m a flake, there’s nothing I can do about it so why try.” Now I realize that it’s the lack of trying that defines a flake. If you’re trying and you fail now and then — you’re just human, that’s all.
I knew all along you were too powerful and positive for a limiting moniker like “Complete Flake”, LaVonne. It’s been so fun to watch you molt out of it into something spectacular and motivating.
Alison, you are freaking amazing.
Everybody, click Alison’s link and go learn about The Year of the Book – if you’ve always wanted to write a book, you need to check it out.
A. Maz. Ing. #thatisall
Wow, awesome. You’ve given up being a flake. I’m shocked and impressed. And kicking myself for not checking out this customerlove thing earlier. Oh well, no time like the present..,.
The next one is February – can’t wait! 🙂
Haha, you make it sound like I was TRYING to be a flake and I GAVE UP. Was I? Hmm. Food for thought.
Don’t worry, Customer Love runs again in February, with loads more awesomesauce. Meanwhile, check out the forums and the Tuesday #customerlove tweetchats, in which the inmates have taken over the asylum!
LaVonne,
The great thing about being amazing is that it follows you wherever you go. And so will your fans. Mwah! And congrats.
Mwah back! Thank you, Jen… and I LOVED your great interview with Sonia Simone. You need to do that more often. Serious talent there, girl!
I woke up this morning to Patty K’s inspiring blog and was amused at her quote of Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Having a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” And now I read where you are moving past an idea that is no longer working for you. All this against a backdrop where I’ve been contemplating changes of my own. Thank you both, ladies. You’ve given me some great ideas to reflect upon.
Thanks — can’t wait to see your own changes!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
You’re moving up into your new self – how beautiful to witness!
And I’m SO happy to see that you are diving deep & strong into #customerlove. It’s so good to know that it’s going to be there for the long haul.
Thank you so much, Birdy! Yes, it will be there as long as there’s a need for it. 🙂
Yay! Hoping for more stories from your life. 🙂
Yes, absolutely – stories! Man, I got a million of ’em, lol.
WOOHOO!!! I’m so happy that you are catching up with what all of us think. 😉
We adore you and know that you are an awesome, wonderful, beautiful woman who can do (and HAS done) amazing things!!! I say keep writing here…but do it about what life is like AFTER being a complete flake. Tell us about motivation and getting things done. That’s the LaVonne that I’ve known. 😉
Bad Ass!
Ooh, great advice, David. Yes, motivation. Hmmm…
This is so brilliant, LaVonne. I’ve seen you change over the last couple of months, right under our noses. It’s so inspiring. The power of action, indeed.
And I may sugn up to the next #customerlove challenge. Think I need it. 😀
Awesome, Ali! I would LOVE to see you in the next challenge. Let me tell you, it so much FUN.
Thank you, sweetie, and be sure to use the #customerlove hashtag when you tweet your launch. Post it in the forums here, too. 🙂
So excited to see you moving forward like this, LaVonne! And I’m even more excited to be working with you on the CL product. Such a great team!
Me too, my supah smexy friend and JV partner! We ARE a great team. 🙂
Oops, got work to do — later!
Hey there Lavonne!
I have been a fan a fan of your writing for a while now and you don’t know me from Adam but I just want to say, “AWESOME,YAY,and YOU ARE ON!” You are bigger than your flakiness and that has been coming through in your posts for a while now. So I wish you all the very best. I’ll keep reading by the way and thanks for showing all of us that being small doesn’t help anyone.
Mari
Wow, Mari — thank you for the vote of confidence! You’re so right… being
small doesn’t help anyone. I didn’t even realize that’s what I was doing. I
thought I was just having fun with the whole flake thing, but the only
person I was fooling was myself. Thanks so much for your wise comment. 🙂
Hey LaVonne, love this post! (And for anyone reading, that quote was ME! Customer Love helped me pay my mortgage not just once, but TWICE over!)
Feeling useful is the BEST. The course I launched has done the same for me. Yay LaVonne! Yay Customer Love! Yay reformed Flakes!
Thanks, Melinda! I was absolutely thrilled when I got your email… and I’m
so impressed by all that you have done with your course. 😀
LaVonne
great to see evolution! will there be a separate site for customer love? I should probably get on the customer love bandwagon.. I haven’t been applying myself at all and I need to pay the bills… no jobs yet. Need to MOVE on my goals.
Goodness, yes! The new site is at http://customerlove.me – we’ve just
finished the latest challenge, but the next one starts on June 1. Thanks so
much for your comment!
~LaVonne