Why I don't fear my 'flop era' (and you shouldn't either).
I'm a brand designer and I'm rebranding my business and I'm in my flop era.
While Taylor Swift is out here buying back her masters and breaking records with her Eras tour, I'm sitting here, at my desk, wondering why the f*ck I'm getting nowhere in my business.
After nearly 6 years in business and consistent growth, the last 12-18 months has seen some less than ideal clients make their way through my computer screen. It's been disheartening, frustrating and confusing.
I'm not tooting my own horn. But I know other business owners who's processes, onboarding, team management, services and offerings are all done and structured so poorly, but they're killing it financially and seemingly online. Which again, is disheartening, frustrating and confusing.
A long time fan of Grace Beverley, she recently interviewed Mitchell, from Made by Mitchell (I had never heard of him or his brand, but now, obsessed!) and he talked about being in his flop era. And that's exactly how I'm feeling right now. I just didn't realise HOW far into it I was. Here’s the ep.
It's a skill to recognise what it is, and after years of running TGS, I've realised that my brand has become an amalgamation of all the great things of other businesses and competitors. It's become a pool of stuff I like from other brands, but it no longer represents the person I am. It's become a watered-down, half-strength, decaf latte that just doesn't feel like me. It's palatable — and I've never been that person.
And that's not good enough for me. It's not good enough for the success of my business, nor is it a good enough representation of the work I can create for my clients. I know I'm capable of more.
So, it's a official. TGS and the founder are in a lil' flop.
But not all is lost because this right now is my major turning point. You know the point in the movie with the montage of girls trying different outfits and hats and it's so cute and fun! That's me, but with colour palettes and fonts and knee-deep in inspiration.
Now is the perfect time to burn it down just to build it back up.
Which is exactly what I intend to do.
If you're feeling the same...maybe you're feeling overwhelmed with options, feeling stuck in your brand and current financial situation or you're desperate for a change but have no direction, here's what I'm doing to help myself (because no one is coming to save me).
A complete brand audit to assess where I'm at
Re-strategising my entire business (foundations, story and all)
Rebranding (obvs)
Figuring out my personal brand (beyond my business, but also for it — it's like I turned 30 and realised who the f*ck I was?? What's up with that?)
Stop doing competitor research and 'stay in my own lane'
Asking myself the hard questions
What do I really, truly want my life to look like?
What do I need to get there?
What gaps do I currently have that are slowing or stalling my growth?
Where do I need to step the f*ck up in my life and business?
What beliefs are holding me back?
What old ways am I leaving behind to make way for my new beliefs — and what are they?
Getting back to who I am and what I love
Embodying the what got me here won't get me there mindset
Not a lot of people talk about being in their current flop era. It's always a hindsight kinda thing.
But not today, because it's too important to not talk about these concepts or struggles, especially when they're more common than any of us realise.
Being in your flop era is not cause for sad tears or screaming into a pillow (but that helps). It's about yes, having a moment to be like WTAF, but then letting that fuel your drive to be better, be different and to transform your business in a way that makes sense for you.
Every service provider is different and you can do all the courses, all the masterclasses, all the everything. But let me tell you, no one can tell you how to run your business. There's no cookie cutter, cut and paste approach that will work for you in the long run. Don't get me wrong, you need to do all of those things to realise what works and what doesn't, what feels good and what doesn't, to then burn it all down with what is right for you.
It's a journey, in it for the bloody long haul, but it's worth it when your brand and business start to feel aligned, centred and oh so you.
That's where I'm hoping to be in a few short weeks as I dive into my own strategy and rip it apart at the seams.
Don't fear the flop era, fear staying in it.
Already there?
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