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Ordinary People Taking Action
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Resiliency in disguise5/10/2018 A straight line brings predictability. I love predictability – devising a plan and then watching it materialize. Yet, my friends will often say that they think I am spontaneous and have a “go-with-the-flow” approach to life. Some might call that more of a curved line. What I’ve come to learn is that this perceived spontaneity is, in fact, something else – resiliency in disguise.
I’ll give you an example. In January, I gave notice to my employer. As is the case for most people giving notice, I had a strategy and plan in place. My strategy was, in short, to launch my own consulting practice. My plan was, in short, to land two big projects relatively quickly after coming off payroll from my employer. I needed the plan – the belief in the plan – to rationalize that jump.
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All you need is sunshine.3/1/2018 It’s no secret. I have spent the last four weeks in heavy business development mode. I know this is no different from any other small business owner. Success means identifying need, providing solutions and finding clients. Anyone who says starting a new business is easy, is lying. It’s hard work – exhausting and yet very rewarding.
It’s a three-way-toss-up between my new residence being in a coffee shop, on my computer or on my phone. I’ve spoken to people from 19 different companies in the last month and just as many colleagues and friends. So much networking. That takes an incredible amount of energy – and coffee. If you follow me on social media, particularly LinkedIn, you will see my posts reflect this effort. In one post, I refer to myself as a song on repeat. The song’s name is “network”. Never forget the importance and power of a strong network. This frenzy of activity has not gone unnoticed by my 12-year-old daughter. The best thing that will come from this venture, I’ve decided, is what I am modeling for her. My daughter will watch me take a huge risk to do something I love. That lesson is priceless. No failure could override the value of what we’ll both learn from this journey.
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Why I am here, for the long-haul.2/12/2018 In this post, I’m going to attempt to explain why Thinking People Consulting is so dear to my heart. To do that, I want to give some broader context about me. I have had a phenomenal career, worked for some top companies and have a professional network that is bigger than I could ever have imagined. At some point in my career, I went from “wishing” I could talk to the executive team, to being embraced by it. I believe that happened the moment I truly understood that the executive team is made up of people just like me.
I was in a meeting once with a well-known executive from Microsoft who told me he started every day by drinking a glass of milk. It’s a comment that has stayed with me for over ten years now. It is a reminder to me that no matter your title, you’re a person. “Once the connection is built, then your intelligence can be seen” is something I regularly remind myself of.
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Starting a business is a lot of work. I mean a lot of work.
My friend, Michael, said he would hire me to do work for him because he says he knows I will never work harder in my life than I will right now. He actually told me this a few weeks ago over coffee. At the time, I laughed and agreed, but honestly, I really had no idea what he meant. I know now. I have worked more in the last few weeks than I have in years – seriously.
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The first time I mentioned I was seriously starting a consulting practice was to a group of friends at a holiday party in December. By January, I was fully immersed in the chaos that comes with leaving a job and starting a business — not to mention keeping a handle on my life. Well, trying.
After dropping the kids off at school, I ran into one of my friends from the party who said “Amber, I can’t believe you’re really starting a business.” I smiled and said, “I know, it’s exciting! Public launch is in early February.” |