Making yourself

I don't know if the title makes sense, but today I thought it would be nice to highlight a little on what it means to 'Make yourself' or in more correct terms being 'Self-made'. We've all heard it before; self-made or self-actualized success stories. In fact most of us crave it. We get high on the idea that someone took a struggle, a hardship or better yet their talent and harnessed it into something out of this world all by themselves.

But then we forget that it was probably not easy. The blood (literally), sweat and tears that go into being self-made is not something we should forget or ignore. Just as we shouldn't forget the team behind a person who is self-made. It varies, a lot. It could be a team of that person and an old neighbor who saw potential in a young South African mind; it could be a parent who only want's the best for the child they brought to this world...

This team must always be acknowledged and thanked. It also takes a lot out of them, supporting something they can't always see, supporting despite their impatience getting the best of them. We all try in our own way. We recommend our talented relatives to random strangers when we accidentally overhear that they are looking for a billboard; our photographer friend when we find out someone is having an event - "no, don't use this one. I know someone much better" "rather call this one instead, they have great customer service"...

I don't know about you, but I'm the type. If you're my person I'm going to try my best to get everyone I know using you or your brand and if I carried a purse around like a normal person it would almost always be filled with various business cards to hand out when I need to. Now while I am this kind of person, I didn't in a million years think that anyone would be that person for me. I mean how do you do this? I don't offer any immediate service, I don't have a book at the ready to sell anyone yet (I promise it's done. I just need to find a reliable printing company) and even if I did have, my books aren't and will never be self-help or motivational books. I will never offer 'ten tips to live a luxurious life' or 'five ways you're doing it all wrong' (I also don't know why self-help books have to be so judgy. Yes, I drink eight cups of coffee and I know that may be the source of most of my problems. No, I don't want to know how to be better because my GP already failed to convince me, you can't do better than her). So when I'm walking anywhere really, and someone stops me and tells me how excited they are or messages me about how they can't wait for me... I get sort of emotional.

It's the best feeling in the world. 'Great things are coming for you,' and 'I can't wait to see what you produce'...those words are the kind of confidence boost we need every now and then.

That's why I think every self-made anything has a great team. Its people who help you keep your spirits up. Your silent cheerleaders, even the ones who are only there to pass by.

While I was thinking of this week's blog, I didn't think I'd be talking about this. I was actually going to talk about printers again and launching and everything I wish I'd known before. But I don't know, I'm not mad at this detour.

And while I'd like to dabble into what I initially wanted to say, I prefer to keep my blogs at 3 minutes (more or less) because I intend for them to be enjoyed quickly and easily over a quick drink or a snack during lunch or on a walk or causal stroll wherever you are. It's not meant to be the particulars of my life story (long and endless).

So with that being said, it's been truly humbling and quite exciting. Life is brighter when you do what you love. Everything sounds sweeter and tastes better. The bad have a harder time touching you when you're high from achieving something you always coveted but didn't think was possible.

And now I'm going to start encouraging everyone to do just that. Sometimes it pays off to follow that small thrill you've always wanted to chase.

As always, it's been a pleasure.

Lots of Love

L <3