Living Backwards: Lessons From the Rear View Mirror in Business (Part 1)

Hindsight is always 20/20 and sometimes 20/15! Wouldn’t it be an amazing journey to live backwards? How many lessons could we skip if we started out at the top with all the wisdom and lived into our youth and ignorance? It’s a crazy idea and since we can’t, here are some lessons I’ve learned in the last decade as a business owner and creativepreneur, perhaps some of these will save you a bit of time on your journey or you’ll be nodding in agreement. (This is Part 1 of a 3-Part series, look for the rest coming up!)

Dancing to the Beat of Her Own Drum

 #1 Dance to the Beat of Your Own Drum . . . .
I wouldn’t listen to those around me who said I couldn’t make a living at what I most wanted to do when I most wanted to do it. I was simply ahead of my time and today it is sought after. After all when you follow the flock you are likely to wind up as a lamb chop. As a successful business owner or entrepreneur (yes there is a difference between the two), it is important to walk your own path, talk your own dream, and share your uniqueness with your market in a way that gives value and makes a difference.

#2 Nurture the Human Connection . . .
I would create meaningful ways to stay in touch with my market and grow them as part of my tribe. Too often we lose site of the human connection in the race for more, better, faster.  Today we have almost infinite channels to connect by, we are less connected, in many ways, than ever before. While I have an ezine (electronic newsletter), blog, and social channels and came to these relatively early, there are still opportunities I missed in the early stages of my business to keep my market warm and move them into hot and buying. You have to train people to buy from you, products and services. You must build your KLT (know, like and trust) factor from the first contact.

Stop Chasing Bright Shiny Opportunities

#3 Conquer Bright Shiny Opportunity Syndrome . . .
I would master, rinse and repeat on programs that were effective and popular instead of allowing my own ADHD cubed to kick in and lead me off and running on a quest to create new. There is a lot to be said for tried and true and getting the most out of something you have created before dashing off to create anew. Whether you create products or programs, sell goods or services be sure to optimize your revenues from any given specific offering, including putting it on autopilot and making it a passive revenue stream when possible (self lead training, teleseminar recordings, webinar replays and more) before running off and creating new. Remember you are likely bored with your stuff way before your market is!

What lessons have you learned along the path that you’d like to share?? I’d love to read them in the comments below. I’ll be sharing more lessons in next week’s post, be sure to stay tuned or check back in.

About Melissa Galt

Melissa Galt is a sought-after business coach, marketing consultant, keynote speaker and workshop leader who empowers designers to build highly profitable businesses, without the burnout. With over three decades as the principal of her namesake successful residential design firm, Melissa brings firsthand experience and proven strategies to guide creative professionals earn more in less time, with less stress.

She is the author of four transformative bestselling books, Marketing Luxury Design: Attracting Affluent Clients; The Language of Success: 35 Words to Boost Your Worth & Wealth; Design Discovery: The Proven Process to Land Ideal Clients & Grow Profit, and Proximity to Profits: 50 Strategic Locations to Meet Affluent Clients.

She is also the host of the weekly Design Business Freedom™ podcast, where she shares unfiltered advice on mindset, money, and marketing for interior design pros ready to elevate their game. When you’re ready to take your practice to the next level, book a complimentary Design Business Assessment with Melissa.

Melissa draws inspiration from her legacy of iconic creatives including her mother, the late Academy Award-winning actress Anne Baxter; her godmother, the legendary eight-time Oscar-winning costume designer Edith Head; and her great-grandfather, American architectural icon Frank Lloyd Wright. Get your Design Dream Team Builder at melissagalt.com/interior-design-templates.