First, I am not one to say no to a little down time. Can I fully relax and turn off my brain, Absolutely! But what about the times when you need to keep going, stay motivated, but the daily to-do lists aren’t as full or you are in a waiting place before the seasonal race begins?
How do you stay motivated in times of slowness, and also prepare for the busy seasons? Well take it from me- I’m learning as I go- but, It is a crucial part of our work to be good at both the running and the reset. So here are a couple things i’ve learned in 2024 when it comes to all things Ebb and Flow.
One: The Mind
It is a powerful thing to be able to control your thoughts and take them captive. Things like “it wasn’t like this last year”, “Am I doing enough?” “Is my SEO working"?”
Remember, it is called seasonal work for a reason. It is very hot in July and August in the south so if you calendar is lighter it’s not because you aren’t good enough it’s because people don’t want their guests sweating during the “I Do”. but seriously- it is so important to really consider all sides and not internalize any “lull”. Not because there isn’t anything you can do about it, but because how you view yourself and your business matters so much to attracting the right and exciting clients you are meant to have!
One thing we have found as a florist is that our style leans somewhat towards the fall. People see our textural approach, and I think they see it more for their fall wedding days. It doesn’t mean that our springs aren’t full and exciting, but Autumn so far on the trend for us has been much busier. (maybe it’s our name- who knows!)
Ultimately- get your thoughts in order. Remember why you are doing what you are doing and why you love the work. Remember that you can always grow and evolve. You are never stuck.
Two: Engage and Connect
This is one of the things I have seen really benefit us and our business this past year or two years really.
We have made an increased effort to connect with people in the industry that we love and admire and these relationships have gotten us so much further than we expected. Some relationships have just been through social media- posting, liking, commenting, re-sharing. These are small things, but those connections can lead to real-life ones.
We also engaged with our audience in our connect- we want to show who are are and we used the down-time this year to really invest in portfolio work and some of that meant styled shoots!
This is a whole other post to share, but styled shoots have been some of the best investments we have made in both vendor-relationships and further connecting with the clients we are wanting to attract.
Three: Get ahead of the game
I know you think this one is going to all about systems and all that, but if you know me, I’m not the systems girl. Not that I don’t use them or think they have value- I just am not the expert in that area AT ALL! So for me, getting ahead of the game is about staying creative.
We take in so much volume of design and creative inspiration on the daily. I know for me my Pinterest is a daily landing page for most of my to-do lists. But on days when you aren’t designing for that latest inquiry, you can still design for your potential clients. For each season, I have begun to create a mood board for myself. Either on Pinterest, or on Canva- I create a board of things I’m inspired by and what i’m seeing and pull it together as if it was for a wedding client.
For example; Early spring, I was really drawn to yellows and like a deep amber color, so I created a spring wedding mood board for myself. The next couple days, I sat down with a potential client and she shows me her inspiration board and it had several of the images I was inspired by as well! We got to connect instantly over a shared love for this palette.
Once you have collected your inspiration- do something with it too! As a florist, I love to buy myself flowers and make sure I am designing for myself too. Practicing something I have seen someone else do or just creating from my own intuition. It is all a worthwhile practice. It may not move the needle forward financially in that moment, but it will grow you and in turn grow your business.
I want to be forward thinking and vision casting for the future. Having something to offer in the first moments of a conversation with a client has been crucial to landing some of my favorite clients. Remember, you are offering yourself as the designer not just fulfilling a service- so cultivating who you are in your work is of vital importance!
So…
How are you re-working your thoughts?
How are you engaging and connecting?
How are you staying ahead of the game?
We are thankful for the busy season we are in and how the months leading up to it, prepared us for all the beauty to come!
Michaela
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