You know when it’s time to mix things up, right?
Two years ago, I knew it was time to give my business a bit of a facelift after almost 15 years as an entrepreneur. It was time for a refresh and an update. After some soul searching with my fabulous coach Jane, I rebranded my business and the word that found me to describe my new focus is “revitalize.” Revitalize means “to give new life to.”
I really love being The Revitalized Business Woman. I enjoy just saying the word! I feel revitalized! I’m revitalizing my business! It feels fresh, new and fun.
Language is powerful, isn’t it? It supports our intentions in how we want to show up in the world.
So, in that vein, I have chosen my 2016 word of the year to support the revitalization of my business and my life and that of my clients.
That word is EXPERIMENT.
I’m a creature of habit. Just ask my husband. He’ll tell you that I like the same restaurants, always order the same thing on the menu and I shop at the same clothing stores that I have for decades.
I tend to like the tried and true, the known, consistency and routine. So when the word “experiment” popped up for me two weeks ago, after some initial resistance (NO WAY!), I knew it was perfect. Not because it is comfortable, but because it will help me to try new things, get creative and think out-of-the-box…in all areas of my life.
The best part about the word experiment? It feels like it gives me permission to try new things without attachment to the outcome. Meaning I don’t always have to experience success. Or I don’t always have to like the “new thing”. And I certainly don’t have to stick with it.
When I attended the TedxHouston talks a few months ago one of the presenters was Michele Poler who embarked on a project – 100 Days Without Fear. She tried something new every day for 100 days. WOW! Watch her TED talk here. (The video at the beginning alone is worth your time!)
Now I’m not going to go that crazy (let’s be reasonable, folks!) but I am committed to experimenting in several areas of my business and my life in the coming year. I will share a few ideas below and hope that it inspires you to think about your own life and the ways that you might want to try experimenting this year.
I am going to experiment professionally by:
- Writing shorter blog posts
- Creating more videos
- Offering virtual retreats
- Interviewing subject matter experts as I’m writing my book
- Create new ways to increase engagement on social media (see below for my first experiment!)
I am going to experiment personally by:
- Going hiking with my friends in a new-to-me part of Houston every other month
- Trying PiYo (a Fusion of pilates and yoga)
- Eating gluten and sugar and dairy again (Eek! More on that in a future post)
- Trying one new recipe or restaurant each month
- Taking Riley on a mommy-daughter girls trip
And you? What are you going to experiment with this year?
Leave me a note in the comments below and you will be entered to win a $5 Starbucks gift card! I will pick the person randomly next Monday.
Here’s to experimenting!
Elizabeth