So one of the things I hate is soliciting or selling. In Junior Achievement I would happily stay back and make fire starters with Dixie cups, wood chips and wax but beg " PLEASE don't make me go out door to door selling." Several years ago, needing money I let someone talk me into peddling Melaleuca and I barely made it a month. God knew how bad I was at soliciting and just brought the funds for my first 3 and half years of missionary life very easily and then for the final 4 gave me a salary so I didn't have to pursue support.
I am a fan of personality test etc. and think often about why we do or don't do what we do. I see it in this simplistic way. We develop a pattern of thought that guides our choices and patterns. These thoughts come from our hardwiring at birth and the voices and visions we see around us as we grow. You know the whole nature and nurture piece. I think we can get in a pattern of thought and autopilot throughout our lives. When the patterns are negative or destructive there is a tendency to blame someone. For example " it's how I was made" or "it's my parent's fault." But if willing to engage and consider the thoughts behind the patterns, I think it is possible to move off of autopilot and reroute. Now we know it's not easy and takes effort to challenge, and as necessary, change thinking.
So what does this have to do with me being a reluctant salesgirl? I am currently in the position of needing to promote my "side hustle" of Child Life Coaching that I embarked on a year ago. I had delusional thoughts that business would generate itself. It is almost a year later, it hasn't. I have received some referrals through others at the practice I work out of but it alone will not build my business. I invested in cutesy promotional postcards this June of which the majority of are still in a box in my home office. And I have painfully come to the conclusion that either I am going to have to sell and promote my services or close up shop. I finally sent out packets of cards to some elementary schools and preschools trying to name drop people who know me along with them. Guess what??? It worked! As a result I have received some really positive responses and even a couple of clients.
So this positive response has motivated more cards going out as well as thinking. I am analyzing, what is it about promoting a product or services that is so challenging for me. I realize it has a lot to do with my "thoughts." So wherever they come from (nature or nurture) I have thoughts like this in my head. "I don't want to bother or inconvenience people." "I don't want people to do anything out of obligation." " No one is going to want to (nor should) pay for this - it's not worth the money." "I don't want to be thought of poorly or rejected. I want everyone to like me." "There are other people out there offering this so they won't need mine." Really it basically boils down to fear of rejection or concern for my reputation. I don't want to be judged, such as to be thought of as a pushy or even be pitied,
But what I am learning is that there are people who are interested in the services I offer. There are people who think what I am offering is valuable. BUT if they don't know its there, they can't take advantage of it. So I am working to get over my phobia of rejection to willingly make myself known. I am not responsible for what people do with it or me. But I am responsible for sharing the information.
This certainly applies to what I know about Christ. As I consider both my preschool job and the child life coaching, I often feel inadequate or unqualified. Yet although there is much I don't know I know the main thing - Jesus love me, Jesus saved me and Jesus has a plan for me. And that truth can apply to EVERYONE I encounter. I decided that my goal when I work with kids at school and as a coach is for them to know Jesus loves them, is for them and with them. My job is to let people know and they are responsible for what they do with it.
So I am going to apply this principle one more time here. I am going to tell you that I am having an online Thirty-One party this week. You know those cutesy bags and storage containers that can be monogrammed. I am having the party because I like bags, I want more bags, and I like things at bargain prices. Being a hostess has monetary perks. But all the thoughts in my head say, "Linda if you tell people they will feel obligated or think you are pushy and so forth". But then I heard this thought. "What if one of your friends LOVES Thirty-One products and have been thinking to herself, " gee I wish I knew someone having a Thirty-One party to order from." Therefore here it is! I am having a Thirty-One Party throughout the week on Facebook. If you like that kind of thing and haven't been invited, let me know. Or here is this shopping link if you want to simply order something - Linda's Thirty-One Party I don't want anyone to think I am pushy or presumptuous but if you do, it's okay. I DONT want anyone to buy anything out of obligation or pity but if you do it's on you not me, right?
Thanks for being my friend in spite of me,
With Love Linda