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Hi Sydney,
Other than occasionally reading my horoscope for fun, I never paid much attention to celestial activity… until now. I wish I’d taken seriously the warnings from the more astrologically-aware women in my networking circles. If I had, perhaps I would’ve been more prepared for last month’s Mercury Retrograde.
May’s Mercury Retrograde lived up to its reputation as one of the most challenging astrological occurrences. A recent InStyle article (see link above) explains that it’s “notorious for throwing technology, communication, and travel plans out of whack.” However, the article also acknowledges that they’re not all bad. They serve as the universe’s chill-out periods, a reminder that in the grander scheme of things, progress isn’t always linear, and sometimes requires a bit of reverse motion to revisit, reflect, and revise.
Is all this sounding a little woo-woo to you? It would’ve to me a few years ago too, but the reality is that the world we live in contains a lot more than we can experience with our five senses.
The ocean’s high and low tides are caused by the moon’s gravitational pull. It shouldn’t be a surprise then that since our bodies are made up of at least 60% water (more if we’re hydrating as we should), the lunar cycle also impacts our physical and emotional lives as well.
I’m learning that life becomes much easier when we go with natural laws rather than trying to ignore them. I invite you to suspend any disbelief you may have about the power of unseen natural laws and explore the opportunities to spend more time riding the metaphorical and metaphysical waves.
FEATURE ARTICLE:
Is your spirituality part of your brand?
We have a long tradition in the U.S. of separating church and state. The same attitude has also led to conscious decisions to separate spirituality and business. In a world where inclusion is at the forefront of public discourse, spiritual entrepreneurs are feeling the pressure to hide their spiritual beliefs for fear of offending someone or being branded a weirdo.
Yet, we’re also urged (often by the same nay-sayers) to be authentic and to “stand in our truth.” As spiritual, or what I like to call “soul-aligned” solopreneurs, we can’t have it both ways. We can’t be authentic and true to ourselves and our higher callings while at the same time hiding our light for fear of offending others.
I’m inspired and empowered by the courage of large corporations like Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby who are unabashedly standing behind their values. And to the surprise of many, their commitment to their values is paying off. Not only have their sales not suffered because they’re closed on Sundays but many would argue that it's that policy that has ingratiated them with many consumers and earned them greater customer loyalty.
Here's the bottom line. If you’re a solopreneur, the chances are that your target market isn’t going to be all of the world’s 8+ billion people. Realistically, you’ll be able to support a percentage of the total consumer universe that’s so small that you can’t even measure it.
So, rather than trying to appease the masses by being the entrepreneur you think the largest number of potential customers want you to be, how would it feel to know that you’re serving and supporting a more targeted set of customers (and prospects) whose values are aligned with yours? Customers that not only allow you to be authentic but who are inspired and encouraged by the way you do business?
Do you want to continue to operate under the same traditional, often patriarchal, structures that made you want to become a soul-aligned entrepreneur in the first place? Or, do you want to consciously choose to join a growing movement of soul-aligned entrepreneurs who are ushering in a new, kind-and-gentler business model?
Here are a few simple ways to add spirituality to your brand:
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Be you. This one sounds simple, but for many, it's not as easy as it seems. Gone are the days of being one person at work, another person at church, and another person with family and friends. Life is much easier, and it will be easier to find "your people" if they can count on the same person showing up, regardless of the setting.
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Align your core values with your business goals. Don't tell people what your values are, demonstrate them in everything you do. The best brand is the one that naturally and consistently reflects who you are.
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Share your WHY. Acknowledge your purpose (your "calling") and be willing to share the story behind it. You'd be surprised how many potential customers will be moved by your story if it resonates with them emotionally. What challenges did you struggle through that helped you understand not only why, but also how, you're meant to have an impact on the world by serving others.
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Choose to focus on service first. Make it your mission to approach each opportunity to engage with another person as an opportunity to learn enough about them to be able to leave them better off than before you met. This could mean small, simple things like introducing them to someone that they could benefit from knowing, following up with an article or a link to a helpful resource, or just checking in occasionally to nurture a new relationship. Invite people to remember you because you make them feel important.
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Trust your intuition. Acknowledge the existence of synchronicity and Divine appointments. Approach each day as the beginning of a new spiritual treasure hunt. Stay tuned to opportunities to share your light and love with others. Follow your intuition wherever it leads you, even if the path doesn't make sense at the moment. Awareness and mindfulness are incredibly powerful tools.
Do you have other strategies that you use to infuse your spirituality in your brand? Send me an email, I'd love to hear about them.
A SPECIAL REQUEST:
I'm honored and excited to be a part of an amazing collaborative book project that will be published at the end of this month! The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Soul-Aligned Business brings together 25 female entrepreneurs from around the world, sharing our stories and practical strategies to encourage and empower soul-aligned entrepreneurs to expand their ability to serve others.
My request is that you join the Book Launch Team to help us spread the word about the book. Our goal is for this book to reach as many existing and aspiring soul-aligned entrepreneurs as possible so we can help usher in a kinder and gentler way of doing business in a world that desperately needs it.
Helping us do that is easy and fun. Click here to find out how you can join the team and feel share this invitation with others in your networks.
COOL TIPS & RESOURCES
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Free Referral & Barter Directory. I recently discovered a great Facebook Group that's helping small businesses grow in a variety of creative ways. Check out the Women Entrepreneurs Referral & Barter Network Helping Small Businesses Grow
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Great Resource for Finding Free or Low-Cost Software. AppSumo is a daily deals site that offers a wide variety of goods and services, delivered digitally. Looking for software to help you manage, automate, and grow your business? You can find courses, content, technology solutions, and much more at incredible prices.
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Solopreneur/Freelancer Resources from SCORE. SCORE is a nonprofit organization and resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Since 1964, as the nation's largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, SCORE has provided education and mentorship to over 11 million entrepreneurs across the country in support of their mission to foster vibrant small business communities. Learn more about the wide variety of free resources available from SCORE here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
HOW TO CONNECT
My goal is to help female entrepreneurs find creative and low-cost strategies and tools to help them work smarter, not harder. The myth that the most complicated and expensive solution is usually the best one is a lie, and I can usually prove it!
Have questions or want to share feedback or suggestions for future issues? I'd love to hear from you:
Website: www.sydneytylerthomas.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/coachsydney
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sydneytylerthomas/
Email: sydney@sydneytylerthomas.com
Newsletter archives: https://sydneytylerthomas.com/newsletters
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Want to chat about how we might work together? Schedule a complimentary 30-minute Virtual Coffee Chat.
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