Know What You Do and Do It Well
One of our corporate clients just e-mailed to give us his “highest praise.” He said that he is most pleased because our work is memorable. In a good way. That’s a huge compliment in the competitive consulting/freelancing arena we live in.
It’s also a nice affirmation to receive while we’re on the road and in some tough-to-get-work-done situations. Like now, when we’re on the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Not a bad office for now…
Working virtually isn’t always easy, and it can be a long road to earning feedback like that. A couple of months ago we wrote about hitting a rough patch (while in New York City) when we unexpectedly had to bring our “A” game in order to earn a client’s business. It wasn’t pretty, but everything worked out. We got the client.
The best path for us to take when things get ugly hasn’t always been as clear as it was on that bumpy day. Thanks to a lot of failed experiments, we have a pretty good handle on how to thrive through the good and bad.
As we said in that post, the project we were competing for was right in our pocket, so we knew we had to fight for it. Back when we were getting started in the virtual HR arena, making money was of primary importance. We didn’t have the luxury of being terribly selective and – at the same time – we were trying to get a grasp on what was and wasn’t in our pocket. No easy task.
A “I’ll do anything for money” approach doesn’t sustain itself forever, and – if it does – it’s the super-highway to burnout. Additionally, tough periods are what often break people (with great ideas) who are building something new. Given that, we knew we had to find our sweet spot as soon as possible upon getting our business up and running.
We’re routinely asked about building a virtual business that has moved beyond that constant-stress-case phase. We hear variations of “I know someone who does virtual work, but she is always stressed” all the time.
First, you have to be in your wheelhouse. To repeat the critical foundational advice we’ve written about before:
1. Play to your natural strengths and talents. Real success – fulfilling success – is fueled by knowing yourself. If you’re not playing to your natural strengths, you’ll know it because you’ll feel out of sync (as many people do).
2. Remember, passion is important because it energizes you. When you have a true passion for your work – or anything – you can’t get enough of it. Unfortunately, many people have a passion for their work but remain unfulfilled because it doesn’t also play to their strengths. Wondering why your venture (that you’re so passionate about) isn’t thriving? Examine whether or not it also plays to your natural strengths.
3. Know what differentiates you. What sets you apart from others with the same strengths and passion? Why you?
No matter what, it’s also important to follow your own path. Too many people see a successful model and think they can simply duplicate it. Don’t follow someone else’s dream and don’t muck up your reputation by engaging in things that don’t align with the intention behind your work. It makes you look desperate (which, even if you are, is a card you never want to show).
Only when the above is under control can you truly know what you do and do it well, helping you to avoid becoming a 24/7 ball of stress.
In our case, we had double the work. We had to do all of the above individually in order for us to each plug the “best of us” into our virtual work. It can seem daunting, but it’s well worth it. Having done that heavy lifting, it means that we can lean further and further into our strengths, passions and differentiators.
For instance, we regularly redefine our niche in the HR/Career Development arena, stripping away work that is not what either one of us is great at. Again, the ability to fine tune your domain doesn’t happen instantly, but you should always have it as a goal. It’s good for you and your clients. Recently, we made a change which requires our corporate clients to make final edits to our work in-house. That’s great for clients because it better ensures that the “voice” of our work will better match the rest of their collateral. Of course it’s also positive for us, because it allows us to pursue more of our in-the-pocket work without having to get bogged down in nit-picky editing and proofing.
By knowing what we do best and always refining it, we are able to quickly assess whether or not a potential job is something we should pursue. And, hopefully, be told that it’s memorable.
Wheelhouse… hmmmm. I think I know at least one of the business strategy books you guys have read
There are a few good ones out there. The hard part is always keeping your strategy in mind and not getting lost in all of the noise. Sounds like you guys have figured out the hard part.
What book does “wheelhouse” come from?
Yes, the “noise” only helps people to lose focus. We’re figuring out how to avoid it (and other things) every day.
Doing well at your job, whether virtual or not, is all about knowing your strengths/weaknesses, right? I still remember a conversation we had over big bowls of pho about such things. And I am still at my job, which continues to evolve, playing up my strengths and learning new ones.
Yes! We think of our lunch with you (one of our favorites!) often. Let’s do it again before long
It is strange how passion can energize you — no other reason that I’m still working, not burnt out! I just often wish my passion was for something more lucrative lol.
You’ve got it pretty good AND have an interesting life. Priceless.
I kept at at job for 20 years for the money and I burned out. Now I make half as much but have found my passion.
If you are passionate, you find a way to do “it” right. It just comes to you, in one way or another.
Good luck!
Your life sounds great. How exciting to work at a National Park!
I believe in the saying that if you know and love what you are doing, you can probably get what you want and you will have the best outcome ever..
Its always wonderful when you are praised for your work! Beautifully written post, and that workplace is certainly an envy!!!
Have a nice journey:)
The other day someone posts a similar message on Facebook – know what you don’t do well and don’t do it.
It made me smile but oh so true.
Love that!
I love this post. I know so many people who are all about the money. But what’s the point of money if you’re not passionate about what you’re doing? Life’s too short.
Great point. And research has show that money does actually make a person happier BUT only up to a certain point (a relatively small amount of money actually).
Incredibly accurate advice. And another really beautiful photograph to lead the post. Thank you for sharing!!
Thanks, Kirsten! That photo was taken on the balcony of our cruise-ship cabin. Ah… life was so good.
Great advice! Sometimes it’s really hard to stay focused on doing what I’m passionate about and ignoring the other stuff around me that can easily discourage me from making progress.
I might be sending you an email in the near future, hope you don’t mind a few questions.
Yes, feel free to send an e-mail anytime!
I love this! The points about knowing what you’re good at and following your passions had me nodding, yes, yes, yes! I think it’s great if you can go to work everyday and it doesn’t feel like work because you are just so passionate about it and it comes pretty easily. But I would be kidding myself if I didn’t admit that the recession has me wondering how realistic all this is – can we still follow our passions when the job market is the way it is?
Great question and one that we get all the time in our professional lives. No matter the economy, you can still be pursuing the right career pocket – no matter how small the steps. The price of not doing so is just too great.
love that reminder of regularly reassessing your HR/Career Development part – it’s such a vital part of one’s career path that is so easily & frequently overlooked!