Me, Myself and I

Your clients don’t care about your dreams.

Nor should they.

They didn’t hire you so you could reach some further level of self-actualization. They hired you because they need a walkway they won’t trip over. They need a haircut before a family reunion. They need flowers for an anniversary they may or may not have forgotten.

Working for yourself, it’s hard not to fall into the trap that everything is about me. My schedule, my budget, my profits, my hopes and dreams. It’s easy to lose track of what really matters: our clients.

They have a problem, and they’re hiring us to solve it.

The challenge is to make the two line up. Your work can and should be a journey of self-discovery and growth. And your work should be in service to your clients. They don’t have to be at odds with each other. Our best work happens when these two are in congruence.

This starts with clarity on what you really want. By saying yes to opportunities that align your vision with your client’s problem, and no to everything else.

I created the 3Ps because I have to remind myself of this over and over again.