Recently Robert wrote about what Gordon Ramsay would say if he visited his business and my heart skipped a beat. I could think of nothing but my untidy desk, dishevelled piles of books and how unlikely it would be that I could throw the doors of my business open and welcome customers in, much less the likes of guru Ramsay.
It led me to ponder, thinking Carson Kressley’s supportive tone would be easier to hear than Gordon Ramsay’s, what would my business look like naked?
If ever I have to invite someone into my work space, which I would only ever do reluctantly and only ever suppliers not customers, I am revealing something not just of how I work but how I live.
I am appearing naked in a business and a personal sense, and my god it’s ugly, it feels bad and not even Carson could empower me to revel in it.
It’s not just my business - as a soloist my business is me. It’s polished and sparkling when it leaves the home office but the back of house is not what it could or should be.
To look good naked, it’s important to actually look good naked and to convince yourself that you do. I am none from two but determined to change.
I have already started the climb back. Not just because my business and its customers deserve the best business standards I can deliver, but also because I do too. Carson would tell me that.
I have reclaimed my workspace from the shared arrangement I had with my children, their friends and their afternoon tea, bought some flash new equipment that I deserve, cleared space for said equipment, made the trip to the stationers to get a few bits I have meant to get for a while but learnt to live without and changed my outlook in the process of all of this.
Does my business look good naked? No, not yet. But I have more of a spring in my step as I re-establish my priorities and business standards. I can’t help but think that as the owner of the business that has focused on its nakedness, I look a little more professional when I am out in the world doing my thing.
If asking yourself “Does my business look good naked?” is too confronting, start with this.
When was the last time you tidied your desk?
“ If ever I have to invite someone into my work space, which I would only ever do reluctantly and only ever suppliers not customers, I am revealing something not just of how I work but how I live. ”
Karen Morath of M Power consults, trains, speaks and coaches in public relations, personal effectiveness, life balance and all things empowering.
