I have a pair of yellow overalls. If you've seen me in the last six months, odds are good I was wearing them.
I have a three-year-old, and we gallivant. Any given day might take us to a creek, a bike park, a museum, and a coffee shop. These overalls have pockets for all the treasures (and snacks) we find along the way. Function over fashion.
I wasn't planning on bringing them on my recent work trip (because who wears overalls to network?), but my husband chuckled when he saw I hadn’t packed them. He knew I’d regret not taking them, they are basically my version of a comfort blanket. I put them on for the flight and wore them again the next day… to a professional event.
A few months ago, I started building something new, a business that lets me do work that lights me up: helping people build businesses they want to run, with clients they enjoy working with, within the working conditions they need to do their best work.
This event was the first time I showed up in that new capacity in a room full of people. I was wearing the overalls. I let my hair do its wild and curly thing (because humidity). I was, in the most literal sense, on brand.
The overalls helped me break the ice. Someone asked about them and then I couldn’t stop talking. I talked about my work more clearly and confidently than I ever had before. The excitement, support and encouragement I received was unexpected, and honestly, so needed. I was not performing. I was not trying to fit into a version of "professional" that never came naturally to me.
When you're building something aligned with who you are, you don't have to work as hard to convince people. Business strategy matters, but so does knowing how to show up as yourself and structure a business around the life you want.
Stick around: Over the next few weeks I'll walk you through the framework that makes all of this possible.
Hi! I’m Carrie. I believe doing good work and living the life you want are not in conflict. If you’re ready to build that way, reply to this email or see how we can work together.
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