The Three Key Components to Flying Your Freak Flag
ByDo you struggle to make all the money you need to survive?
It’s not surprising!
There are tons of people offering the same basic services that you are. It’s like a big beige blur of boring…everyone doing the same things the same way.
You could be a musician, healer, coach, or other type of entrepreneur and whether or not you’re successful comes down to the same thing-
Are you able to differentiate yourself from all the rest and become the obvious choice?
If people don’t know that you exist and remember you- there is no way in hell you’re going to make any real money!
Flying your freak flag is the answer!
Flying your freak flag makes you interesting and gives people something to rally around!
It eliminates competition; makes you stand out & become super shiny; and makes it really easy for the people who resonate with what you have to offer to find you.
What is flying your freak flag all about?
Being fully self-expressed, having an opinion and bringing all of you to the party, so you can let your brilliance shine!!
It’s also about saying “Yes” to what you are interested in and saying “No” to the crap you could care less about.
Flying your freak flag AMPS Up your shine factor so you become super shiny to the people who are looking for what you are offering.
When you offer what you want to offer in your own unique way there is no competition, because you have your own unique magic and way of doing things.
Tap into your own special brand of magic and the cash starts rolling in! Can I get a big “Hell Yhea!”
Here is the thing that no-body tells you -
What you stand for and the quirks that make you weird and freaky are really your biggest selling points!! These are the things that are going to attract people to you and make you the obvious choice.
Flying your freak flag in your biz specifically allows you to be REAL and bring it all with you: strengths, flaws, weird habits, freaky ideas, vulnerabilities, and your unique perspective and talents. These are the things that are going to allow people to connect with you, and say a big “YES” and hand over the cash.
I know this sounds kind of scary! Especially when you apply this concept to your biz! It goes against the pre-packaged biz ideas we were brought up with. The pre-packaged way of doing biz has us hiding these things under a suit of conformity……I suspect that doesn’t work for you.
Contrary to what we have been brought up to believe- It’s OK to let the REAL you show in your biz. Matter of fact- it’s preferable. It builds trust and allows people to connect with you.
Three Key Components
There are three key components to flying your freak flag-
1. Owning who you are and what differentiates you from all the rest
2. Taking a stand for what you believe in
3. Creating from a place of alignment
I’ll break each one down in upcoming blog posts.
Remember- there are plenty of other people out there who are just as weird and freaky as you who are dying to be seen and understood!
When you fly your freak flag - you give other people permission to do it too! That’s a beautiful thing. It’s inspiring and it allows the people who resonate with what you have to offer to find you.
~I hope you really take this part in ~
People don’t become your raving fans who buy up everything that you offer because of what you do (service wise). They do it because of who you are, the way they relate to you and what you stand for.
Especially in these times, people are sick and tired of being scammed and taken advantage of. They want to deal with real people who they can trust and relate to.
Flying your freak flag and being real allows people to relate to and trust you!
Let me add this last piece-
Flying your freak flag doesn’t require you to get crazy and dye your hair blue and act all wild-unless that’s what feels right to you. It can be something as simple as talking about your mermaid obsession, or rocking out a tie dye shirt as part of your biz attire. The key is to let people see you in an authentic way.
I will leave you with these three questions-
What parts of your biz doesn’t feel like you?
Where are you hiding out?
What are three things that you can do today to bring more of YOU into your biz so people can see the real you?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
24 Comments
March 28th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Thanks so much, Leah, for this! I have spent most of my life trying to “fit in” because I never felt quite normal. I love the idea that those things that making me a bit odd may be treasures to embrace. I will definitely be using your questions to explore this further! Thank you for including those to get me moving in the right direction.
Kenetha Stanton´s last [type] ..Dandelions
March 28th, 2012 at 11:57 am
As always Leah another excellent post full of on target & on point brilliance. I think owning up to who you really are and what you really love can be so frightening but it also makes the entire ride worth it!
Bri Saussy´s last [type] ..Stepping Into Divinity-Reconciliation in love & life
March 28th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Leah, AWESOME! This can be SO challenging because when people arrive to business, they often think there are rules to how you show up, how you behave, how you do what you do – but I totally agree that the best brand strategy is the one where you are completely yourself, without apology. Huzzah! Thank you for another inspiring post!!!
xoxo.nona
Nona Jordan | the Business Yogini´s last [type] ..The “Truth” About Wealthy People
March 28th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
You go Leah! It’s easy to see from your posts why people are so attracted to you. You make your shine easy to see
Jackie D.´s last [type] ..The Little Things
March 28th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
I LOVE your header. It’s so outside the box!
My freak flag is confession. I give it all up so that people can know they aren’t alone.
Three things I can do today to show people the real me?
1. Litter blogosphere with genuinely kind comments that lift people up.
2. Get in the shower before the beeb wakes up so I can be all ready to go to the coffee shop and write/work/connect/love.
3. Find the funny – in the day, in the moment, at all points in life – and then share it with my peeps!
Brandy´s last [type] ..Rewrite The Ending
March 28th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Love this, I was cheering while reading!
My Freak flag is:
Acting with childlike abandon, blowing bubbles, giving stickers to strangers, ordering a shirley temple, skipping, drawing on the side walk and geniunely not caring about any judgement just trying to share the glee I feel with the world!!
The real me:
1) Shower people in love and things that make them laugh, smile, giggle and yes even snortale. (such a big laugh you snort and chortale at the same time!!)
2) Act with fearlessness and eliminate the guilt monster ( I am not wasting my time there is a place for me in this world)
3)Dance/Exercise increase my activity to increase my output of love and work and all that!!
: )
March 28th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
I’ve always been a bit of a freak and as a child living in a rural area, that was very hard. So I suppressed it. But then lo and behold, I end up in a “freaky” career as a full time tarot reader. And I couldn’t be happier. Funny how wonderful life becomes when you stop trying to hide who you are.
March 28th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Leah.. loved how you spelled it all out since this is such a huge part of your brand and beliefs.. and that you clarified that it’s not about blue hair or anything as superficial as that. Really great post that will get everyone thinking and sorting out what’s essential to keep and also what’s missing.. It’s so much easier to be true to ourselves.
Love to you,
Lisa
http://www.IntuitiveBody.com
Simple Sacred Solutions To Living Beautifully In Your Body
March 28th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Loved this, Leah! I’m all about getting up close & personal with my inner freak. I spent enough time in a circus that this is quite second nature for me. Well, actually, it’s first nature, but anyway…
To answer your questions:
What parts of your biz doesn’t feel like you?
I’ve struggled to get my pricing aligned with my perceived value, rather than what I think clients want to pay or can afford. My mom always said I’m champagne taste on a beer budget, and so I want my business to be champagne taste on a Cristal budget.
Where are you hiding out?
I’ve been hiding out in my metaphorical cave due to all the life pressures I’ve been under in the last 4 years, but especially in the last 2 years. I didn’t want to be perceived as weak and so I just don’t let people see me; which is just silly, I know because it makes me a total hermit during tough times.
What are three things that you can do today to bring more of YOU into your biz so people can see the real you?
I can practice what I preach and accept and love what is rather than trying to always get back to what was or dream of what is yet to be.
I can get back to doing what I love for the love of doing it, and not for profit. The reignited passion will drive future profits.
I can thank my family for putting up with my moodiness as I’ve gone through all of these struggles. I know that they have been instrumental in getting me through it, even through my surliest moments.
March 28th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Always appreciate the message of showing up in all realness and full authenticity…Thanks.
Marita Rahlenbeck´s last [type] ..Living In The Questions
March 28th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Great advice!
What else do we have but to offer our true selves to the world? It seems that anything less will do nothing but leave us empty.
Cynthia´s last [type] ..Balance, Adjustment and Commitment
March 28th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
It’s taken me 38 years and I feel I am just now starting to figure out what makes me ME. I feel I am authentic and genuine, but yet I struggle to know what it is about me that makes me unique and stand out from the others in the crowd. I am not afraid of who I am, I feel like I just can’t quite uncover the whole ME!!
amy zellmer´s last [type] ..A Photographer’s Play-Time in Vegas | Amy Zellmer
March 28th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
Leah baby, your questions are cutting right through to the heart of me. My freak flag’s been hanging at half mast for a while now. I’m gonna sit my ass down on my meditation cushion and let the answers come. I’m the girl who ran away and joined the circus (for reals) and then came back to the corporate world cuz I was a bit of a scaredy cat. I’ve managed to keep the freak alive but not at full strength. Girl, I’ll get back to ya! Thanks!
March 29th, 2012 at 8:56 am
Weird is wonderful! And if the truth be known we are all weird and that is what makes the world juicy! Your topic is one I have been exploring to as I create my new business adventure. People love to be fascinated, it draws them in, makes them curious about what we are doing and if we are fascinating we are magnetic. I am fascinated!
March 29th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
You are right on target when you say- “We are all weird” Katelyn!
It is part of the grand design of the Universe…each of us reflecting life back out in a slightly different way. This is why we each have a voice that needs to be heard and a perspective that needs to be shared!
I feel that as we each start to more fully embrace who we are- then things will begin to fall into place in a beautiful way.
March 29th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Hi Ali! I am here to help you Unfurl that freak flag if you need it!
March 29th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Hi Amy!
Yours is a common problem. We aren’t taught to pay attention to what makes us AWESOME!!!
We are more likely to spend time thinking about what is wrong with us and needs to be fixed.
You need to re-train your brain an learn to shift your focus. The Discovering Kick-Ass Guide is a great tool for doing this.
I’d love to work with you around this!
March 29th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Right on Cynthis! I feel the same way…..BUT the sad part is that there are millions of people out there walking around feeling empty and thinking that it is “normal” and “just the way it is”.
March 29th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Melanie!!!! What did you do in the circus?
Thanks for sharing your answer’s. I can relate to hiding out when I feel stressed out and pressured. The cool thing I’ve learned is that my friends and family WANT to help me when I’m feeling that way. They don’t see me as weak….they just want to help.
I’m curious about what is going on for you around percieved weakness.Rock on!
Leah
March 29th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
I’ve been flying my freak flag for years — I never considered how it might help me as I move ahead in my career. Love it!
March 29th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Until I actively started to be myself in all that I did, I hadn’t realised a) how much I was hiding and b) how much work it takes to just be me – being me isn’t the hard part; but not falling into the old patterns of being who I thought I was “meant to be” is! It feels so much better when I am me and I’m so much prouder of the things I do say and produce. Your blog posts help to encourage me and remind me to keep it up, so a big thank you!
Claire´s last [type] ..Supporting each other in business – Peer to Peer Mentoring
March 30th, 2012 at 8:22 am
Still sitting with the “admit you’re psychic” thing. It would totally work for the women I work with, but the men? Hmmm. Could be challenging there. But then, perhaps it’s like dating – you let people in a bit at a time and it becomes a bonus along the way once you’ve established your credibility rather than a broad “flaky” brush stroke that people paint you with.
March 30th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Kelle– Or you can recognize that you can best serve people by including all your gifts in your work and trust that the right people will show up. If men have a problem with your psychic abilities…then perhaps tey are not your “Right People”?
Some questions to ask yourself is-
What do I bring with me when I show up fully?
What gifts allow me to do my best work?
Who do i work best with and feel fully received by?
March 30th, 2012 at 9:58 am
Leah, I love that you included what flying your freak flag DOESN’T mean. It seems like so many people lately have gotten caught up in the idea that your business communication has to include the f-bomb in every other sentence, or that you have to embellish every idea with 10-cent words when penny words are more effective. Your piece reminds us all that a freak flag is only that when it’s unique to the flyer — not when it’s all over town. Yay for you — keep flying yours! xoxo
Jessica´s last [type] ..6 Real-World Tips for Good Health