A COVID Life - Interruptions and Zoom Etiquette

INTERRUPTIONS!

They happen! Today, during a very important zoom presentation, the inevitable happened... KNOCK KNOCK - Property Management team here to check on your Property! My level of frustration exploded like a volcano, but when the middle of explaining your expertise to a client, you have to roll with it and watch what you say. 

But wait, there is more! You may see cartwheels behind you (TY Abbeys Daughter), the SNACK visits (from my son), the dogs barking, the cats who are ALWAYS curious, or a roommate/partner that tries to desperately distract you with some sexy gaze, the guys outside your window cutting down a tree, or even the neighbors wailing baby who just wasn't having any of it.  

Interruptions happen, and actually are inevitable (and honestly sometimes a saving grace). 

How do you handle these situations? There are multiple ways we have to get around the daily interruptions when working from home. Online meetings are so GREAT but they can provide unique challenges we must navigate despite having clear boundaries, life isn't perfect. (thankfully). 

After experiencing most of these, I wanted to share a few tips that I have learned about Zoom Etiquette:

1. Don't over-explain - Life happens, people. Even professionals that do live filming have times when they are put in awkward situations (we have seen the YouTube clips, we know). Mute your mic, turn off the video and deal with it.

2. Roll with the situation - IF you can't go off-camera during this minor delay, acknowledge the occurrence, and if you are witty enough, make a relevant comment and then keep going!

3. KEEP GOING! - Get back on topic as quickly as possible. Don't allow self-doubt or frustration to derail your awesomeness. 

4. PRACTICE Ahead of time - If you have the opportunity to do so, practice ahead of time, just in case. You never know if what will happen, and if prepared, it will be easier to get back to the topic. 

5. Exude Confidence - A healthy dose of self-confidence is always the best presentation outfit. Wear something that makes you feel confident if need be (as long as it's appropriate and can be worn in public too.)

6: What's behind you matters - Backgrounds matter. NO matter what people say? They do. Sometimes people will be so distracted by what's behind you, they forget to listen. Spend a wee bit of time making sure you are satisfied with your surroundings. 

7. Record Yourself - spend some time recording your own videos to see what others are seeing on screen. How do you look? How do you sound? make notes and do it again. 

8. Most of all? Just be You - Be the best version of yourself in a transparent matter, because this will reflect your energy into your message, and your passion is more likely to come to life if you feel comfortable. 

Explore all these options and try a few of your own to see what fits into your wheelhouse. Try to make it a habit, no matter who you are on screen with! You may think that just chatting with friends this would not be as important. BUT the more you make a ritual out of doing things consciously, the easier it will be when you are surprised by an unwanted guest or knock of any kind. 

And you will be ZOOM-tastic! Guaranteed. 

A COVID Life - Down to the Wire

I have been spending months educating myself on the process, dealings, learning, skill sets, etc. As a result, my feeds are filled with auto-generating ads. Learn this, grow here, don't get left behind! I have been excited and put in hours of class time across various platforms, and coaching fields. This week finally getting my question full front, "What do I really want to do?" draw.. relax... draw more... write poetry, inspire people, and feel a part of a team.

There is a real sense of achievement when you know you are going to have others to be there growing with you. Doing things alone is great, but when you have goals or deadlines, and a team around you to share the whines, woes, and wins, that makes it so much more alive. 

What team am I a part of? I have multiple clients that are friends, and clients that aren't on a personal level. The nice thing about personal clients, you are feeding your community. They feed you and you feed them back. But sometimes it gets stagnant and you can't be the voice they need you to be when decision times come around. This is where I am trying to branch out. 

My years of experience have brought me through so many different clientele, that I feel I'm ready for almost any client's needs. But do I present that with confidence? What holds me back? Why am I waiting until the last minute to be brave? Or until things seem like I am not forceful enough to complete the tasks?

Me. That's what! How is it that I am not screaming my skillset in a larger setting? This pattern isn't about failure. This pattern is about self-awareness and thinking I need to 'fit the mold' of what the others may be offering. COVID life has left me feeling isolated, and all my contacts are online. Which is great, but it's only half of the needs. And living with a child that is completely self-isolating is a rough bit too.

This week I have felt the pressure of this pandemic lifestyle, thinking, I seem to keep running but not getting to the finish line. I feel like I am distracting myself with this lack of clarity, and putting off the work of combining and writing out my plan. Learning is amazing, and it's necessary. But action is energy and moves things forward.

I just joined a womens group to help me find some words and feelings around fixing and aligning what I want! The encouragement of the day? Dare to be yourself. Dare to put it out there. Dare to be seen for what you can do. Dare to brave out the unknown. Dare to trust. Dare to live outside of what is seen. Dare to run with a larger more experienced crowd. 

Down to the wire? Yes I feel this is the day when I can bring this experience to people in a voice that is unique to me, and also, helps others see their products, or visions in a way thats unique for them. 

But since its Friday? Maybe I will use my newly acquired pens and markers to draw out my plans. Visually. 

A COVID Life - PSA

There have been days during the COVID Life where the conversation between me and the computer has been overly animated... or the router, or the tape dispenser... you get the idea. Working on my stress management with inanimate object dialogue, but what if?

This isn't the first time I have mentioned this during the COVID pandemic either.  The use of my time in critiquing the 'shows' I watch is not well spent, and practice in dialogue rewrites which actually could pan out in real-time conversations with potential clients. (or so I tell myself). 

Presenting your ideas to those that are wanting to know what your service offerings are is definitely an art that organically shifts landscapes from client to client, even in a niche field. The communication needs of each vary depending upon their environmental experience, education, and years in business. Whether the client knows what they want from a creative, or even HOW to get what they want from a creative!

I am actively cultivating a services list based on my experience. A term that is becoming more familiar now as 'productized services'. The goal is to try to create a full agency feeling from a single entity freelance business. This hopefully will lead to partnering with support people that are of equal experience who can help balance out your weaker sides. But how to even get started still comes from a 'conversation', an engagement of words. 

I have been a freelancer for quite some time but as a sole designer, production, and admin. This brought around a certain amount of exhaustion, and that lead me to the desire to find an easier more linear way to do my business. 

Someone I work with sent me an email saying, "Someone else here is seeking out a similar partner situation as you! Are you interested in meeting them?" 

This lead to a very lovely but initially awkward meeting with someone that I hope to partner with. After the 'let's get to know each other' part, we got on the same page. Learning to navigate situations like this will require consistent 3 party conversations. I hope to not get stuck in what I feel I know, and what I still have to learn around the business, sharing a creative space where we both have a say that can balance the requirements. 

Thankfully the tech world is a beautiful thing and it keeps us connected in lockdown refining these skills and practicing on your inanimate objects because technically it's all atoms anyway. Eventually, the exact right grouping will lead to a successful culmination and presentation. So in a more abstract and not solid form way, I hope this regrouping of energy leads us to bring visually appealing and market-savvy solutions for people's businesses, including our own.  

I have huge gratitude for all the atoms that have supported me during COVID!!! or been there to stub my toe, or let me sleep on them.. or... hahaha

Thankfully its Friday. Time to accomplish some downtime.