Fear and Flowers

Let me tell you a story. 

I love flowers. I grow a cutting garden every year just so I can have bouquets all summer. This year I'm doing all the flowers for my sister-in-law's wedding and I'm PUMPED. I could arrange flowers all day and be in heaven.

Sales, though? Scary A.F.

Putting myself out there and asking for money??? Absolutely terrifying.

Want to know how to get over something that's scary? Do it anyway. 

So, this Valentine's Day (starting a month ago), I decided to practice. I found the most low-risk way I could find to do it: instead of selling a product I had to invest in and try to make money on, I organized a group-buy of wholesale flowers. What people payed in was what they got. I wasn't trying to make any money, so I didn't need to worry about pricing or getting enough people after the first 4-5. All I had to do was show up and say, "I'm organizing this. Want to join?"

It was still scary, but it was also EXHILARATING. People actually wanted what I had and they were willing to trust me with their money and their flowers. I'll be delivering hundreds of dollars worth of flowers to total strangers tomorrow. That's still absolutely crazy to me.

Moral of the story: its ok if being creative (including the art of selling, the art of speaking up, the art of putting yourself out there, and the art of connecting with other people) is scary. Find a way to practice, and do the work.