Posted on by Camellia's Cottage · 4 Comments

Waiting in the Wings…

Have you ever felt like you’re ‘Waiting in the Wings’ ? At every age and stage, even when starting something new…there’s that Waiting in the Wings state of mind. Cambridge Dictionary describes it like this:’ If someone is waiting in the wings, they are not yet active or important, but are ready or likely to be soon..’

You may have practiced and prepared. You may have the perfect costume or background for your performance and yet there’s that waiting time.

You may have the prettiest or the most photogenic scene set up and yet, you mind tells you that there’s always someone better than you are. Did you know there’s a physical reaction to waiting in the wings? There is. When you’re in that area where activity on the stage can be observed yet the audience cannot see you- a place where performers stand just before it’s time to enter the stage to perform… we might call this physical reaction- Butterflies. A sensation which is a blend of anxiety, anticipation and excitement all bundled together.

You may be standing ready to undertake a new role. make an entrance or be brought to public attention. Yet, those butterflies are creating fear, they might make you want to give up…

Hang up Your Dancing Shoes altogether.

How do I know this? Because I’ve had those feelings before, okay- many times before. You have butterflies because you are afraid. You have butterflies because you’ve got a bad case of comparisonitis. You have butterflies because you Care.

When you start something new, even if you don’t have all the answers, you aren’t ‘perfect’ or you think someone is better than you are. Am I right? Well, here’s the key- lean on your preparation and your experience. Then trust your Instincts and Believe that you will Rise to the Occasion.

What you have to give is You, and that’s a very special Gift. There’s no one else exactly like You. When the Director of Life give you the cue… Come on out onto the Stage. You’ll be Unforgettable.

I’m thankful for so many who generously Take to the Stage. Ready to be available. Waiting to help. Prepared to do Something. Willing to share their Gifts. We need you.

Love y’all, Brenda

Posted on by Camellia's Cottage · 4 Comments

To Write Good Content.. add Whimsy!

Feeling a bit Frazzled?

One of my favorite quotes is:

‘You have to risk a little crazy in order to escape the gravitational pull of the Ordinary.’ by Tom Samet

I’ve found, to write good Content- you have to risk a little crazy… Visual Images like you see her, start telling the story before you write one word. And, it doesn’t really matter what you do or what your business is- Add a little Crazy… For instance if you’re a Coach who helps with time management- maybe that Frazzled Chick will help you get a smile, and your reader will be drawn in to find out more.

It’s Stretch!

Or maybe you teach yoga or stretching exercises- a crazy Frog will help you tell the reasons you know works! Or part of what you do helps folks relax, an image of a sleeping kitty- yes, they’ll get the concept just from the image!

Do you help folks find their purpose or get direction in their lives? I think I’d read about it, if I saw a charming image of this Big Teddy Bear. It’s wonderful to see a path or a road- though don’t you know, this Bear with a pointing bunny on his shoulder would often get the point across in a whimsical way?

And, really isn’t that what good Visual Marketing does? It uses whimsy. It uses Visual Imagery to market their products or services. A sketch of a castle or even a Sandcastle you built yourself- gets the point across! I will say this- to Write Better Read

I read a story weeks ago, I kept hearing in my head- something about ‘walking through raindrops’  I couldn’t find the quote so I adjusted it, and it prompted me to write this quote:

I felt like most of life, no matter what was going on, I was Dancing thru Raindrops without getting wet.’

And why did I write it that way? Well, I found this adorable image of a Frog and a lilypad- under it’s own natural umbrella! Don’t forget- it’s serious times we live in, often with serious solutions- Still. If you find a great whimsical image- yours or not- Let the image tell the story before you write a word! Everything doesn’t have to be serious even when the subject is. Add Whimsy… Love y’all, Brenda

Now, I know y’all have heard about my *Free Monthly Planning Guides and May’s Planning Guide is ready and it’s jam packed with fun things to write about!

Thank you to all who have requested it! This month, there’s a *Bonus*- it’s a *Mother’s Day Gift Guide* for product and serviced based businesses- you’ll learn how to price your products, how to really make the Mothers on your customers’ list feel like Queen for a Day!  So, if that’s You, all you have to do to get to get the Bonus Gift Guide is- *send me an email at brenda@brenda-wyatt I’d love for you to have it!

Posted on by Camellia's Cottage

A Fresh Start with Coaching Sessions and more…

What’s behind the Green Door? It’s what we’ve been up to, a Fresh Start for Spring! Since January, I’ve been doing Free Planning Guides for Product or Service based Businesses. Dozens have requested those and April’s Guide is almost ready…

I’m putting the finishing touches on my Favorite Images and Props- stay tuned, you won’t want to miss that! Most exciting of all is- My New 1-2-1 coaching sessions which starts with a short questionnaire, that includes your favorite colors for a bit of Color Mapping of your personality.

Then, a free scheduled call- for those who qualify. I’d love to hear your story and isn’t that what we all want? To be seen and heard… You’ll take me inside the world, your work, your struggles, your dreams. After that it’s up to you- we’ll set up a coaching session- to help you get clarity for your next steps toward your ultimate Big Idea. Added in for those who do Instagram and who isn’t doing that? if you’re in business, you really need to be. Find me @brendawyatt_

We’ll talk about upleveling your IG grid because really it’s a virtual Shop Window for the world of online shoppers to see… and of course there’s more tailored to your own business needs.

You decide if one session is enough or if you need more than one. No obligation, no pressure. What I hope to help you see is that – ‘You don’t have to have everything to get to where you want to go’ just a tweak here and there might be all it takes to get your thoughts organized, decide o first steps and before you know it- You’ll have your own Fresh Start to Spring!

Send an email to me at brenda@brenda-wyatt.com for the free planning guides, the free ‘Let’s see if we’re a good fit’ questionnaire or schedule a call. ( A few criteria need to be met because time is limited.) OR  If you’re on Instagram @brendawyatt_ just send a DM there. We adding much more ‘Straight from the Heart Business Smarts’ there, with information on IG about 3 times per week.

A huge thank you to those who’ve already signed up, to those who participated in the research for what works and what doesn’t- shared your hopes and dreams, to help wherever I can. ‘Tell me Your Story’, is an amazing thing! We’re already scheduled for most of March, thank you!

And a massive Thank You to those who’ve encouraged me to begin this new venture- my own Fresh Start to Spring!

Love y’all, Brenda

Posted on by Camellia's Cottage · 10 Comments

Unusual…

Unusual, that’s what snow is in my part of the world. Tornadoes aren’t. We take pictures of the aftermath of tornadoes, we take pictures of snow when we get it. Most of the ones I have were from 2017. And, I’ll admit- I just love to look at images of snow. Why? Because snow is unusual.

Unusual is something I was called as a child. I had a great aunt who would exclaim to my mother, ‘Isn’t she unusual?’ Referring to me. Every. Single. Time. She saw me. I didn’t like it then.

I came around to thinking ‘unusual’ isn’t such a bad thing after all. The South is full of unusual eccentric folks – we celebrate them even if they sit on the porch in a bathrobe howling to the moon. We might even join them. Why? Because they’re unusual – Memorable is what they are. Being unusual doesn’t have to mean you’re crazy- it could also mean being as unique as a snowflake.

Perhaps you have a gift or talent rarely seen, certainly unique. My mother told me my aunt was being complimentary. It didn’t feel like it then. Still. If you feel that you are out of the ordinary- do not fret about it. Embrace being unique, unusual – let your special gift shine. Be your own unique, original unusual self.

‘Do not fear being fabulous. Give the full measure of reverent abandon, humility and lavish joy- within your power to offer.’    Brenda Wyatt

That quote says it all. Shine your light.

Love y’all, Brenda

Businesses, Coaches and Creators: You still have time to plan February! Send me an email and I will send you our Free February Planning Guide! And, it will help you plan your content too!

Posted on by Camellia's Cottage · 8 Comments

Add Mood with Nostalgia…

There may be nothing quite like roses and soft autumn leaves that brings forth sweet nostalgia for me… Roses past their prime or pink tinged rosebuds that are still full of promise. And I tend to prefer the softer side of Fall with the pink and red leaves.  A basket full of roses cut from my own, set by our picket fence are precious to me because I know they’ll soon be gone. Then as they wilt and dry, the soft scent is a reminder of a good season of blooms.

Old roses tend to be destined to be pressed or dried- held within the pages of a well loved book. I found an image of beautiful autumn leaves….there may be no more nostalgic image you could offer than a carpet of fallen leaves. Still. A wedding bouquet and the memories of a romantic getaway. We want to keep them all gathered in our imagination.

Mood. One of the most effective design tools we have. To create responses from our life’s imagination of simpler sweeter times. Sweethearts, proms, weddings… Nostalgic mood enriches emotional appeal- a sense of safety, security- of meaning and of times we felt loved and part of an affectionate community. To bring forth the ‘then and now’ – recreates pleasant moods.

In design, Mood is best used to stimulate good emotions. Recollections of sweet scents and exquisite events- puts us in a positive frame of mind. As a marketing tool- make the customer feel good, make them feel a stronger connection to your brand- form closer relationships to you through kindness, sentimental and pleasurable emotions. Folks are drawn to a more personal shopping experience these days. You might say- marketing and branding has joined the ‘slow food’ and ‘slow clothing’ movements, with thoughtful production of resources.

Good marketing sets aside the ‘overwhelm’- the tyranny of urgent demands on our time. Take your readers, your customers on a sentimental journey. Give them kindness, beauty and positive nostalgic mood. They’ll love you for it.

What better way to flourish and grow, than with a nostalgic sentimental mood? Creating Mood is a Design Principle you’ll want to employ over and over again.

Love y’all, Brenda