The time has come to unleash that part of yourself you’ve been holding back.
You know, that part of you that likes the spotlight, craves attention and is longing to shine like the gems on a showgirl’s. . .tiara!
YES! That part!
Let’s call this oh-so-sparkly part Lola!
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
You might be thinking, “Hold on there! That’s crazy!”, what does Lola have to do with my life and business?
Everything!
And yes, I know Lola loses her mind at the end of the song, but let’s focus on the positive for now, ok?
So. . .what exactly is so appealing about Lola?
Two words – showgirl strut!
It’s a way of being that is unabashedly, unapologetically, out-there-in-the-limelight, shining like you really want to!
It’s a way of being that has you shine from the inside out, sharing yourself and your gifts in the way that would be most wildly fulfilling for you.
Look at this gorgeous showgirl in the photo!
For me, she’s the epitome of Lola, oozing confidence, radiance and presence. And her smile beams like a beacon!
That’s what I’m talking about, and if it takes feathers and high heels to get into character? Then so be it!
Mars Dorian said it this way, “If you want to have an exciting and incredible life, you must make your favourite personality traits 3 times more extreme.”
When I first read his post it reminded me of a leadership training I did many years ago. One assignment that we had to do for the duration of the 6 month program was to be 10 times more excited in life.
Can you imagine?!
I thought this would be a piece of cake! I mean really, I’m outgoing, an obvious extrovert and I’m usually pretty excited (and excitable) in life.
However, much to my surprise the assignment uncovered all the areas where I wasn’t fully myself, where I hid my light, suppressed what I wanted and played small. There were no sparkles and definitely no feather boas in sight!
Now, maybe you’re a bit like me…
You’re pretty good at walking your talk, you’re reliable for keeping your word and people count on you. So, little by little, as you begin playing small it’s not always noticeable.
I call this the “smart rat syndrome.”
You’ve figured out how to get to the cheese without doing the work.
And it works for awhile, except for one. . .small. . .problem.
YOU know you’re not giving your best and it eats away at you, like a rat nibbling away at the cheese.
That rat, smart as it is, is killing you. It’s not giving you the life you want, is it?
The maze is no longer a challenge and the cheese has gotten old and stinky. You’ve become so trained to keep your head down and sniff out the cheese you miss out on everything else!
It’s time to give that up and step into your showgirl strut!
Seriously, what if this month, little by little, you began to sashay through life?
. . .just a little at first,
. . .letting your light shine more brightly,
. . .until you high kicked it out of the park, stepping out of the maze and into the spotlight?
One step, one kick, one sparkle at a time.
Step up, grab your boa and take this on as though your life depends on it.
Because really?
It does!
…and this is going to make me cry
Good! That’s Lola trying to get out!
Love this. Thank you.
And it’s such perfect timing for me, this month my goal is to really get better at promoting my new business through social media. While i’m perfectly happy to spend all day on twitter or Facebook PERSONALLY I have really been struggling with engaging with customers and promoting myself that way.
Thank you!
Wow Mae, thanks! What would it be like to boldly engage with your customers and let them see your brilliance?
Boas and feathers? I’m so there!
Being fearless (as you helped me realize) is the best way for me to get things done – have fun and be the difference I want to be.
I may stumble here and there, but no once is going to say I was timid or not making the effort!
When Lola stumbles, she simply picks herself up, straightens out her feathers and gets back to the business of strutting 🙂
LalalaLola! Once I stopped dieting – aka apologizing for not being acceptable- my Lola took the floor. (And you know what she plans to do this month with that :-), and why I’m so passionate about it, can’t get to the “I’m all that!” via “I suck.”)
But I love the question… what if I could be 10 times more excited about it. When I started thinking last week about what I am already excited about, and how I could do more of it, I thought that got me going. But you’re right, I probably haven’t tapped it all yet. And I can imagine that what can also happen is just what you said, that I’ll feel the places where I’m concerned, my hesitations, my fears.
Lola – who absolutely would not have herself any other way – can handle it, though, in her own special way. On to 10 times!!
Yeah baby! The 10X metric is kind of mind blowing, I think especially for those of us who already think we’re pretty excited about life! Lola (and the Ritas) would not have themselves any other way and neither will you and I!
I love the concept of three favo(u)rite character traits. I have a few I wish were 10 times smaller, might as well hug the goodies.
I’m not Lola, but I’m a dancer. My skin is more covered than that photo, but I own some serious bling/rhinestone clothes. My own dance name is Eudora. Eudora was a minor Greek goddess of the waves. It’s also my email program, and I love the geek/romantic contrast the name implies.
I’m pretty extreme when I create. The problem is that I’m also my own secretary. At tax season I’m not letting myself do creative projects, because I have a legal deadline. Before that a business deadline. I think I need a weekend of freeform creative time before the next big deadline.
What if you could experiment with letting Eudora show up more in your business? Hmm…
It’s funny, I actually have several names I use depending on what I’m doing. When hubby and I sing, I’m “Lynn Heftone” (of The Fabulous Heftones). When I teach children to knit, I’m “Ms. Lynn.” When I dance, I’m Eudora and when I am doing my art/knitting I’m ColorJoy LynnH. Love all the names, and what they mean. I think they all shine brightly in their own particular way, depending on what I’m doing.
Will contemplate further as I do taxes. I don’t have a name for Secretary Lynn. Maybe this is good. I was a secretary 40 hrs/week during the sadder parts of my life.
Sandi!! I can’t wait to unleash my Lola on a whole other level!! She’s excited! She’s bouncing off the proverbial walls!! So exciting!! And I think I know exactly what to share about it. And my Lola? Well she’s doing another sexy (on a whole new level) boudoir photo shoot this weekend! FUN!!
Just in from my friend Karen (see above): LOLA = Living Out Loud Always
That’s who you are Rita, thanks so so much for being here and sharing your Lola!
Sandi!! I can’t wait to unleash my Lola on a whole other level!! She’s excited! She’s bouncing off the proverbial walls!! So exciting!! And I think I know exactly what to share about it. And my Lola? Well she’s doing another sexy (on a whole new level) boudoir photo shoot this weekend! FUN!!
How do I get rid of the rat?
You get rid of the rat by letting LOLA come out!
Oh man, this is gonna be AMAZING.
No words for how much I love this comment coming from you! Mwah!
You wrote this for me, didn’t you? Every word, every thing was for me because this is my month and I can’t wait to live through what I am about to do but for now, let’s just call it “Letting my Farnoosh Lola out finall!” And I love another song that goes like this, “Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets!” – My friends used to attribute it to me …. Know it? If not, you must hear it. GREAT Song. Thank you darling Sandi!
FINALLY <typo. Sorry 😉
Dear, dear FarnooshLola!
If the words and the energy resonate, I’m thrilled because YES – this IS your month! And I can hardly wait to see it unleashed!
Hi Sandi –
Lola…here I come :~). Just launched my first contest via social media!
Love the smile on that showgirl! A beacon for sure!
Your inner Lola must be shining brightly! Congrats on the launch!
This is all kinds of win. FTWIW, this guy is my “lola” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLclk16PtE4&feature=related
Michael, are you referring to Gandalf or Balrog???
Ha ha, Gandalf. 😛
Phew! Had me worried for a moment 😉
Plus also? LOVE Gandalf!
Good timing Sandi,
it’s definitely Lola time as I will unleash my new project. April will be the epic start of my new brand, and it will contain all the quirkyness and creativity I wasn’t able to unleash before.
I still life by the 3xtimes you principle, and the new site is going to be the 100% embodiment of that phrase !
Really looking forward to whatever you unleash next! You rock Mars and I think you and Lola would make a hot couple 😉
My Lola just told me to stock up on more pink and R E D clothing! Adorning myself in vibrancy is the first step toward honouring my supergirl Lola (that part of me also wears a cape now and then and listens to Elton John a lot). Great post Sandi! Though – not gonna lie – chanelling Lola is a lil scary …. : )
YES, channelling Lola can be a bit scary! That’s why we’re in this together! You, me and all the other Lola’s demanding to be unleashed!
SandiD… the synchronicity, the serendipity, the siriusness of what lies ahead from what lies within.
So my favorite question you asked this month? “Hey, what about…”
Lola is in this house!
(I clicked here and red feathers flew out, so kind of a give away.)
To do list: Buy red feather boa!
Thanks for the reminder Karen!
I feel the sparkles coming out. You know I used to have a t-shirt with a sparkly “FC” (French Connection) but I called it my Foxy Chick t-shirt – hmmm I think we need to re-connect 🙂 x
You just know I’m going to call you FC now, don’t you? 😉
The funny thing is that I’ve had a honey business for almost 12 years called Lola Canola Honey and I’m trying to kill her off right now! Lola Canola is actually more than a brand name, she’s kind of an alter ego; she wears this yellow rubber wig, funny dresses and runs around in canola fields. I take the wig to the farmers’ markets I sell at and people can try it on. She’s been great–she’s totally social and a showgirl and people love her but now I’m on to something quieter….I have lots of mixed feelings about it though.
Patty,
You’ve made an interesting point. I don’t think Lola is necessarily always loud and flashy like a showgirl or your Lola Canola. If you read some of the posts in this series you’ll see that Lola has many faces and ways of expressing herself. I’m curious to know what you’re quite Lola would be like!