Friday, July 16, 2010

You look good in a hat

I ran across a blog site today where the gentleman was celebrating his new business. He was so excited about branching out on his own; full of vigor and vision. He had gathered all the periphery associated with starting out on his own. He posted a clever little series of pictures of his new office (a corner with a crummy old desk), his new commute (from kitchen to living room), his new coffee maker (the Starbucks around the corner) and new dress code (which didn't include pajamas).

I felt his enthusiasm. I felt his glee. I felt like hiding the key to the closet that houses all the hats he will now need to wear. 

As a solopreneur, he will soon enough encounter the myriad of roles he will have to play to make his business succeed.  Like an actor on stage who must perform all the roles, including directing the stage and the orchestra, he will do well in some and suffer through others.  It is a quick costume change, from one hat to another, but it requires full compliance, none the less.

CEO, CFO, COO, CSO, HR, Marketing Director, Sales Director, Chief Engineer, Lawyer, Accountant, Bookeepper, IT, Clerk, Receptionist, Event Planner, Networker, Proofreader, Customer Service Rep, Buyer, PR Pro, Education and Training Coordinator, and Janitor ... all in one seamless segue!

"A hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armor, and the badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothes and wearing a costume; it's the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it's the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be stylish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over, and to make all men feel masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat." Martha Sliter