It’s okay to be yourself.

It’s midnight and I’m awake.  Well, almost midnight.  By the time I’m done typing, it’ll be past midnight.

In 7 minutes, it will be September 1st. That will mean that it’s 2 weeks until I turn 30.  I have sufficiently packed the next two weeks, and the last two weeks of my 20’s with a plethora of fun, work, and excitement.

It started tonight. Family photos with Valerie Demo – and a lifestyle session that I know I’m going to be obsessed with (I’m already loving the preview that you see above).  I realized that we hadn’t really taken the time to take family photos since Wren had been born that really showcased the girls and their crazy personalities.  I won’t talk about it too much – but the newest additions to our family (we have two new Guinea pigs) and Piper’s makeup school may make an appearance.

I’ve had a weird couple of weeks.  In all of this excitement and amazing things that are happening, I’m finding that I’m trying to find that perfect balance between personal and professional.  I spent a few days this week really thinking about what turning 30 means. Do I have to grow up more?  Can I still say that everything is my favorite, or that I’m having the best day ever?  Can I have my fiery temper, my impassioned debates, and be the most impatient person in the world, or should I change that? Can every day be amazing, can I continue to be a fun-loving range of emotion?

The answer is that I can be all of those things.  You can be 30 and have goofy family photos with your kids.  You can make silly faces.  Everything can be awesome and exciting and amazing all the time.

It’s okay to be yourself, even if that’s a 19-year-old trapped in a :::gulp::: 30-year-old’s body.  There are photos coming from Valerie that include me and Piper making goofy faces, eating delicious ice cream outside, swinging on swings, and more.  It’s okay to be yourself.  Clients love that – the clients that really know me, or that I can build a real relationship with, develop a much more successful working relationship because we can be ourselves.  I have this amazing new client who literally booked with me because she knows that I’ll be brutally honest with her about her marketing initiatives.  That’s AMAZING. That’s how it should be.

Only you can decide how much of yourself you want to put into your business.  I get super personal, and that’s great, because it works for me.  Are you a more corporate entity?  You don’t want to get so personal that you turn your corporate clients away.  I’m proud of Misty Saves the Day giving that personal touch/spin/etc. on our branding.  I’m totally okay not including that in yours if it’s not what you want to do.  Are you a private person normally?  Don’t get so personal online that you’re uncomfortable when people bring it up in person.  One of my favorite things is when someone mentions to me, “Oh Misty, I loved that blog you wrote about XYZ!” because that will stir up some conversation – and I want to continue that conversation with you!  If you’re a more private person, make sure those in-person conversations are what you’re looking for – because that’s really what it’s all about.  Building your relationships and continuing the conversation.

I’m rambling.  It’s late at night, but I’m feeling inspired.

When I realized that it was time to take family photos and I was talking to Val about it, it was INCREDIBLY important to me that we captured who Wren and Piper are in this moment, today.  I think in the back of my mind I also wanted to capture who me and Chris are.  We might be grown ups, but we’re kids at heart. I love that you guys love us for that <3  I might be turning 30 this month, but that just means there more and more awesome things coming.