Changes, Your Opinion & The Washington Post

When we want something badly, we want it instantly. A friend loses weight, and everyone asks, “How did you do it?” They want a quick fix. The answer “dieting and exercising regularly for 6 months” sounds like a good idea, but maybe not what they were looking for. Transformations take time and regular, steady work. They take endurance. You have to celebrate the small victories, not lose sight of your goal, dedicate yourself to get the results you want, and even enlist the help of others. In January, after many changes in my personal and professional life, I knew I needed a fresh start and perhaps a new look. It was like that one time in high school when I broke up with my boyfriend and decided I wanted to go platinum blonde (I was talked out of it). It was time for a change and something major: a rebranding of Rachel and Company. I had an idea of what I liked and what I wanted, and realized it wasn’t as easy as going blonde! That’s when I met Marcela, a branding expert and designer for one of my favorite brands (Framebridge), and she offered to redesign my logo and create a new look and feel for Rachel and Company. Take a look.

Throughout the process, I could feel and see the changes taking place, but I wanted the transformation to be instant. It reminded me of working with many clients. I joke with clients all the time, “it will not take long to organize and create systems but it will not happen overnight.” Sometimes you read articles, get tips, and these really work. They are immediate fixes, but they are not quite transformations. These quick fixes may not get you to your end goal, and the idea you have for it. For lasting, inner and outer transformations, sometimes you have to take small steps, and be patient. So, alas, I took on the advice that I give to clients on a daily basis.

I am so excited and happy with the look and feel of the new Rachel and Company logo. It is exactly what I want, but it was not an easy transition and took time and work, and the help of an expert. For organizing projects, especially major transformations, here are some tips to get there and not get lost along the way:

Remind yourself of your goal, and stay focused, but take time to recognize and celebrate the smaller results and enjoy the steps along the way.
Work with someone, whether that be a spouse, buddy, coach, to check in with, throughout the process — even keep a diary, or photo journal to remind yourself of how far you’ve come.
Remind yourself of why you are making a change, why it is important to you.

Here’s what you can do now. Think about what you might want to change. What is your goal, and how do you see the end result? Make a list of how you can get there. Brainstorm all the ways. Do not limit yourself. Then, pick 4. Write down why your goal is most important to you and how you imagine the end result to look and feel. Please comment below with your goals, tell us what you think of the new logo, and share this post with friends.