People often ask me what I like most about starting my own business, and honestly the answer is probably the thing that also scares me the most at times. It’s that I don’t know it all. I’m ALWAYS having to learn new things. But, just like Daniel Tiger is teaching my kids right now, some of the best moments are when I finally get to check “that thing” off my list because I did it – ALL…BY…MYSELF. (Insert crowd cheering in the background!)
Case in point…when I was recently complaining to a friend about a less-than-ideal comment I had received from an acquaintance, my response to this friend was, “How could she say that? I can write about anything! I could write about toilets if I had to!” And so, like any good friend, she took my challenge and called me up a few days later. The conversation when something like this:
Friend: “Hey – you said you could write about anything, even about toilets. Can you write about masonry? Like a newsletter for the Nebraska Masonry Alliance?”
Me: (Palms immediately starting to sweat because I knew God had to be laughing at the predicament my big mouth had gotten me into) “Umm…I don’t know much about masonry. It will take a bit of researching on my part and a little guidance from you……..but of course! Happy to help. Send me your stuff and I’ll make you all look amazing.”
(Meanwhile, back inside Mary’s head, that little voice is saying: 1) that’s what you get for complaining, and 2) now you have to put your money where your mouth is! Go get ’em, girl!)
So I did. With a little guidance from the wonderful Linda Potter, board member of the Nebraska Masonry Alliance, quite a bit of research on my part, and a lot of imagination of what I would want to read if I was someone who worked in the masonry industry receiving this newsletter, I came up with this newsletter.
They were happy. I was happy. But more than anything…I was proud. I had learned something new – just how cool masonry is.
So the next time you drive by one of those beautiful brick buildings, think of me – learn to keep your big mouth shut! – and just know there is heart and soul poured into every one of those bricks.
