S.Q.U.I.D. Day!

       Today is a special day for my company, but also an uncomfortable one. Let me come straight out of the gate by saying that I don't like to be criticized. I am just like every other human being. When you tell me all of the ways that I've failed, I'm not going to immediately thank you sweetly and earnestly for "helping" me to not be a failure. My "fight or flight" mechanism will get fired up.  I'll get defensive and come up with reasons for why I am NOT a failure, and why things proceeded the way they did.  However, as we all know, that is not helpful.

       I worry also that we live in a time where, socially, "constructive" criticism has died. We're all painfully aware of the rampant cruelty that goes on in social media, forums, blog comments, and even freaking amazon reviews (I just read one the other day where a lady ripped another lady a new hole over a makeup SPONGE!).  We've all most likely been on both ends, whether we would like to admit it or not. If you've ever argued with someone or tried to get them to see how you're right and they're wrong...you've been on both ends, my friend.
         

          But, holy night, where is the proper place for HELPING people to grow, and being honest with them about issues that have arisen? Even though I don't like to ever get an email with a problem in our company, usually, after a few days, I realize how absolutely valuable those emails are!!  If we never ever had anyone be honest with us about issues that they've had, my company probably would have died years ago.

       Which brings me to go the goal for today. As I grow my company to slightly larger than just me and my husband, there are inevitable things we have to face.  Every company in the whole history of history goes through something like this, and NO ONE is immune.  To think that you wouldn't suffer communication issues, quality challenges, and frustrated customers would be like to imagine that you could marry another person and never have a single fight, never be annoyed with their words and actions, and always snuggle and love them no matter what! *gling*  Cough. Today, we are bringing up issues, feelings, criticism, and discomfort.  Hopefully, we will also get to the part where I tell everyone how awesome they are and how amazing their attitudes are and how much I appreciate all of them!

         All the same, I'm still so flabbergasted when there IS any issues. I think, "What the crap, I've been doing this for 11 years! I should be perfect!"  Then comes the guilt..the shame....the beating up of myself...the putting the angry customer email on a CONSTANT loop in my head that plays over and over and over and over and over and no wonder I like cake so much.  Alas.....either way, today is about me and my team talking with candor, love, and appreciation. We're going to start at the beginning of the corset making progress, and go all the way to the end, with all of us together, watching the process, and I'm going to address EVERY customer complaint that I can THINK of for the last 11 years of being in business.
 
         Am I freaking out? yes. I feel like I'm back in high-school, being bullied and having completely inappropriate things said to me, and then feeling all of those feelings......however, I'm ADDRESSING these feelings head-on, instead of channeling my frustration and insecurity into....let's say...online comments on youtube. yeah.