Today was my first day of a two-day Holistic Fair in Clarkston, WA. I have a booth from which I sell my books (there’s four of them now), some greeting cards, some decks of inspiration cards, and I invite people to register for my next Power Word workshop. It was a first for me. So the question people are asking is, “How did you do?”

My first response is:  So-so. I sold a couple of books, a few cards, and six or seven decks of inspirations cards. Several people took the flyer about the upcoming workshop. So far I’ve made about half of the money I paid to have the booth. Maybe tomorrow will complete the balance.

The real answer is that it was meaningful to talk with so many people. Sure, some quickly passed by my booth, avoiding eye contact. I get it. I That used to often be me at vendor fairs. But a good number of them paused and we had brief conversations and I was able to hear a little about what they’re looking for, and answer questions they had about what I was offering. Throughout the day my thinking shifted. I started focused on wanting to sell. To make money. But I finished realizing that I want to connect. I need relationships. I need people. So by the time I left my booth I was no longer looking for what they could do for me—like buy my books or invite me to come speak to a group—I was appreciating the opportunity to talk with people I would have otherwise not met.

It brought me back to my purpose for what I do. It brought me back to my mission. At its core, it’s about connecting with people. It’s about sharing what I have to give. It’s about relationships.  So, How did it go? “It was a good day, and I look forward to going back tomorrow.”