When Life is Messy, Do You Ever Wonder if You're Being Tone Deaf?
“Am I coming across as tone deaf if I put myself out there and promote and sell my services right now — given the state of the world?”
This is a question I’ve privately asked myself multiple times this year. I mean… 👀
Recently, I shared with one of my business-besties how I’d been noodling on this question. Yes, I know the answer is “no.” Still, it felt good to hear that reassurance from them — and later, from other entrepreneurs and business owners in my circle.
It would be so lovely if the world in which we live and work wasn’t always in transition — and if some of those periods weren’t as challenging as they are right now. But alas, we don’t live in a perfect utopia.
Which means that one of our “jobs” is to show up and do what we do the best we can - rain or shine and everything in between.
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
(If you can relate, please know you are not alone!)
Here’s the thing: being tone deaf doesn’t mean putting yourself out there. It looks more like…
Pretending nothing is happening when the world is visibly on fire.
Using high-pressure “buy now or else” tactics when people and businesses are being financially cautious — and some are simply financially stretched.
Ignoring the emotional climate of your audience and making every message only about you.
That’s being tone deaf!
And dare I say: disconnected.
But showing up with awareness, empathy, and clarity about the value of your offer and its positive impact? That’s not tone deaf — that’s leadership.
And it’s in these very moments of doubt and decision that our choices become signals — about what we value, what we prioritize, and sometimes even what we fear.
It’s one of the many, many reasons I never take for granted when someone chooses to work with me.
So, when someone says “yes” during times of transition — whether personal or shaped by larger economic, political, or social forces — it lands differently for me. I know how much negative self-talk and noise they’ve had to quiet to get to that yes, because I’ve had to do the same to get to my own “yes.”
The choice to start, stop, or continue something when circumstances shift (especially when that shift isn’t in your control) tells a story about your relationship with money, business, and yourself.
The question is: what story is it telling?
In fact, money often makes those signals visible.
I often tell people I can infer a lot about what’s going on in their life and business from the patterns I notice when I review their banking and credit card statements.
The same can also be said when you unpack your choices and the signals they send. For example:
When circumstances around you shift, what’s the first thing you tend to do — pause, act quickly, or wait it out? What does that signal about you?
Which of your recent choices (to start, stop, or continue something) feels most aligned with your values — and which one doesn’t?
If someone were to “read” the story of your choices during this transition, what would they notice about your priorities, fears, or hopes?
Of course, part of what makes your choices so powerful — and sometimes so complicated — is that you’re often making them in the midst of a degree of uncertainty that always comes with periods of transition.
AKA: when things are messy…
The thing about transitions is that they test you. And in doing so, they also offer a chance to reset how you show up - particularly in business.
If pricing is one of the areas where you feel that tension, join me this Thursday for the Pricing Made Human® Masterclass. We’ll explore how to price with confidence, clarity, and humanity — no matter what’s happening around us.
I’ll hope you’ll join us — 👉 [Reserve your spot today]
About Jacquette
I love to ask questions and spark aha moments. I love to talk about why success with money is about more than just the numbers, and how the cultural impact on the intersection of money, business, and life matters–A LOT! And, I really hope I help people feel seen, heard, and not judged—especially since money is emotional and personal.
