Making or Teaching?

Well today is much like most of my days. The ones most of my social media followers never see. They are the ones where my 'To Do" list is a mile long. There are the things I plan for the night before and then of course, something might come up that requires me to consider, do I change my current schedule to accommodate this " new thing?" or do I add it to the bottom in hopes I might get around to it?

Running a small business is NO easy task. There are all the perks people see from making money, to being "successful" and I use that term loosely because everyone's version of successful is different. But the truth is, that I struggle with all the same issues as someone just starting out, the fact is that I've just been struggling a bit longer.

From knowing how to take the idea of teaching people how to make what I just did, and then turn that into selling that product and all the other things that come down to that. I guess that's where, first of all, I'm blessed that God is giving me this chapter at this stage in my life. He has taken years of experience as a corporate trainer and allowing me to use those skills and teach moms, women and grandmom's how to do it too.

Oh but what they don't see is sometimes like the wizard of Oz. All they see is this organized person who floats into camera view each Friday Night and has all her ducks in a row. Ha, if only they could see what happens two hours before that LIVE airs. But that is the beauty of LIVES is the opportunity to ask the person you're watching a question and hoping they'll answer. My personal goal is to get through as many of those questions as possible in the time it takes me to make a wreath, so that that one person feels like they matter. All my followers and watchers matter. To thing that they find something I say or do worthy of carving out time, still blows me away. Thank you to all who do.

So in the wreath making industry right now is what I call transition time. It also means its a down time for us. Parents are busy getting their summer plans in order, moms are finalize details and the last thing she is thinking of is, "Oh you know we need a new wreath for our front door?"

No, that is probably the last thing from her mind. In fact, she won't think about her home decor until the kiddos are back in school and she can once more think of what would make her front door more inviting.

So during this transition stage is the time I tell my creatives, that you can learn more techniques, more designs and start making preparations for our busy time. It's taking that class you never had time for. It's joining a group that might help you learn more to improve your business or marketing skills. This is the time to get things ready. Sadly though most don't and simply toss in the towel. They find that during this time, since nothing is selling, they simply don't have what it takes.

But they do. They just don't often times understand how I get through the lean months. It's marketing like crazy. It's pinning almost 200 pins a day on my Pinterest page. It's posting 4 or more times on Facebook and Instagram. It's taking classes on how to improve on marketing or taking better photos or what apps might allow you to simplify your life more.

So it becomes a bit of teaching while also finding new things to make in the process. But you know I wouldn't give it up for anything. Knowing I am helping women find purpose in what they make and even for some, turn it into a small business of their own makes it all worth it.

Dealing with Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks!

It seems like everywhere I look, someone is learning how to make wreaths. Is there any wonder that there would be such competition among creatives and women looking to make their home beautiful while at the same time, building a small business or at least making some money doing their 'hobby?'

This is why I am always telling my group that in order to stay competitive in an industry you have to expand your thinking a bit. You can't simply sit back, make a few wreaths and sell them at your local craft fairs. You may make some money but not like you could if you simply rethink who your buyers and sellers are and why there is such a difference in the prices one might pay for a wreath.

Sure you're going to have those that make them for $20-35 dollars all day long, using supplies they find at their local dollar stores, but the quality also shows. When you get into the business of wreath making at almost full time, you can see where they're cutting corners or how much they're really spending and they are selling their wreaths at a loss instead of making any profit. So what can you do to stay competitive in a highly competitive world?

You have to learn new things. I don't mean learn new techniques, but also how to find that buyer who really wants what you have to sell. To create a loyal customer base, to learn the best ways to market your wreath and how to begin to turn more than just a profit. I guess you have to ask yourself, just how much time to you have to invest in bettering yourself and your business. Trust me, some people simply want to sell $100.00 wreaths all day long, but struggle because either (1) they are pricing them way too high for what work or materials they put into them, (2) their picture quality won't sell a buyer to give them more than a casual glance, or (3) they don't care about their customers or their product, they're too excited to make money.

Now while the old saying of "in order to make money, you have to spend money is true" to a degree, you can offer high quality products by simply being savvy, but in also spending money to learn more. I am paying for a private class in teaching me more than simply how to make a wreath, but also different ways to save money, build more things like floral arrangements and garlands. I also take a monthly business class that teaches me how to use social media as a way of marketing to potential customers for free, how to manage my business, from taking great pictures to engaging my customers and viewers by stepping out of your comfort zone. I guess the real question is how much are you willing to invest to make what you're doing successful. You have to be willing to risk something. The question really is, are you ready to do whatever it takes to get you there? 

By the way if you're interested in my wreaths, you can find them at Kat's Creations!

A Very Busy Life

To say that I am busy in any one particular day might be an understatement.

I often lie awake in bed unable to sleep with such a large "To Do" list looming ahead of me for the following day. When Steve is out traveling for work, then all of the daily things needing to be done, fall on my shoulders. It makes me wonder just how much sleep can I skip out on, and still get it all done. I find myself staying up later trying to cram it all in, in hopes that tomorrow might have less things needing to get done in it.

Starting a small home based business can be fun, but it is a lot of hard work. You have to not only make the product, but market it, post about it, and get it sold if you can really say you have a home based business. You have to sell quite a bit to get it from simply being a hobby, to being a business as well. So you have to also become a part time accountant. You need to know if you are really turning a profit or merely trading supplies from one project to the next.

You also have to stay up with the latest trends because business now a days are not run like they used to be. Everything I am discovering is that it is all online driven, so you also have to be your own shipping and receiving as well as Customer Service department as well. I can't wait to be able to hire those who are really good at what they do from handing operating and maintaining a website, obtaining more supplies, production, marketing, oh you can see where this is going on top of spending some time learning about the business trends of a home based business.

Doing it in your mid-50's isn't hard, it just is mastering where your proficiencies are. Good luck with that. Plus there are so many variables you don't consider in doing that. You have to put in an 8-hour day if you hope to make this a full time business. For me, it is keeping it fresh and fun, while still using the talents and time God has given you to keep things interesting. So when I am not running my small business, I am still reviewing books, even though I have cut it back by 200%. No longer reading them every single day, I have scaled it back to 2 per week, but even that can seem difficult as well.

You want to be great at it all, but some days just seem a bit overwhelming. Like yesterday, I had gotten so far behind on my devotions and reading my Bible, that it was going to take some time. It was something I didn't want to stop doing, and found there is blessings when you are obedient to God over your own wants and needs. He can help you to manage your schedule, to help build your business and thankfully use the talents and resources He has provided to help you move forward just a bit day by day.

So remember, if you feel down in the dumps or overwhelmed, grab your Bible, spend some time with God first, and see how much better your day can go.