July 2011
22 posts
6 tags
MIA
Been a little busy as of late. Trying to work a full time job while taking actions to kickstart the job I WANT to do (my business) is incredibly exhausting and rewarding at the same time. It tends to lead to the occasional bits of blog silence now and then. Will post more about our test weekend soon.
3 tags
You've been warned.
Just a quick message for the spammers out there or anyone who’s thinking of using this blog for spam: I actively maintain this blog on a weekly basis. If I see you liking posts on my blog and trying to use it to perpetuate your junk, you will be blocked and you will be reported.
6 tags
Fun is permitted & ENCOURAGED
Wow - I just had a major moment of insight and introspection just a little while ago. As mentioned in a prior post, I was struggling and fighting tooth and nail to write the first ad to promote my business. I couldn’t figure out why I was struggling.
Tonight - I went through the same process. I kept fighting tooth and nail trying to write ad copy with my business partner. We finally wrote...
7 tags
Timing is everything
The title of this post is 110% true in business, particularly when it comes to advertising. It turns out that the local shopper publication I want to advertise in needs a week of lead time. Which means I’m going to miss getting my announcement about the July 23/July 24 grand opening in this week’s paper. Gorram it.
So - the solution might be a “soft”, word-of-mouth...
6 tags
What am I DOING here?
OK - time for me to take a shot at question #2:
What do I really hope to accomplish?
Here’s the deal: I think I have the ability to achieve amazing, earth-shattering things if I can just get the Hell out of my own way. My goal is fairly simple: I want to change, for the better, the lives of everyone touched by this business.
Example #1: I provide the bulk of financial support for my...
5 tags
Why now?
So - I’m back to tackle the first question from my last post:
“Why am I undertaking this effort of starting a business now?”
There are a couple of answers to this query. First - I think Watkins has products which people need and want now in the town where I’m opening up my business. People are generally looking to have less chemicals in their home and are looking for...
6 tags
Why am I here?
OK - last thought for today, then it’s break time for a few episodes of Game of Thrones.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking as of late. Most of this mental process was triggered by the ups and downs I experienced while trying to market my business. First, I thought I had to make the first ad out of the gate “perfect” (whatever the Hell that means). It had to be the best...
7 tags
Commercial break
Taking a moment to say hello to my latest followers: danhefferan from my thoughts on everything, macgregordennis from Realizing Ideas and The Relay Foundation. Thanks for coming on board!
4 tags
“Stop using the words “entrepreneurship” and “entrepreneur.” Today they connote...”
– Things Academia Gets Wrong About Entrepreneurship
Applies to any kind of “art”. Are you just talking about creating or are you actually producing something? (via thehabitofthinking)
I found this article through The Relay Foundation Tumblr blog. Starting to rethink the term...
6 tags
Polar opposites
OK - starting to get a feel for this whole marketing concept. I’m learning that in this case, I have seen the enemy, and he is me. Meaning: I was worrying and panicking about marketing because, quite frankly, the concept of selling myself scares me. I’ve never been a master networker or gifted with a silver tongue, so I wonder why it is people would be willing to hear what I have to...
tumblrbot asked: WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?
8 tags
Business owner, market thyself
Feeling an IMMENSE amount of pressure at the moment. I am trying to write some ad copy for my business to help drive customers to visit us when we have our grand opening (July 23 & 24…ACK!!).
I learned back in college how to write for broadcast, but never learned anything about marketing. Broadcast writing is grounded in the premise that you write from facts (who, what, where,...
5 tags
6 tags
5 tags
Choices and compromises
My friend/accountant/business partner/fellow crazy person and I find ourselves occupying an awkward space at the moment. On one hand, we’re dying to get a weekend where we can relax and blow off some steam. On the other, we’re a couple of completionists who just want the damn business booth DONE. We are stupid amounts of close to getting everything in place. I find we’re each...
6 tags
Pulling the trigger
OK…deep breath and…GO!! I’m placing the first inventory order for Watkins products for the flea market booth right now. I am breathing deeply and trying like mad not to panic. It’s hard watching capital go out the door, but I know it’s going to be worth the risk. I have to keep repeating the mantra: “It’s for the business….it’s for the...
7 tags
Props
I’m taking a moment from posting about my business to say hello to my followers thus far: The Startup Pirates and nerdsaresexy75. Hi!
5 tags
5 tags
5 tags
Time to make the donuts...
Good morning everyone. My friend/business partner and I are back at it today. We have to finish building out the booth and work on getting product shipped in from Watkins. One of the many lessons I’m learning about being a business owner is that I can’t rest on my laurels. Although we did get quite a bit accomplished, we still have work to do to get up, running and frankly,...
4 tags
5 tags
Running On Fumes
I don’t remember the last time I was this wiped. It’s not working on my business that’s leading me to feel tired. I have energy to handle that all day long. Rather, it’s everything else. It’s hard to keep going on the “day job” when you know you want to be actively working on your own business.
For those wondering, yes, I do still have a day job…which I will keep doing until they decide to lay...
