Me is Getting in My Way!

by Ann
(Hudson Valley, NY)

While I do believe I have talent as an artist, artisan and jewelry designer, perhaps I lack the motivation to complete all my great creative ideas or tasks needed to actually finish a project I begin in a timely manner.

More importantly I lack the desire to do the mundane things required for a small business such as getting the funding.

All I need to do is submit my financial info to SBDC, Small Business Development Fund and do some quick edits to my Business Plan and my advisor there could quickly type and print my business plan and submit it to VESID, Social Security Adminstration's Pass Plan and my business consultant.

I am lucky to have to not pay as I am on disability.

I also need to file my business IRS quarterly return or I will be fined $50 again but I seem to procrastinate.

As a result I get nowhere fast!

Because I can't seem to follow through on anything beyond the creative end, my business suffers to the point I really don't even have one at this point because I lack the funding to actualize it.

Sad huh?! I don't think I am unique though!

There are many creative individuals out there who will never enjoy the fruits of their labor and for them having a successful business is but a dream as they seem to only be able to grasp the creative and not the business side of the business needed to really succeed.

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Me is Getting in My Way!

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taming the days of the week
by: nupur

hi! I read your story and completely agree that learning the business side of things is really an aquired skill/behavior. You can try to d something like monday- new ideas/sketches, tuesday- sourcing/new purchases, wednesday-making the actual pieces, thursday PR and marketing efforts and friday for paperwrk, bookkeeping.
Many artists wh hate routines, swear by this one and strangely, a lot gets done.
Once you see the results, you will feel motivated to keep n track.

one piece of advice, keep it flexible and you will get a lot more out of it!

Enjoy your endeavor and remember, nobody teaches us to be "good" anythings.....housekeepers, wives, mothers, coworkers, neighbors etc etc...like our many other roles, this too is a work in progress and you will evolve gradually
all the best and regards!
nupur arora
www.mymantraforbeauty.com
www.mantrabynupur.blogspot.com

Me Getting in my own way
by: Ann R.

thanks! Is a good idea to schedule daily what I will be doing. I tend to be more spontaneous. While this is great for creativity, it is not so with the business end. I do have a good head for business but I guess I just get distracted when it's just me home alone and I need help following through with things. I like the part of what you said about noone teaching us to be good anythings, we do teach ourselves. :)

-Artzstuf

Reward Yourself
by: Rena

Hi Ann,

I also have a hard time making myself do the "have-to" parts of my business that aren't fun.

One thing that gets me through them is having a reward waiting for me when I'm done with each yucky activity.

Rewards that work for me:

- I download some new music that I'm dying to hear but am not allowed to listen to till I've finished the chore I need to do.

- An ice cream sandwich awaits me when I finish.

- I get to spend some time just playing (not working) on the Internet or in my jewelry supplies when I finish.

- I get to take some time off from my business and read a novel as soon as I finish.

Having something to look forward to helps me just wade in and get the dirty work done, so I can get to my treat!

I also tend to stall on starting a project or chore if I don't quite know how to go about it. So if I break the job down into baby steps in a written list, it helps me see how easy the chore is - and I'm always surprised at how fast it is to actually finish a chore that I've built up into an impassable mountain in my mind!

Me in my way!
by: Anonymous

So true REna..part acts in this case avail us much! I also think it is important to credit ourselves tho for this great undertaking of starting a business as so few ever dare attempt such a daunting task, especially in these touch economic times! If given a choice between eggs,butter and milk or a pair of my earrings, I think the majority of people will choose the food; however I also don't think $ 15 is really going to hurt anyone and that we all do need to reward ourselves and treat us from time to time, even in a REcession!! Thank again Rena for your gift of a site full of wonderful info for a jewelry designer who has a business from home.

-Artzstuf