They say I should blog so that my website is more visible on the internet. "They", who is they? why should we listen to they?
Information overload. I read a lot. I like to study and learn about a lot of different things. I am in 2 fun bookclubs and 1 business bookclub so typically I read 3 books per month at least. Advice is plentiful on the Internet on how to get more customers, how to show up more in searches, how to take better pictures, the list goes on and on. The danger is in too much information. The skill is to decide what to do and what not to do because you can't do it all.
As we start to emerge from our shut downs of the last year or so, I have been reflecting a lot on my business, what it means, what is important, and most importantly what I want to do and how I want to do it.
I love having a local shop. I love meeting people and being part of the community, but it comes with a cost. There are investments to be made, inventory to stock, hoping customers will show up at your door, marketing to get said customers to become aware of your store, bookkeeping and that is just for the store. I also make my jewelry, so there are materials to be sourced, orders to be filled, time to create and all of the above again. This all takes time, more time than I actually have and that doesn't include any personal or family time and commitments.
I have gotten behind on orders and some things fall through the cracks and for that I apologize. I am sorry if your order took longer than expected. I get very disappointed in myself because this is not who I am or what I want to do. This past year, everything seems to take twice as much effort and twice as long. Supplies are backordered. Shipments are help up by shipping companies. And traffic and shopping just seems to be slower.
I have a daily argument in my head: Should I shut it down? vs Should I be open more days? It logically does not make sense. Nothing seems to make a lot of sense right now and it is exhausting.
I am mentally exhausted. I am tired. I have a hard time focusing and creating. This Saturday my son will be graduating from college and then we are taking a week of family vacation. I hope to refresh and renew and come back energized and ready to move forward. I do know I will be taking a step back and allowing myself more time to create. I feel this is key to everything else and something that has been missing as I tried to just survive the last year. I believe the energy to do everything else comes from those creative sessions.
I will end with this, a photo of my son and I am sure he will hate it but it is my mom brag for the month. He is graduating from Purdue with a BS in Biochemistry. He has a job lined up to begin on June 1 and we are just incredibly proud of him.
This photo is taken beneath the Purdue Bell Tower.
The legend of the Purdue Bell Tower states that the seal underneath it is cursed, and that any student who walks across the seal will not graduate in four years. I can tell you the students take this seriously and until grades are in, they will not walk under the Bell Tower.
Thank you for following me and for all of your support, without all of you there would be no business to worry about.
