Beat Those Winter Doldrums!

Oh, winter. Business is SLOW and I, for one, am having a hard time fighting the tendency for that to turn me into a big lazy slug. There are so many things to enhance my business that I never have time to do during the rest of the year that I could be using this time to do but I just don't feel like it. This may be because it won't be clear whether doing them is having the desired effect without the regular contact with customers that heavier selling activity brings. Maybe. But that's no excuse. No! Spring will be here before we know it (it really will; I should know this by now)
and I'll be so very annoyed with myself if I haven't knocked at least a few things off my list.

So, going forward, here's what I am going to get off my butt and do. Maybe you have a similar list. If so, get going! Sluggishness be damned!

1. Turn my Gmail list into a real mailing list with Mail Chimp (or some other such email marketing application/provider). I started this project a while ago but got hung up on formatting the addresses. What more satisfying way to spend a quiet winter's eve than curling up on the couch with the laptop and slaying that dragon?

2. Replenish stock, specifically, of paper-mache birds. I never thought I'd see the day but all the members of my longstanding flock have flown away. I actually also started this project a few weeks ago and was pleased to find several bird bodies already well under way. Time to take them out of the oven (where I put them to dry) and get them chirping. 

3. Create new designs. In particular, I've had lots of requests for giraffe and squirrel magnets/pendants. I did take a crack at a giraffe not too long ago. It was just a sketch, but still, it was a start. The squirrel still daunts me, but success begets success (right?) so, if I get that giraffe done the squirrel is sure to follow (I'm not completely convinced of this but I think it's a good, positive idea to carry into the task).

Making this list has been therapeutic. I now have a clear, manageable set of things that I'm confident I can accomplish (my doubts about the squirrel design notwithstanding), and I've discovered that I've already started all of them. I don't have to motivate myself to start anything new, but rather just to pick up where I left off. Yay. 

So, beat your winter slug with a list! 

Until next time -

Linda 

Purty Bird

I set goals...now what?

{Rosie! The Biz Ladies cheerleader on Design Sponge}

The beginning of a new year means one thing. No, not hangovers! Ok, maybe those, but also everyone is talking about goal setting & I swear no one does it more than those of us in the handmade/small business category. All year long we are evaluating, changing, adjusting. This time of the year is prime for doing those things big picture style.

Got Goals?

Yes! But, now what? That's what I have struggled with in the past. How will I work toward these ideas every day? Last year my goals were to:

1. Produce more work

2. Focus. 

Kind of a do-more-by-doing-less approach there on number 2. Did I accomplish them? Yes...loosely. Mostly by sitting down & sketching out ideas. Many of them made it to the computer. Not many of them made it onto my shop, but design development takes time & I can't say it was easy to focus on one design at a time. So, can I do it differently? Well, yes...I'm glad you asked. Here's how...

New Year, New Strategy

I want to approach this goal setting/achieving differently this year. I don't want to load a bunch of pressure on myself, but my custom business grew leaps this year & I want to keep that momentum going. It's important to me to have a plan of attack. Here are a few links & tricks I've found helpful so far:

Designing an MBA: 4 Steps to your Best Business Year

Hello point number 1! Pick one point of focus because when you have a clearly defined point of focus, making those decisions becomes a whole lot easier. It's really a recycling of my goal last year, but now I see a better way to achieve it. My strategy is going to be break my focal points down by quarters. One point for the whole year is scary & feels like I'm climbing a mountain. I got a lot of mountains to climb!

Heartmade: Life is Messy Planners 2.0

Yes, these helpful worksheets are $40, but I need some ways to break down what I do each day/week. A $40 investment vs the money I will make if these work for me = no brainer to try them. Plus, who doesn't want to look at Mayi Carles little illustrations every day?

Rena Tom: Visions of a New Year

I have a big bulletin board above my desk (this one, actually, in case one of your goals is to redecorate your office space. Love!). WomansMedia.com suggests that visualizing yourself achieving your goals is half the battle. Done.

Clearly the World Wide Web has millions of sources for goal setting (pls share yours in the comments!!) and these are 3 places I have found helpful. The aforementioned article I read on Woman's Media.com noted that research shows people who write down their goals are more likely to achieve them. So, while there is not a right or wrong way to plan & execute your goals (see number 2 in the Designing an MBA article), writing them down seems like a good place to start. It certainly makes them easier to reference during the year.

Don't think that I didn't notice that I haven't actually stated my 2012 goals in this post. I know. They are still under refinement. I can't just say "I'm going to conquer the world!" and focus on it. So, I'm further breaking them down. Stay tuned. I'll see you back here for goal specifics in my next post & updates through out the year.

Best wishes & blessings for all our blogging/crafting community. Happy New Year, Everyone! 

Kerry

NewNew New Year's Resolutions

Happy 2012!

So, it's a new year. Time to turn the page and look ahead. What do you want to start, finish, do, get, or be more of or less of in the coming 12 months?

A few brave NewNewers shared their resolutions with the rest of us. Here's what they said.

After she rearranges her studio to improve efficiency (i.e., not having to look for tools and having materials all in one spot), May of TakeMeHomeware resolves to fine-tune her production cycle, which means giving herself more time to make the work.

Jenny of J. Topolski reolves to start wax-carving, which will enable her to make smaller, less expensive versions of her statement necklaces, and to offer more expensive sized rings instead of just adjustable bands. She also plans to start using Quickbooks accounting software, to grow her wholesale business, and to travel to art/craft shows in distant cities.

Nadine of HeartFelt4Kids also wants to refine her product line, to include more of what's selling, namely, vintage style children's clothing and accessories. She also plans to concentrate on getting great product pictures using models.

I personally don't typically make New Year's resolutions. Too much pressure, and I'm always trying to improve on something. At the same time, the start of a new year does present an opportunity to take stock and set goals, and to do so in good company. There's power in committing oneself to change as part of an annual public ritual that doing so privately on an ongoing basis doesn't. This may make the difference between wanting to do or change something and actually doing or changing it.

With that as my working hypothesis, I'm somewhat nervously going to break with tradition and make one teeny-tiny resolution this year. Inspired by May, I'm going to reorganize my workspace so that I don't have to move stuff around every time I need to get at something.

Wish me luck!

Until next time,

 

Linda
Purty Bird

Make your own Value Cards

 

Value cards made by Louise

How can we live our life authentically if we don't understand what our values are? Today we are going to spend some time, identifying and re-connecting with our values, creating some artwork around them so we can keep them close by to remind us.

When you are aligned with your values and live your life with those in mind, you will feel fulfilled and energized. If values are not reflected in your work or daily life, if you are compromising your values, then you may feel resentful, frustrated and burned out.

Identifying values from anger

Think about the kind of things that have made you angry. What was happening? What is it about these situations that upset you the most? Write down your descriptions and flip them around - these can help you identify what you value. Anger can indicate a trampled value. When you are feeling unsatisfied and angry about something, chances are your values are not being honored.

Who do you Admire & Why?

Looking at people you admire - whether they are friends or people in the public eye can help you identify what your own core values are. It helps to think about what you admire in these people to help you unearth what means the most to you.

Deck of Value Cards

Creating a deck of Value cards (like the ones in the picture above) will help you consciously focus on one value at a time. You can simply use index cards, pictures and letters/words from magazines and bind them together using a binder ring or tie with a ribbon. Similar to when the newnew blog covered making a vision board, you can create mini cards to hang around your studio or bedroom.

• Create a list of your values
• Download the Values document to get you started.
• You can use the exercises above related to anger and looking at what you admire in other people to create your list of your own values.
• Choose 3-5 to create a card deck of your values. Feel free to create more if you wish. You will need:
  
  • Index cards/cardboard either 4x6 or 5x7 (pick a size that feels comfortable to you)
  • Magazines
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Hole punch (optional)
  • A binding ring or some ribbon

ENJOY!

Louise Gale - Your Creative Career Consultant for The New New Blog

Do You have a Word for 2011?

Last month we took a look at Creating Your Vision Board for the year ahead, gathering images and words to attract all the fabulous things you wanted in your life. Today we are looking at Words and Themes. Do you have one for the year?

Choosing a word or a theme sparks energy and meaning and this can be used to help you focus as you make decisions, taking you towards the right path. It may be something like "Leap" if you are looking to make a huge change, or "cultivate" if there are things you'd like to grow.

Think about the following three areas when deciding on your Theme/Word of the Year.

Be Clear
Being clear and having clarity is a key part for attracting and manifesting your desires. Starting off with a foggy outlook will really muddle things along the way. You will be able to articulate clearly what your word/theme means to you.

Be Authentic
Being authentic is how we can connect with what it is we truly desire, not what we think others think we should be doing. Your Word will be authentic to YOU.

Be Aware
Being aware of what you are focusing on and how you are approaching things is important. Don't just choose "wealth" as your word. You don't have a magic wand to make this appear. Think beyond that. The word you choose will teach you more about you and who you are. Awareness is key, it will allow you to learn, question and clarify everything that comes your way. By having a theme/word, this will stay with you to tune in your awareness of everything going on.

If this is your first time choosing a word or a theme, don't worry about "choosing the perfect word", but please do promise yourself that you will follow this practice every year as it will get better and better. You will find it easier to have clarity, be authentic and aware and live your word to its fullest.

Take Action Now!

• Download the *FREE* Word of the Year worksheet and work through the questions to find your Word/Theme.  These questions will help you get clear about your word (the what) and what your motivation will be (the why)
• Did you have a word for last year? If so, tell us below and why, then tell us what your word for this year is and why.
• Creative prompt: Create a garland of letters to make up your word or theme and hang it somewhere prominent so you can see it everyday.
• Creative prompt:  Create a piece of artwork or a page to put into your journal with your word and hang it on the wall. 

Until next time.....

Louise Gale - Your Creative Career Consultant for The New New Blog
"Dream-Inspire-Create"

How To: Create a Vision Board of your Dreams

Louise with her Vision Board for 2011

Have you created your 2011 Vision Board yet?

If not or you have no idea what a Vision Board is, read this "How To" post to start attracting the life of your dreams. No matter where you are now, using a vision board can help you focus and attract all the right things into your life in a fun creative way! Download this FREE info sheet to find out more.

Materials Needed

• Thick card or poster board of any size. 
• Magazines of all kinds (you never know where your visions will be found)
• Glue – I like to use acrylic medium which is what I use in my mixed media creations – you can also use elmers glue or a regular glue stick.
• White sage (optional)
• Your favorite music – something restful to help your mind be quiet and open.
• You can also do this alone, with family or a group of friends. 

Before You get started: Take part in a grounding ritual

• Put on your favorite restful music 
• Burn some white sage for purification in the air and to create a clear environment. (optional) 
• Close your eyes and ask what you would like to invite into your life. Set the intent for the activity.

Steps to creating your vision board

1. Go through your magazines and start collecting images and words that resonate with you (don’t glue anything yet!).  Take your time, this is a powerful exercise to attract your visions. Spend a good few hours finding your images and words.
   
   
2. Start to go through your images and lay them out on your board. This is a highly intuitive part of the exercise so feel free to move them about, take out ones that no longer feel right, you may see a theme starting to emerge.
   
   
3. Firstly paste a photo of yourself, smiling happily to show the expression when all these things come true in your life.
   
   
4. When you are ready, start to glue your images and words onto the board. You can also draw and add additional words yourself as you build your imagery.
   
   
5. When you feel like you have completed your board, hang it somewhere prominent for you to see everyday.

There’s no right or wrong way here, just go with your instincts and be open – this is the most important thing. You may be surprised with what comes out! There are also different kinds of Vision Boards, so download this FREE info sheet to learn more. 

ADD COMMENTS BELOW: Let's share our Vision Boards! If you have blogged about your vision board or have a photo, why not post a link in the comments below. Also tell us what you think about Vision Boards and how they have helped you follow your dreams if you have used them before.

Thanks
Louise

"Dream, Inspire, Create"