CREATIVE BIZ MARATHON

photo credit Moving closer... Feeling stronger... Committed... My questions are more calculated... My time is more focused.. I am FINALLY getting serious... TODAY, I took the first big girl business steps of registering my trade name and applying for my business license.  I feel butterflies all the way through the process trying to navigate the internet with information from well meaning friends who quip "oh it's easy" and "google how to start a small business."  But when there are still voices within you saying why are you making all this effort?  And questions on the application like "Anticipated income for this year" you wonder why you think this thing will work.  But the belief has to start with ME, you know?  2011 is the year I give it a go, legitimize this thing I do with my time. Begin...   Artist: Robin Norgren

It's Sunday and although we're in marathon mode, It's my prayer to start this year of business off, like I want to finish. It's my dream to spend Sundays Worshiping my FATHER, resting and hanging out with my family and friends. So, I will leave you with this most amazing video to ponder, what you have learned and what you will learn. CLIMB on! I'll be reading The Creative Entrepreneur today from cover to cover. No doing, just reading. 

We’re wrapping up the first 24/7 (24 hours, 7 days) of the Creative Biz Marathon.  I had a real “aha! moment” yesterday.  It was born from the rose watercolor I created on New Year’s Eve.  Amazing how my art has already fed into a jewelry idea! Before I share the “aha! moment,” here’s a short background on where it came from… Thanks to the S.W.O.T. exercise, I’d already come to a few realizations… There are thousands of competitors on Etsy in the jewelry category My designs are varied and can’t be described in unique enough words.  “handmade” and “custom” certainly are not rare in the Etsy (or jewelry market) space. That may be one reason I am not getting as many shop and item views. I may need to turn my focus to local craft shows and markets.  I need to develop a Facebook marketing plan I need better, more consistent photography More unique, higher quality products = higher price point The “promotion” exercise asked me to define my target c...

photo credit So I have a confession to make.  The reason why it took me so long to write my business plan is because I kind of was writing it in between the pages of about 7 DIFFERENT JOURNALS .  I have filled each of these haphazardly with my random thoughts for about a year.  And for some reason I couldn't seem to write these ideas ALL IN ONE PLACE . Today as I was making my bed I spotted them.  Over in the corner next to my reading chair.  And they were staring at me, asking me, "What now?"   I am a bit hesitant to look at them.  One part of me feels like that exercise helped me with THIS EXERCISE -a dress rehearsal if you will. BUT, what if there are some good ideas in there that will be locked away forever?  So I am in a quandary because I already feel like I am pressed for time and I do not want to come to the end of that exploration to find it an exercise in futility.  Yet I can't let them go just yet... 

4:25 pm CST : Face it Sonya, you too have a balance issue, and is there a better time and place to address this. Kelly did. You read it, now it's your turn. Let's get back to the book girl ... The Creative Entrepreneur by Lisa Beam. 5:47 pm CST : The right brain/left brain thing, I'm all over it. But, while working on this marathon thing with Robin, Alease, Laura, and Kelly many challenges came up, this was not something that we could stitch together. One of the challenges was how were we each going to know when to blog. Wow, this one totally caught my Right brain/left brain off guard. A few more kinks in the chain to resolve and we were off to the races. HERE IS THE ah HA moment, after working all this math/time zone stuff out for this marathon I realized how to turn the unique combinations of words in my head into ideas for fabric design ... it goes something like this .... 3 unique word to me = 9 designs, because 3X3=9, so 6 unique words to me = 36 unique desi...

Hi everyone!  I was without internet for a few days, so I am sorry that I have been absent!  I just wanted to stop in and share one exercise with you that I found interesting.  I didn't post this earlier during the marathon, but looking back at my journal, I liked this exercise.  I have always confused the different hemispheres of the brain and the thinking/feeling skills that come with each side.  This exercise helped me to understand which side handles what and to understand where the weaknesses are.  It's funny - the left side of the brain works, but only in fits and spurts.  I will go on a rampage, getting things organized, thinking about strategies and tactics, etc for a while, and I get to where I'm feeling great about things.  Then the next thing you know is POOF and all that is gone and all I want to do is avoid all of that stuff.  I see now that those times are when the right brain is dominant.  So my goal is to try and b...

I’m making a commitment to pursue my dreams in 2011 with *passion*, *persistence* and *patience*. I have found that the best way to pursue a dream is to spend at least 30 minutes a day working away at it. 30 minutes doesn’t sound like much time. I think what’s more important than the time is the daily investment. It helps turn your *dreamwork* into a habit. Plus, if it’s something you’re passionate about, it won’t feel like *work*. The best part? Before long, 30 minutes will turn into an hour, then two, then maybe more. You’ll find yourself getting lost in your dreams, and before you know it, you’ll be living your dreams! In 2011, I have a dream of becoming a better artist. My third watercolor since Christmas...it's been 10 years since I painted in watercolor! Quite honestly, I don’t *yet* consider truly consider myself an artist. My jewelry designs are a form of art to me, but I’m more comfortable with the term “jewelry-maker”. Deep down inside, though, I want to be able...

photo credit I mentioned over here that my business plan has sparked two great opportunities for me to move deeper into my dream to have a successful creative business.  With every new step of course there is a learning curve and that curve is where many well meaning and talented people quit.  So when I feel the momentum I know I need to move with it because I know that I am no one special when it comes to having the temptation to stop when the new thing seems too difficult to navigate. So the two big steps I have taken this week is to begin marketing my e-course and setting it up as an affiliate program through e-junkie .  The second step is to begin writing a game plan for submitting my art to greeting card companies.  I am already on hour #4 in setting up this ejunkie program.  And I have the 2011 Writers market guide GLARING AT ME begging to know when it is her turn?   BUT I am still moving forward.  My energy is still high.  My t...

For the past week I have been watch video series from Ittybiz.com  - How to Fail proof Your Business.  Naomi and Dave are really good at given you honest, no B.S. advice on starting your business. Of course there is a sales pitch, but not a hard one. Actually you learn a lot from the videos and there's homework assignment after each video lesson. I was able to implement most of their suggestions the same or next day. GREAT Right? Go ahead and check it out. Good a advice for FREE is worth it. Here is the link to the first video: How to Fail Proof Your Business: Ep. 1 Talk with you soon, Alease Michelle

a really bad cold =  I'm human a really bad cough =  I'm a girl a really sick brother =  I'm a siste r a really horrible anniversary =  I'm a daughter a Holiday call from my son's teacher =  I'm a mother surprise book report/projects --Tuck Everlasting =  I'm a teacher 1 copy of Tuck Everlasting delivered =  I 'm a member of an active local body of believers 2 copy of Tuck Everlasting delivered =  a friend who is always there when I really need him design computer out for repair =  a tool laptop out for repair =  a portable tool paint drying = I'm an artist

To my surprise, I spent most of the day at a Nashville hospital with my sick brother. Knowing what's on my schedule to accomplish by Tuesday, I thought of Robin. In one of her post she described how she gathered supplies for her Visual Journal before an international flight. After my sister called, to arrange to pick me up for our day trip, I quickly threw most of my journalN supplies in a bag and I was ready. I created this map while waiting, which I will later fill in with the help of Lizzy & Kristin . When ever I knowingly find myself in a medical waiting area, I always have something to read and something to write on, but this time not only was I reading but I was working on plans for my business and everyone in the hospital wanted to get a sneak peek, but I saved it just for you. Exhausted , super tired , more determined then ever , because I spent most of the day at a Nashville hospital with my sick brother and that's one of the benefits of  being a Creat...

photo credit In the last 24 hours: -I got my first student for my E-course -I got an inquiry for an affiliate program for said e-course -My web designer picked up a new client (3 this week) which means I am garnering more experience as a project manager The 24 hours prior: -I was feeling the effects of the holidays and taking on a seemingly insurmountable task (like writing a business plan in 24 hours!) -I got word that a Christmas order had not arrived though I had shipped it THREE WEEKS PRIOR -I was feeling overwhelmed by the weaknesses in my business plan What does this all mean to me?  With my heart open and my passion strong?  With the flaws exposed and the reality setting in?  I still LOVE THIS THING OF MINE .  LOVE IT AND WANT TO PURSUE IT....