The Ups and the Downs

What happens when the business you have been building and working on has down times? For me, what happens when a customer cancels your service? Whether it is a one time cancellation or a permanent cancellation, the loss of income is going to hurt.

I happen to be running into that issue today! First thing this morning, a customer cancelled my service permanently. I kind of thought this wouldn't last anyway. She is a young, newly divorced mom with a three year old. When I gave her an estimate, she immediately worked me on lowering the price... which I did. And then she wouldn't stop talking about how "guilty" she felt hiring someone to clean her house.

A few hours later, another client called to cancel me for this week. She was able to catch up with the house chores during the long weekend.

Am I upset? You bet. This is a huge blow to my income. However, as hard as it is to not be upset, I have to put my faith in God.

Okay, I am a Christian woman. So, putting my faith in God should be an easy thing to do, right? Well, no, not always. Sure, I most certainly do believe that He is going to take care of this. The faith side of me knows that. But it also knows that He may not take care of things the way I hope that He does. Which, of course, would be two new customers! Human thinking.

Here is where my faith thinking "common senses" with my human thinking. I have mentioned before that house cleaning is not what I want to do long term. I also mentioned that I had another idea(s) for that long term business venture (more on that at a later time). My faith tells me that this is God's way of encouraging me to put more focus on that and not use the cleaning success to slow it down.

How do you handle your disappointments?

Now what?

Wow! You did it! You found your passion. You started your business. You've become successful and happily are rolling along. Now what?

Now what? You have finally achieved what you have been hoping for and, all of a sudden, you find yourself wondering if it was worth the sacrifices. If it is worth the time, the energy, the effort! Yes, you will get to that point. It is the natural, progression of our human nature. Wanting what we want until we get it.

Being a Christian woman, I know that God does not make mistakes. I know that He put me here for a reason! My initial reason for wanting to do this, obviously, was selfish. I wanted Weltson. For those of you who don't know about Weltson, you can find out about him in earlier posts. But, seeing as I think he is so photogenic, here he is (we are):

Let me tell you, selfish reason(s) WILL NOT keep you going. This operating your own business (any business) is HARD work. Time consuming work. Stressful work. This is YOUR responsibility and your responsibility alone. You are solely responsible for everything having to do with it. And, again, I cannot stress this enough, selfish reasons will not keep you going. Oh, and did I make my point, YOUR responsibility. If things are good, you get the credit. If things are bad, you get the blame. Are you prepared for that? Is what you want worth that? Doesn't matter if you are having a good day or a bad day. If you are not feeling well, the customer must be taken care of. The business must be tended to.

My answer? No, selfish reasons alone, Weltson alone, is NOT what keeps me going. However, God has kept me going. Let me tell you, there have been many days that I did not want to go and clean someone else's house. I did not want to deal with changing bed linens, scuff marks on doors, dusty baseboards, dirty toilets!

First, He has given me a sense of responsibility I have never known before. Sure, taking care of my family is a huge responsibility. But, if I don't clean the bathroom today, it will be there tomorrow. If a week comes and goes and I didn't change the sheets, they are not going to fire me for not doing my job. If there are dirty dishes in the sink, someone else will put them in the dishwasher (well, most of the time anyway!). What I am trying to say here is that family allows for the days when you just don't want to.  When dealing with a customer, a client that is paying you for a service or product, there is no buffer. They want what they want when they want it.

Therefore, I thank God for instilling in me responsibility for others. For giving me the strength I need each and every day to do what is right by those to whom I have made a commitment.

Independence. Being a business owner has allowed me to make my own choices and decisions, without having to get someone else's permission. Let me say this... SCARY! But, oh so invigorating as well! It allows me to be an individual in my own right. Not just the wife, mother or daughter of so and so.

For this, I thank God for getting me out of my comfort zone and allowing me (with His guidance) to find my own way. Strengthening my self-confidence.

Respect. Wow! I have, probably for the very first time, truly earned the respect of so many people. For me, most importantly, I have earned the respect of my husband and children. When I began this endeavor, none of them believed I could or would succeed. Goodness, they didn't even believe I would actually get started. Let alone become successful enough to quit my "regular" job or to be able to purchase and support Weltson!

For this? For this I thank and praise God for blessing me so abundantly. For filling me with a sense of self-worth I have never ever known before. For giving me the strength I needed to get out of bed when my body aches and my back or hips refuse to cooperate. For His giving me the will to keep going when all I wanted to do was quit.

Awakening to the fact that even though all I may be doing is "cleaning houses" - it is a task that I know truly helps others.

I talked about support of family and friends in an earlier post. Believe it or not, some people I've shared with (whose support I hoped to have) pointed out to me that house cleaning is a "lowly" endeavor. One that they were surprised I would undertake for fear of "others finding it demeaning." Which, of course, convinced me that THEY were the ones to actually believe it so.

For this, I thank God for giving me the courage to follow through with HIS plan. For not leaning on my own understanding but for having the faith to believe in Him.

For this, all of this, I am so very thankful!

What about the family???

My Rule No. 4 - Family Support. I have to be honest here... it's great if you can get it.

When I finally made the decision to start my housecleaning business, I didn't get a lot of support. To be perfectly candid, I didn't get any support. A mom of three (ages 25, 15 and 11) My two younger children didn't have an opinion either way. My oldest and my husband, on the other hand, both told me how I would never be able to do it. How I shouldn't even try to do it.  "You never follow through on anything. You are in pain all the time as it is, you'll never be able to handle it physically. How are you going to find clients?" Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Okay, so I've talked a blue streak for years about what new business venture I was "going to do." Okay, so I've got fibromyalgia and will be 50 years old in a year and a half. So what. This time was different and I was going to show them.

Show them I did. In spite of them (or maybe in spite of myself), with constant prayer and God's help, I did it. It is funny. Even after I got my first client, they still told me that it wouldn't last for long. Well now, client number two and still they doubted. Guess what? Client number three was a "wait, stop, maybe she can do this." By client number four, my husband was talking about how "if you keep going at this rate..." By client number five (and paying for Weltson all by myself), they really took notice. "At this rate, you can quit your regular job." "At this rate, you'll be able to have him paid off in no time." "At this rate..."

How important is family support? I don't believe that I can answer that for anyone. For some, it may be everything. It may be so important, that you simply cannot get started without it. For others, it may be wanted but not needed. And for others, who may be like me, completely bent on making it work (no matter what anyone says), you will succeed with or without it.

Would I have liked to have had their support and encouragement? You bet. It certainly would have made it a lot easier to get started. And, it is probably why so many other thoughts about and attempts at self-employment in the past failed. I simply wasn't passionate enough about "something" to make it happen. And assumed that, without their support, failure was guaranteed. This is where we come full circle, without passion, no matter whose support you do or don't have, it won't work.

So, just HOW important is family support? If you are anything like me, it is important but certainly NOT needed. You must be the judge of that.

Rule No. 2? Rule No. 3 even!!!

You say to yourself... "Self... I've got the passion!"  Now what? For me... it was, what on earth do I have the passion to do??? We come to Rule No. 2... deciding what to do!

The first thing you should think about are all of your talents. YES ladies, you do have talents!
T-H-I-N-K! Think about everything you do... whether it has to do with your home life... cleaning, organizing, cooking, baking, arts & crafts, giving advice, sewing, taking care of kids, being on your computer?

If you aren't sure, keep a journal of everything you do in a day, week or month. Go back and take a look at that list and prioritize it according to love the most or like the least. Now take an objective look at it and think about what you could do for others. Sewing? How about making clothes or accessories or tailoring. Organizing? Well, let me say this, now that I clean houses, you can't even imagine the need for this service! Never mind not having time to clean. Many people toss "stuff" in the closet, under the bed or in a drawer!!! Never having time to "get back to it." Love computers? Secretarial services, typesetting, research, blogging. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination!

Maybe there is something on the list that you're not crazy about doing but you know you can quickly and easily get it started "for right now."

Believe me! Housecleaning was NOT No. 1 on my "Things I'd Love to Do" list! In all honesty, I can't stand housecleaning. However, Weltson was (and is) a priority. And, once again, I knew that I had to act fast! So, housecleaning it would be... for now.

Rule No. 3??? Marketing yourself!!!

First step? I created a flyer and had copies made (www.docucopies.com), ordered business cards (thank you Vistaprint!) and started telling everyone I knew!

Before hanging my flyers and safety being a concern, I decided where I wanted to work. Of course, nothing is foolproof, but definitely something to be aware of at all times! Then I jumped into my car and went to task hanging 150 flyers! Only took about 2 hours. The result? ONE call! But, that one call became my first customer!

It probably wasn't the best time to start my advertising campaign, a few weeks before Thanksgiving, but it was a start. And you know what? "Nothing ventured, nothing gained!" You have got to start some time and there is no time like the present!

I did another run in January under the assumption that, with the holidays behind us, more people would be looking for my services. Okay... nearly 200 flyers hung and I received two... TWO calls. One of which resulted in a customer.

Whoo hoo! I am up and running. TWO customers! Good, this is good! Next thing you know, I get a referral through an acquaintance and boom... THREE customers!  Folks, I am on a roll! Thank you Lord! He is blessing me beyond what I could have hoped for!

Spring has sprung! Technically anyway because, let me tell you, this weather is not spring weather at all! Here we are at the end of May and many of the trees still haven't bloomed! So much for global warming!!!

Another flyer run... somewhere around 150-200 copies this time and the calls start rolling in... four calls. ALL of which became customers! Another referral and business is booming. I will have Weltson paid for in no time!

Until tomorrow, start making that list! Any questions? Let me know! I'd love to be able to help in any way I can!

So... you want to be your own boss. Rule No. 1

I know I have wanted to be my own boss for a very long time! My problem has always been... what on earth could I do?

I cannot tell you how many books I've read. How many internet searches I've done. How many people I've spoken to. Research, research, research! All this research and I could never decide on what that "thing" I wanted to do was!

Then it happened. I finally had come to a point where I simply had no choice. I had to do something. What was the "it" you ask? Well for me, it was a four-legged, nay'ing red head (body, legs, tail, etc!).  Meet Weltson:

Or, as I refer to him... "Mr. Mister."

He finally became the reason for me to get a move on with this self-employment thing. Granted, I am not doing the job I will ultimately do. But, it has put me on the path.

What exactly am I doing right now? I am cleaning houses. No, not the most glamorous job in the world. However, it is my own business and it is allowing me to be able to live my dream of owning my "Mr. Mister."

And, while doing the house cleaning, I am also working on what I really want to do. Which, by the way, is a whole lot more involved in starting than giving out flyers! More on that venture later.

Okay, so for me for right now it is housecleaning. Something I know how to do. Something that is pretty simple to start. Something that doesn't involve much capital.

I started this business six months ago and this past Tuesday was my last day at my "real" job!

How did I do it you ask? Pretty simple actually. First, and most importantly, I had to be truly committed to WANTING to do something. I had to have a significant enough reason to put my "tail in gear." During this process I have found that I never really had enough of a desire to actually be my own boss. I never had a reason to truly want to make self-employment a reality.

Sure, the income would be nice. Sure, the freedom to make my own hours would be nice. Sure, the ability to  say "no" would be nice. But... I wasn't in a place where I had a "need" for any of that. My husband more than adequately provides for us.

That brings me to my "Rule No. 1". In order to be self-employed, you must have a burning, yearning, need and desire to succeed. And, that burning, yearning need and desire must directly apply to you first.

Selfish? Not at all. Because until YOU want it that badly, it simply won't happen. Whether or not that need and desire will benefit anyone else (and in my case it also benefits my family because I am now able to give a portion of my income to the "house"), you will not succeed without your endeavor making you happy first. After all, you are the one who will be doing the work and responsible for all that goes with it. This will be your baby.

Mr. Mister. There was my burning, yearning need and desire. My husband was not willing to take on such an expense and made his objection perfectly clear. What was worse, I wasn't the only one yearning for my Mr. Mister. Whatever I decided to do, it needed to happen NOW. I promptly told my husband, "Fine. I will make it happen." To which, of course, he chuckled. Because, as my track record had proven, I never made it happen before.

What to do. What to do. Housecleaning. First thing that came to my mind as fast and inexpensive to start.

So I opened up the MS Word and typed out a flyer. I had 500 of them printed and started hanging them on every mailbox I came across. Not to mention, telling everyone within an arm's length about my new venture. Ladies, it was that simple.

Clearly, it won't be that simple to start all businesses. I know this because I am now working on my true self-employment desire (I am the artsy craftsy type with a Christian flair!) of designing jewelry and fine art. Obviously a much smaller niche market, this venture will take some more time. Rest assured, I've now got that time and I will make it happen!

Direction?

To craft or not to craft. THAT is the question.

No, no... I don't mean I am going to stop crafting! That just won't happen. What I am talking about is how to proceed with this blog... what "direction" it should take. Part of the reason I wanted to start this is to empower and inspire women. All women.

It is obvious that I have not posted in quite some time. The reason for that is because I started my own business. Not the business I intend to stick with for anything long-term. More the business that is enabling me to acquire my dream.

Time for a story.

You see. I've loved horses my entire life. Once I became a parent (nearly 26 years ago), no more horses. Much to expensive a hobby and my kid(s) come first.

Low and behold my oldest and my youngest (both girls, now ages 25 and 12) love horses. We've been very blessed and, after a few years of taking lessons, we were able to get my youngest a pony for her birthday last year. This has kept me at the barn with her on a daily basis.

Being there every day, I get to see all the horses that come in. One such horse arrived on a warm June day during the summer of 2011. I fell in love at first site. However, after speaking with the barn owner (Lynne), I didn't see how he could ever be mine. I was heartbroken.

Time comes and goes. Fast forward to late summer 2012. He is still not sold. Lynne has, for one reason or another, declined to sell him to the few people who have come to take a look at him. Next thing I know, she has a buyer for him. One she is willing to sell to. The only issue? The buyer cannot take him until spring 2013.

I am devastated. I couldn't believe my reaction... crying like a baby.

A few days pass and I am watching Lynne ride him. We start talking. And she makes me an offer I simply cannot refuse. But, how am I going to manage it??? My husband's response was an emphatic "NO!"

I had to do something.

What can I do? A second job? A home business? What can be started quickly? What requires little, if any overhead?

Then it hit me. Something I do, in some capacity, every single day of my life! Clean houses! I can do this part-time in addition to my "regular" job.

And so it began. I made up a flier. Posted more than a hundred of them and, low and behold, I got a call!

"Weltson" is now mine and this past Monday, I gave notice at my "regular" job to continue my own business on a full-time basis.

I've been wanting to start my own business for decades. I've researched every possible opportunity. Read every "work from home" book in print. Nothing was clicking for me. Until Weltson. He became my reason to get off of my backside and do SOMETHING.

Is housecleaning where I see myself in five years? No, but for right now it is allowing me to live my dream. It is allowing me to pursue another home business idea that I hope will come to fruition.

Let me help you bring your dream to life!

Making Progress

Wow! It has been a few days! Where have I been you ask??? Cleaning that workspace! And, so far, so good! I started going through the bins of "stuff" and realized that there is so much down there. So much that has been down there for so long.

What to do??? Ebay!

As of right now, I have about 50 auctions going and that is just for yarn and needlepoint kits!

I will say this... it does feel good to purge! A feeling of "lightness" is slowly creeping upon me. A feeling of space and being able to breath. I know, I know... it sounds crazy to me too. But, it is a fact! I can't wait to get to the rest of it.

What will happen with the money I hope to make you ask???? Well, here he is...

This is Weltson, the four-legged love of my life! I clean houses to pay for him and every other penny I earn will help that too!

I believe he has been a gift from God. You see, Weltson has given me the "oomph" I've needed to get off my backside and get going with my blog, a website I am working on as well as getting back to my love of arts and crafts and sharing my goods with the world.

What is your "oomph?"

I can't take it...

Ugh! Okay... I am a supply hoarder! I get that. But my goodness, did I have to let it get that sloppy! After taking another look at yesterday's post, I went downstairs and took a good look around. I have to clean it! So, that is my task today, I've begun the cleanup. I will make it a cleaner, workable space! I will, I will, I will!

That is where I am going right now - for an hour anyway - and then it is off to church for a consistory meeting. I did put in an hour earlier today. It's a start! Stay tuned for more pics!

I must make a confession...

I am a H-O-A-R-D-E-R!

No, no... not my entire house. Actually, I cannot stand clutter and my house is completely clutter free. The problem? The problem are my arts and crafts supplies! Oh my goodness! I had an "aha" moment yesterday!

You see, it all started with the "Hoarders" marathon on television. I am sure many of you have at least seen the commercials.  I am famous for putting a show on that I don't have to sit and watch. You know, background noise while I am running around doing my laundry, cleaning, cooking, answering to husband, kids and pets. One of those shows where you can stop for a moment every now and then and not have to worry about what you missed.

Okay, no big deal. I certainly don't have that issue to contend with. And then it hit me. Right - Smack - Dab in the middle of the face! I went down to my craft room to put something away and I simply could not deny it any longer...

I am an art and craft supply hoarder!

There, I've said it! Now that it is out in the open, do you know what I say??? That is right! I am! Okay, just so you won't think I am exaggerating, here are the pictures to prove it!

I will say this, it does need some straightening out. But that is another story altogether!

What is FIGIMI?

Figimi? Figimi you ask? Well, quite simply, it stands for "Faith in God is my inspiration." And that is that. I have learned, finally, that without God in my life, I simply cannot have accomplished anything without the gifts He has blessed me with.

That being said. Part of my arts and crafts passion lies in photography and taking photos that I add inspirational and scriptural quotes to.

I am so blessed that I have been able to partake in an activity that I enjoy so much as well as use it to inspire others.

What inspires you?

Crafty Hoarding

Okay, so I figured out what my "craft passion" is and it isn't anything in particular... it is everything! Anything you can use for crafting, I love it! Conventional, unconventional materials... it simply doesn't matter. What's more, the more unconventional, the better the challenge! I will find a use for it.

In taking a look around my messy, but mostly organized, crafting space, I find I have collected all sorts of "stuff"! In all honesty, I cannot believe the treasure trove of "stuff" I have hoarded. Yes, there, I said it! H-O-A-R-D-E-D! Guilty with a capital "G"!

Not only do I have enough varieties of stuff to open my own craft store, I have duplicates of stuff I didn't remember I had and so, had to get it again! I am sure you can relate. It is who we are, it is what we do. One is never enough. Because we are going to use it (eventually) and, even if we do have it, more is always good so that we will never run out!

What's worse is that I also work at a big name arts and crafts store and am forever coming home with more and more stuff that I "have to have" and sneaking it downstairs so that the hubby won't see more stuff coming into the house!

Are you a crafty hoarder? I would love to hear all about it!

Yes, it is a passion. Maybe even an addiction! The way I see it... we are making the world a brighter place!

This is a picture of a 1:144 scale miniature house I am working on.

Let's get started!

It is about time! That's right... it's about time I got this blogging thing started! I have been thinking and thinking and thinking about it for a very, very long time! Always wondering what on earth I would have to blog about. After much thought and a lot of praying, I realized that all of the things I thought of blogging about had one thing in common....

MY LOVE FOR ALL THINGS CRAFTY!!!

It took a long time to put it all together, thick headed as I can be, but I have finally realized that my passion lies in mixed media arts and crafts!  Whether it is creating miniatures for dollhouses, photography, painting, stamping, sewing, weaving, polymer clay, beading... you name it! I love it all!

The picture below shows one example of my love for combining materials in my projects. This is a dollhouse I built for my daughter, it is the Allison Junior from Real Good Toys. I finished the base in a grouted rock border. I think it came out really well and she loves it!

So, what do you say? Come and join me on my crafty quest!