programming note ... there are no rules

A conversation with my sales rep on Friday made me own up to the fact I really do need to update my website.  I've done bits and pieces here and there, but basically it's way out of date.  So, redesigning my website ... you know how one thing always leads to another, well this one thing's turning into quite the row of dominoes.  What sort of feeling do I want to convey, what fonts do I want to use, what's my color palette going to be, do I want to take the time right now to set it up for the shopping cart, etc, etc, etc?

I shot all the pictures last fall, but they still needed to be sized down to web-size, a monumental task all by itself.  So I finished resizing the photos, then I started working on the home page and came to a screeching halt.  I realized I had a chorus of voices in my head telling me what to do and how to do it and this is the best platform to use and this is the best approach and you always should do this and never do that and none of those voices were my own.  I started to wake up to this awareness in my response to Hiro's giveaway , which BTW, I WON, but that's a story for another day.

I've been in business for over 15 years.  While my jewelry is very much my own and speaks very clearly in my own voice, my business model is something else entirely.  Growing up, I watched my father's heartbreaking financial and entrepreneurial struggles.  The overarching theme for most of my life has been the feeling of scarcity, there's not enough.  I had no confidence that I'd ever be able to figure out how to run a business on my own.  So when I began to sell my own wares, I always deferred to the "experts".  And all these years later, I'm still deferring.

No more ... I am done.      
To give you some idea of how big this all feels, this is the card I just drew from the Daily Wisdom Pack.

I have stuck to my guns on some things and have listened to my heart on a few more.  There have been moments of clarity, but mostly, it's like I've been in a fog or some kind of daze.  I don't feel guilty, just kind of sad, for all the unheeded red flags.  Note to self ... if anyone says, "this is the only way" to do whatever ... run away.    

So, now I'm going to dive into my redesign.  What do I love, what colors do I want, what fonts do I want to use and then a big one ... on to what sort of pricing model feels best to me?

One important thing here ... for people starting out, there is a wealth of information on just about every aspect of doing business - on-line, in books, community services.  I do not want to discount any of these, they are vital to learning the basics and then some.

What I do want to say loud and clear - do not lose yourself in your decision making and especially, don't ignore your heart in any part of your business.  There is no one, right or absolute way to do anything.  Those old rules no longer apply ... the new rule is there are no rules.

l i g a - kvk

crushing realization

I've got a slew of pictures and new work to share and lots and lots going on.  But what's been niggling my brain is a follow-up post to Hiro's challenge.  Through the day and every night when my head hits the pillow, I've been considering and composing.  So this morning, the tumblers have an hour to go and I figured I needed to get this out of my head and onto the page, well the virtual page.

Here's my original post.  My follow-up ...

So much to consider … knowing the shift has begun.  Looking at what has come before, pondering what is ahead.  Coming to the realization that my entire model for business is based on what I’ve been told is the “proper and accepted” way to do things, this is the best formula for pricing your work, this is how you interact with your clientele, this is where you sell your work, this is how it’s done.  

With minor exceptions, everything about how I’ve run my business has come from outside of me, from the experts, the respected elite.  It’s no wonder I am feeling a big disconnect.   My throat is closing and tears are welling as I write this, but what I now know is … I am not the ruler of my business.   I’m not sure I ever have been.  That’s a crushing realization.  

I’ve been in business for 15 years but, in many ways, I feel I’m just beginning.  The learning curve feels horribly steep, the rules have changed.  I’m pretty sure there aren’t any rules.  So here I sit, trying to get to that quiet place in my heart, trying to get out of my Type A head where I’ve always been able to ‘figure it out’.  Not feeling so joyous about my grand leap, just feeling overwhelmed and confused and kind of sad.  It feels like more of a slog through the mud than a leap.

But the light, the spark, the desire to move forward is not diminished.  I know I’m on the right path; it’s time to ascend to my throne.

Okay, the tumblers should be done ... back to work for this little peep.

Onward ........

l i g a - kvk

sidetracked

Okay, so I got a little sidetracked this morning.  I'm supposed to be taking pictures and listing new work, but I popped over to Hiro Boga's blog and got absorbed in responding to her giveaway,  http://bit.ly/getyourheartsdesire

Here's my contribution:

For 15 years, I’ve been in the business of making ‘stuff’, beautiful and well-crafted stuff, but stuff nonetheless.  2008 saw the beginning of a shift in my work which led to my spiritual coming out party, the debut of my Talismans for Fellow Travelers series.  That spirit infused work has continued but it’s not been the bread and butter work. 

The economic slowdown has given me the time to rethink and refocus my business priorities.  What started as a series of seven themed pendants is now growing into a fully realized body of work.  I’m still making the b.n.b. work, but my heart and mind is consumed with this new direction.  My intention is that a Talisman might start a conversation, create an opportunity to share an intention, a prayer or belief, spreading the love and spirit behind the piece, creating a spiritual chain reaction. 

I make jewelry and I blog with the awareness that one person really can make a difference and to “be the change I wish to see in the world.”  I have three foundation words - congruent, gentle, loving  - which I apply to my marriage, how I interact with friends, family and strangers, how I buy and prepare my food, organize and decorate my home and especially, how I operate my business. 

The blessing I include on each Talisman and the message I want to share is to have faith, you are surrounded by love, infinite grace and abundance.   Expanding the Talismans feels like the missing piece in making my life and business more fully congruent and promises to take my business to unknown and exhilarating heights. 

A joyous leap of faith.     

Okay, I'm better now.  Back to the day's work.

LIGA - kvk