KISS, one of my daughter's favorite words. She used it quite frequently before leaving for school three years ago. She used it so much I had to find out why. She explained to me when she told someone KISS, it meant 'Keep It Simple Stupid'. According to her that most of time we spend our time making everything more complicated than what it need be.
I was thinking about this the other day and I think I figured out why I'm always so tired, in trying to stock my shop, I'm not keeping it simple. I have so many varied interest that I can't decide which one I really want to dedicate myself to. I love to knit, sew and crochet, not to mention jewelry.
Being a creative person missed the point of keeping my shop simple. As online shop owners we should strive to keep our categories and product line straight forward so our customers know who we are. Making sure our potential customers understand exactly what we do. Get know for being the best in what it is we do. I work hard at being the best at whatever I do.
I look at my shop and see beautiful items but no cohesion. I think that now is the time to narrow my view to pick something and make it my focus. I've that my inspiration lately has been the newest member of my family, my granddaughter. Lately it has been shoes/booties but there is so much more to do. It's coming upon the fall of the year, yes I know summer just kicked in but there will be a need for fall/winter items before we know it. If we're into handmade, it's gonna take time to produce and this is a good time to start. School just ended and know is the time to start the new school year shopping. After thinking school think of the year's end holidays that are also upon us.
So this month I will start taking a long look at my shop and see what it is I can take away and what I should keep. Decide on the sizes I want to make and handle and definite color decisions. Sometimes less is more and more can always be added later. But sometimes a few simple items are the only things necessary for sales. To anyone who reads this and has visited my shop I apologize for the confusion. I promise by the end of the year I will be able to look at my shop and smile and not just look at a finished product, photograph it and place it in the shop.
Showing posts with label goal setting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goal setting. Show all posts
Thursday, June 27, 2013
KISS
.
KISS, one of my daughter's favorite words. She used it quite frequently before leaving for school three years ago. She used it so much I had to find out why. She explained to me when she told someone KISS, it meant 'Keep It Simple Stupid'. According to her that most of time we spend our time making everything more complicated than what it need be.
I was thinking about this the other day and I think I figured out why I'm always so tired, in trying to stock my shop, I'm not keeping it simple. I have so many varied interest that I can't decide which one I really want to dedicate myself to. I love to knit, sew and crochet, not to mention jewelry.
Being a creative person missed the point of keeping my shop simple. As online shop owners we should strive to keep our categories and product line straight forward so our customers know who we are. Making sure our potential customers understand exactly what we do. Get know for being the best in what it is we do. I work hard at being the best at whatever I do.
I look at my shop and see beautiful items but no cohesion. I think that now is the time to narrow my view to pick something and make it my focus. I've that my inspiration lately has been the newest member of my family, my granddaughter. Lately it has been shoes/booties but there is so much more to do. It's coming upon the fall of the year, yes I know summer just kicked in but there will be a need for fall/winter items before we know it. If we're into handmade, it's gonna take time to produce and this is a good time to start. School just ended and know is the time to start the new school year shopping. After thinking school think of the year's end holidays that are also upon us.
So this month I will start taking a long look at my shop and see what it is I can take away and what I should keep. Decide on the sizes I want to make and handle and definite color decisions. Sometimes less is more and more can always be added later. But sometimes a few simple items are the only things necessary for sales. To anyone who reads this and has visited my shop I apologize for the confusion. I promise by the end of the year I will be able to look at my shop and smile and not just look at a finished product, photograph it and place it in the shop.
KISS, one of my daughter's favorite words. She used it quite frequently before leaving for school three years ago. She used it so much I had to find out why. She explained to me when she told someone KISS, it meant 'Keep It Simple Stupid'. According to her that most of time we spend our time making everything more complicated than what it need be.
I was thinking about this the other day and I think I figured out why I'm always so tired, in trying to stock my shop, I'm not keeping it simple. I have so many varied interest that I can't decide which one I really want to dedicate myself to. I love to knit, sew and crochet, not to mention jewelry.
Being a creative person missed the point of keeping my shop simple. As online shop owners we should strive to keep our categories and product line straight forward so our customers know who we are. Making sure our potential customers understand exactly what we do. Get know for being the best in what it is we do. I work hard at being the best at whatever I do.
I look at my shop and see beautiful items but no cohesion. I think that now is the time to narrow my view to pick something and make it my focus. I've that my inspiration lately has been the newest member of my family, my granddaughter. Lately it has been shoes/booties but there is so much more to do. It's coming upon the fall of the year, yes I know summer just kicked in but there will be a need for fall/winter items before we know it. If we're into handmade, it's gonna take time to produce and this is a good time to start. School just ended and know is the time to start the new school year shopping. After thinking school think of the year's end holidays that are also upon us.
So this month I will start taking a long look at my shop and see what it is I can take away and what I should keep. Decide on the sizes I want to make and handle and definite color decisions. Sometimes less is more and more can always be added later. But sometimes a few simple items are the only things necessary for sales. To anyone who reads this and has visited my shop I apologize for the confusion. I promise by the end of the year I will be able to look at my shop and smile and not just look at a finished product, photograph it and place it in the shop.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Ready For the Holidays - Pt. 5
Getting the Word Out
We’ve covered a lot up to this point and there is always more to know. I’ve made several banners preparing for the upcoming holiday season and a few to represent the upcoming fall season. During the past week I’ve given thought to how to get the word out, ‘It’s that time of year.’
Last year I instituted a lay-a-way plan in my shop for items over a certain dollar amount. Now is the time to announce you’re ready to do custom made items to assure delivery for the holiday. Get out your mailing list and notify your customers you’re ready to accommodate them for the holiday. Let them know if you’ve added a new line. You can do this by sending out a brochure, postcards or use your blog. If you don’t have a blog, start one.
This doesn’t have to be a costly event. You can make each of these items by using your Microsoft Publisher program. I use Microsoft PowerPoint to make my banners, you can also use Paint, but I find it difficult to work with.
Insert your logo or your holiday banner, pictures of your featured items with descriptions, no prices (you want to bring them to your site).
Offer coupons to repeat customers, free shipping on select items for a limited time. Put links to your store in all your social networking profiles. Offer gift wrapping if you don’t already.
Post new items on your blog, people love to see what you’ve done or what you’re working on.
With all this in mind, remember there holidays throughout the year and you can even invent some of your own.
I hope this helps your holiday season a little brighter,a little easier and prosperous for you.
Have fun putting your shop together and keep me posted, I would love to see what you've done.
Above is one of my new holiday banners, made using PowerPoint and clipart from Microsoft.com, it's free.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
DECISIONS
This past weekend we all know was Father's Day. I had planned on taking the Mr. out to eat and to a movie, no hot kitchen. Well, as we have experienced a lot of times thing don't quite work out as we plan. I got the hot kitchen.
The day before he invited his 87 yr. old father over for dinner while we were visiting and of course I didn't say a word. Yes, I did, I asked the old man what he wanted for dinner. It was a special day for him and he spent the whole day with us.
My stepdaughter called and wanted to be picked up, okay another guess but more help in the kitchen. My step has been having some life crisis' so her Dad decides she needs to talk to me.
Her problem, the same as most making decisions and a plan and sticking to them, not secon guessing herself. Who knows better than you what is good or bad for you. No one. What's so hard about sticking to a plan, nothing much if you write it down ..... a lot if you don't.When there is nothing to see, you don't have anything to gauge.
I asked her what it was she wanted out of life and what it is she wants to do. I asked if she had a plan. Of course not. First things first, let's start by thinking what it is we want, then how are we going to get there. She looked at me somewhat confused, I think she expected me to give her the answers. The problem with this is, I don't know what she wants, only she can answer those questions.
I suggested getting a notebook, regular cheap spiral, I keep boxes of them here at home, I have children. "Now, you need a pencil or pen," prefer pencils with erasers, good for mistakes, don't you sometimes wish you could erase some of the mistakes you've made in life. Of course you do but you can't. Don't look at them as mistakes, look at them as learning experiences, for that is what they are.
Now to wait and see what she comes up with. It's okay to bounce your thoughts off of other's, seek your own strengths for yourself and ask for input, make it clear it is only input, don't give up your control. You might be surprised to find that there are others that can see more in you sometimes than you can see in yourself.
Decide what it is you want and then set about making a plan to acheive it. Look at it as a road map for life. When you go somewhere for the first time, you get directions, you write them down and you're off. See the beginning and the end. The in between is your guide on what it is you need to do to get to where you want to BE.
You have to be able to make hard but good decisions to accomplish your goals. Knowing when to say 'Yes' or 'No' are going to be two most important words you will learn and use. Remember this is about you and your future. Don't allow poor judgement to choke your dreams. Make a decision and stick to it, don't question it. Try it, it might or might not work but you'll never know until you try. Do a little each day, don't over whelm yourself, that can be a quick ruin. Take it slow but steady and as I said before, for each baby step you make it puts you closer to where you want to be. With each step do something if no more than the happy dance, like dancing in the end - zone after a touchdown, it's fun or call someone who cares and share your steps with them.
Whatever it takes to keep you pressing forward. Remember we learn from our mistakes so don't be hard on yourself if it doesn't fall right into place easily, nothing in life is easy. It is easier to give up than to try again and spend the rest of your life wondering what if.
As always feel free to leave your thoughts or comments. Communicate.
I love hearing from you,
Sherryl
The day before he invited his 87 yr. old father over for dinner while we were visiting and of course I didn't say a word. Yes, I did, I asked the old man what he wanted for dinner. It was a special day for him and he spent the whole day with us.
My stepdaughter called and wanted to be picked up, okay another guess but more help in the kitchen. My step has been having some life crisis' so her Dad decides she needs to talk to me.
Her problem, the same as most making decisions and a plan and sticking to them, not secon guessing herself. Who knows better than you what is good or bad for you. No one. What's so hard about sticking to a plan, nothing much if you write it down ..... a lot if you don't.When there is nothing to see, you don't have anything to gauge.
I asked her what it was she wanted out of life and what it is she wants to do. I asked if she had a plan. Of course not. First things first, let's start by thinking what it is we want, then how are we going to get there. She looked at me somewhat confused, I think she expected me to give her the answers. The problem with this is, I don't know what she wants, only she can answer those questions.
I suggested getting a notebook, regular cheap spiral, I keep boxes of them here at home, I have children. "Now, you need a pencil or pen," prefer pencils with erasers, good for mistakes, don't you sometimes wish you could erase some of the mistakes you've made in life. Of course you do but you can't. Don't look at them as mistakes, look at them as learning experiences, for that is what they are.
Now to wait and see what she comes up with. It's okay to bounce your thoughts off of other's, seek your own strengths for yourself and ask for input, make it clear it is only input, don't give up your control. You might be surprised to find that there are others that can see more in you sometimes than you can see in yourself.
Decide what it is you want and then set about making a plan to acheive it. Look at it as a road map for life. When you go somewhere for the first time, you get directions, you write them down and you're off. See the beginning and the end. The in between is your guide on what it is you need to do to get to where you want to BE.
You have to be able to make hard but good decisions to accomplish your goals. Knowing when to say 'Yes' or 'No' are going to be two most important words you will learn and use. Remember this is about you and your future. Don't allow poor judgement to choke your dreams. Make a decision and stick to it, don't question it. Try it, it might or might not work but you'll never know until you try. Do a little each day, don't over whelm yourself, that can be a quick ruin. Take it slow but steady and as I said before, for each baby step you make it puts you closer to where you want to be. With each step do something if no more than the happy dance, like dancing in the end - zone after a touchdown, it's fun or call someone who cares and share your steps with them.
Whatever it takes to keep you pressing forward. Remember we learn from our mistakes so don't be hard on yourself if it doesn't fall right into place easily, nothing in life is easy. It is easier to give up than to try again and spend the rest of your life wondering what if.
As always feel free to leave your thoughts or comments. Communicate.
I love hearing from you,
Sherryl
Sunday, May 4, 2008
NEED MOTIVATION?
This article is from http://www.selfgrowth.com/
SELF-HELP GENERAL TOPICS
7 effective ways to set your goal in motion today!
By Caroline Jalango
Mar 29, 2004
1. Stop seeking approval from people.
You don’t need anyone’s permission to fulfill your dream. Trust yourself and give yourself permission to succeed. Having support from people whose opinion you value is a wonderful thing but it should not be the criterion for whether you begin acting on fulfilling your goals or not.
If you really desire to turn your idea into reality, constantly floating it around and seeking the approval of people will waste your time and kill your dream. What will happen to your idea if you don’t get the approval of those whose permission you so desperately need? Nothing!
2. Don’t wait for perfection.
Waiting for a time when everything is perfect and in place will cause you to lose your enthusiasm and abandon your goal. Conditions may never be as perfect as you desire. You may never have all the money, time, or knowledge you desire to begin working on your goals.
You must take risks, learn and improve as you go along and then watch as everything begins to fall in place. If you have to wait for the perfect time to begin working on your goals…you will be waiting a long time!
3. Create time for the goal.
Many excuses about lacking the time to work on goals that are important to you is a procrastination tactic, which will kill your dream before it has a chance to see the light of day. There is always time to work on what we love and consider important. Create that time and see your dreams begin to unfold!
4. Decide once and for all!
The process of goal accomplishment, like most things in life begins with a decision. You decide what you want to achieve and then you plan how you intend to achieve it.
If accomplishing your goal is important to you, your inability to make crucial decisions about what you should do, how you should do it and when you should do it, will waste your time and choke your dream. Make up your mind and stop second-guessing yourself. When your mind is made up…nothing can stop you from making progress with fulfilling your goals.
5. Be bold and take the initiative.
Be bold! You are the one in charge of turning your dreams to reality. You need to be proactive and actively involved in the process of working on your goals to ensure you achieve them.
Just because you have shared your ideas with others does not necessarily mean that you are no longer responsible for turning them to reality. Don’t sit around waiting for others to make suggestions and guide your idea to reality. Don’t leave your dream entirely in the hands of others. Nobody cares about your dream like you do.
6. Invest in your dream.
No idea is self-funding. Don’t be deceived into thinking that people will invest or finance your idea just because it is brilliant. If you are lucky, someone may invest in it, but if you are not, you will have to invest your time, energy and finances towards activities that will fortify and fulfill your dream.
You may have to invest in the acquisition of knowledge or expertise that will help you achieve your goals. It would be a good idea to keep some money stashed away to finance your goal.
7. Do one thing at a time.
Commit yourself only to projects and activities which are connected to your main goal. Whatever you do should directly or indirectly add up to a move toward your main goal. Failure to do this will confuse, overwhelm, sidetrack, and drain your energy.
To get started on achieving your goals, you need to plan for it and make it a priority. If you keep crowding and cluttering your life with what does not matter, you many never, ever accomplish your goals.
Remember that you can’t do all things, but you can do one thing!
SELF-HELP GENERAL TOPICS
7 effective ways to set your goal in motion today!
By Caroline Jalango
Mar 29, 2004
1. Stop seeking approval from people.
You don’t need anyone’s permission to fulfill your dream. Trust yourself and give yourself permission to succeed. Having support from people whose opinion you value is a wonderful thing but it should not be the criterion for whether you begin acting on fulfilling your goals or not.
If you really desire to turn your idea into reality, constantly floating it around and seeking the approval of people will waste your time and kill your dream. What will happen to your idea if you don’t get the approval of those whose permission you so desperately need? Nothing!
2. Don’t wait for perfection.
Waiting for a time when everything is perfect and in place will cause you to lose your enthusiasm and abandon your goal. Conditions may never be as perfect as you desire. You may never have all the money, time, or knowledge you desire to begin working on your goals.
You must take risks, learn and improve as you go along and then watch as everything begins to fall in place. If you have to wait for the perfect time to begin working on your goals…you will be waiting a long time!
3. Create time for the goal.
Many excuses about lacking the time to work on goals that are important to you is a procrastination tactic, which will kill your dream before it has a chance to see the light of day. There is always time to work on what we love and consider important. Create that time and see your dreams begin to unfold!
4. Decide once and for all!
The process of goal accomplishment, like most things in life begins with a decision. You decide what you want to achieve and then you plan how you intend to achieve it.
If accomplishing your goal is important to you, your inability to make crucial decisions about what you should do, how you should do it and when you should do it, will waste your time and choke your dream. Make up your mind and stop second-guessing yourself. When your mind is made up…nothing can stop you from making progress with fulfilling your goals.
5. Be bold and take the initiative.
Be bold! You are the one in charge of turning your dreams to reality. You need to be proactive and actively involved in the process of working on your goals to ensure you achieve them.
Just because you have shared your ideas with others does not necessarily mean that you are no longer responsible for turning them to reality. Don’t sit around waiting for others to make suggestions and guide your idea to reality. Don’t leave your dream entirely in the hands of others. Nobody cares about your dream like you do.
6. Invest in your dream.
No idea is self-funding. Don’t be deceived into thinking that people will invest or finance your idea just because it is brilliant. If you are lucky, someone may invest in it, but if you are not, you will have to invest your time, energy and finances towards activities that will fortify and fulfill your dream.
You may have to invest in the acquisition of knowledge or expertise that will help you achieve your goals. It would be a good idea to keep some money stashed away to finance your goal.
7. Do one thing at a time.
Commit yourself only to projects and activities which are connected to your main goal. Whatever you do should directly or indirectly add up to a move toward your main goal. Failure to do this will confuse, overwhelm, sidetrack, and drain your energy.
To get started on achieving your goals, you need to plan for it and make it a priority. If you keep crowding and cluttering your life with what does not matter, you many never, ever accomplish your goals.
Remember that you can’t do all things, but you can do one thing!
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