New Year New Ideas!!
It is the 18th January 2023, so a little late for a New Year blog but hey ho, it is what it is!
The Christmas break wasn’t the relaxing time I had hoped for with everyone at home, but I still was thinking about what I could create for this year, including planning for the business, I am looking for ways of being more effective with my time, having to split it between various tasks.
One thing I really wanted to sort out was my workspace – after the Christmas rush, the place looked like a herd of Wildebeest had charged on through! I spent four days righting my studio which had turned into an overflowing stockroom whereby the door was only opening just enough to allow me to shimmy through. However, it looks fab now, I threw away so much rubbish that had been collecting. I know where everything is, and everything looks at home in its own little area.
My craft space however was another matter – that is still very much a work in progress – for now, I shall have to continue with the corner of the lounge.
A large part of righting things is replenishing sold out stock – which means a lot of making!
The theme of the year is ‘Don’t be intimidated’
I have been brainstorming some ideas (with myself) on how I can take Quantock Inspiration to the next level. I have come to learn that what I want is a Lifestyle Business.
So what does that mean? A lifestyle business is a passion-centred company that generates enough profit to allow an entrepreneur to work and live from anywhere, earning an income on their own terms and generates enough profit to support the lifestyle you want to live.
I actually don’t want to be slogging my guts out for 15 hours a day – I have better things to do than that! So, I have had to design my business around the things/lifestyle I want to live.
I can’t not be there for my daughter, who is reaching important milestones in her life – I still want to go and support her in her activities and the decisions she makes – not to mention spend time with her. I feel I may have neglected this this last few years in my desperation to get this business off the ground.
I want to spend time with my Horses and have adequate time to ride them. I want to spend time with my Family and enjoy trips out (we enjoy gigging best of all!)
This doesn’t sound like it leaves hardly any time for working, so at the start of the year, I wrote down my New year resolutions in a grid, with sub-headings and an action plan for each one. I have stuck it where I can see it daily and it’s actually working. It is more structured now and I am not running about like a headless chicken wondering where to start.
There’s not much time for downtime but I am making sure I squeeze it in, even if it is just an hour relaxing in the evening with a good book, DVD or some good old knitting (Party on!)
Motivation!!! Oh Jeez! The trick for me to feel motivated is to not feel overwhelmed with tasks to begin with. So, I have learnt to just choose one thing, one main thing that I will do that day that will get me customers.
Innovation is important!
I keep a pile of scrap paper next to me so when an idea springs to mind, I can write it down. My phone comes in handy for making notes as well.
I am determined to make 2023 awesome at Quantock Inspiration and keep my work/life balance on track.
I have decided to go back out and start doing some stalls and events again, something that fell by the wayside when the pandemic came along. They are hard work, but it is a good way to meet people and talk about my business.
My creative mind never stops however and I am always picking things up and wondering what beautiful item I could turn it into.
Now my studio is back in order, I am hoping to draw more as I really do miss it, although I can easily lose whole days in there!
The world is literally my oyster, but it is down to me to make it happen. I listen and learn from those who have been there and done it and I am not worrying about whether I rock the world or not. I want to achieve fulfilment. If one feels fulfilled, then as far as I’m concerned, you have made it!!
Smiles E xx