HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2022 really slid around the corner!!!
A new year for many means new chances to build new habits. One habit we are leaving behind in 2021 is this idea of trying to get more done in less time, often times at the expense of ourselves, our families and the people / things we cherish.
We slowed down tremendously while under COVID restrictions, but it seems like many people are going back to being more busy and consequently more stressed.
Here are five habits productive people practice:
Which of these are your strengths? Which are your opportunities for growth? What other practices keep you productive?
You’ve been growing your business for a while, but maybe you’re stuck you feel that you’ve hit a wall and need some direction.Or maybe you are your business is soaring and ready to move to your next level. But you are not sure where to start. Here are 3 ways to help you make progress towards your business (and maybe other)goals :
Invest in your education. Many times we are hesitant to pay for a course or conference that can help us get to where we want to be. Let’s face it, Google is great, but at some point we may not even know what to Google. Take advantage of online courses, business conferences, books, podcasts, etc. Check out our Resilient Conference playback here.
Find some business accountability partners. Everyone needs business buddies- people who will ask you the tough questions and hold you accountable for the things you need to do. Our Facebook group Makers Making Moves connects you to a private group of entrepreneurs just like yourself who also have similar goals and needs.
Write down your goals and make sure they are SMART goals. Be sure to outline action steps and timelines for each goals.
Specific (simple, sensible, significant).
Measurable (meaningful, motivating).
Achievable (agreed, attainable).
Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based).
Time bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive).
Let us know what some of your goals are and which of methods have helped you stay on track with your business goals.
At the start of the year, most people are focused on goal setting . The same is true for small businesses. We get a change to envision our businesses progressing and dream big dreams.Here are 5 of the most common small business goals :Increase profitability of businessBe more productiveImprove business processesScale business for maximum growthImprove time management
Which goals would you add to this list? Which goals would you omit?
We all want to grow our businesses because we want to have financial freedom and pass generational wealth to our children and grandchildren. These are three ways we can grow our businesses:
Share your brand with everyone through daily conversations.
Sharing your business is a great way to let others know about your brand. Don’t be afraid to let your friends and family hear about your business. Word of mouth is a great advertising tool because it also increases your chances of sales and helps generate more leads to sustain your business.
2. Create a marketing strategy
Creating a marketing plan is a great way to reach a wide range of customers. It allows you to stay focused and on track. Advertising your business with a focused plan creates new connections that results in more sales for your business. When you have a strategic plan, you will see what’s working and what’s not working for your business.
3. Pray for your business
Prayer is important and it adds spiritual value to your business. Committing your business to God is very important, because it allows God to lead you. When you seek God’s guidance for your business, it gives you clarity, and more opportunities start to come your way. Covering your business in prayers allows you to reevaluate some things concerning your business ( good or bad) to make adjustments.
There’s a reason people don’t take up business finance as a weekend hobby. Organizing your handmade business finances is one of those tedious business chores that’s easy to procrastinate in favor of buying more craft supplies (!), fulfilling orders, creating marketing content or good ‘ol watching Hulu.
But here’s the thing; getting your business financials together is too important to avoid or put off. Doing it right and consistently can be a game changer for your business. Here are eight reasons to show your finances some love.
1. Enjoy the fruit of your labor…i.e. make sure you’re actually making money. Running a handmade business requires a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Make sure you make it count by taking a look at whether your operation is profitable.
2. Take advantage of larger opportunities like grants, incubators or small business funding programs. Free money is always a good idea. Organizing your finances positions you to answer questions on grant applications about your revenue and profit trends without a last minute scramble.
3. Put more money in your pocket. Every business has waste and opportunities to improve. Taking a closer look as your expenses and income helps you to avoid waste, identify problems and address products that are not making money.
4. Evaluate investments like tradeshows, craft markets, software, photoshoots, etc. Craft markets are a lot of fun, but the associated expenses can add up. Looking at the numbers in totality as part of your financial process helps you make better decisions.
5. Celebrate your progress! You’ve come a long way with your handmade business. Clap for yourself and look at your numbers over time to appreciate your growth and set plans for where you want to go next.
6. Make decisions about new product introduction. This is similar to number 3, but the pre-emptive version. Launching new handmade products takes effort and resources; understanding profitability and projected sales ahead of time can help you decide if it’s worth it.
7. Make decisions about staffing and pay business taxes. On the fence about hiring help? You guessed it; understanding your cash flow from month to month can indicate whether you can afford it and how much you can afford.
8. Save time and avoid having to “cram” when you need to report earnings or loss when you file taxes at the end of the year. If you been there, you know. Pulling together 12 months worth of receipts, online expenses, sales reports, etc ahead of a tax filing deadline is NOT fun. Staying organized through out the year keeps things fun.
Struggling with your business financials? Consider getting help by hiring a bookkeeper and/or accountant. Can you relate to any of these reasons to get your finances organized? Share tips on what’s worked for you below.
We held our fourth Craft Savvy Market on November 16, 2019 and this market proved that we cannot remain stagnant at any point on our journey as entrepreneurs. No matter the challenges, we must push through and persevere in order to grow. Below, we wrap up and share part 2 of our lessons learned. Check us out in Instagram and Facebook @craftsavvymarket to see more pictures and videos from the event.
Growth is messy!! This market was especially uncomfortable because we took on a couple of new initiatives before our current model was “perfect”. As mentioned in Part 1, we added a new interview segment with one of our favorite bloggers/entrepreneurs, Trina Small. We had alternative segment ideas and a lot of debate on the best path to take, but ultimately settled on the interview format based on our overall goal for the market. Then we sent an offer out and Trina said yes! It sounds very straightforward after the fact, but I remember being afraid that it wouldn’t work, that she may say no or that having an interview in the middle of a bustling market would be a bust. In the end, the interview segment added value for our audience and drew new attendees to the market. I was reminded that clarity and results often come from doing, not in endless debate and planning.
Next, our decision to sell two new physical products at the fourth market didn’t go as planned. After brainstorming a design and making a few mock-ups of one product, we found that that version was just…meh. Instead of forcing it, we decided to hold off until we got the design right and took one new offering to the market, our gorgeous new affirmation magnets. I’m proud that we stepped out of our comfort zone in this market. If you wait for perfect conditions or a zero chance of failure, you’ll never stretch and grow to the next level. My learning was to push through the messiness and risk of failure and grow anyway.
