I panic when lost. I hate the feeling.
When my husband was younger, he would drive somewhere he hadn’t been, get lost, and find his way back for FUN. For me, that kind of situation would induce nausea and a cold sweat.
I also don’t deal well with that lost feeling within my business. Today, I wanted to give you a behind the scenes exclusive into what I struggled with these past few months and how I dealt with it.
This week’s background is a collage of Anthropologie catalog pages.
So proud of you! You seem really happy, and that has to mean you’re heading in the right direction. I like your new posts. You seem more authentic. And you don’t have to figure it all out right now…just follow that good feeling. 🙂
Thank you Sage! I love sharing more of my life…I think it shows more of who I really am.
Hi April! I like your new posts as well, I like to see what makes people excited, see their hobbies, etc. If I can compare you to Oprah- she brings so much of herself and that’s what people want. She could have stayed and done the talk show thing, but she has more passion to share and that led to her network.. I can see you building a network; of people who like vegan food, who like fashion, and what ever else you show us. I especially like your photography because I haven’t seen anyone else edit them like you.
I can’t wait to see your project Mayi! Merry Christmas!
Thank you Lisa!!!! I so so so appreciate that. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Hi April
I also love your new posts! I really get the whole uncertainty thing, I am not good with it either but it seems to me that you are following your intuition and I believe that is always the best way to go!
Merry Christmas
Leanne
Thanks Leanne! Yes, I agree. My intuition hasn’t led me awry yet. It’s when I don’t follow my intuition that I get in a pickle.
Bravo for putting this struggle out to your readers. I look forward to your Creative Blogging course in February. Isn’t one of your module points about having fun with your blog & your content?! See…you already knew what you need to do. Glad you have gathered the courage to make it happen.
Thanks Kerry! Yes, it is…and I have a lot of fun with the videos, but I wanted more, you know? Can’t wait to work with you in Blogging for Your Creative Business!
Aah, my Mum would do that to me too. My Mum and Nan would be having a great old time just picking a road that took us out into the middle of the bush then following it until we got back to civilisation. Meanwhile, I’d be in the back seat freaking out that we would run out of petrol and wondering how we were ever going to find our way home.
You are leading many of us in the direction we need to go – it is so interesting to hear your behind the scenes for your own business.
I think the new direction is great for your business. Especially the DIY’s – although I could be a little biased because they are my favourites. People just discovering you may not know about when you sold jewellery. And I think seeing your creative side and getting to know more about you gives people something to connect with when they learn from you.
I loooove that it has benifitted your business already in unexpected ways. Ways you couldn’t have imagined when you started. I’m hanging on every word of stories like these at the moment. Must be something I need to hear at the moment.
Hahahahahahaha!
I so agree. I’ve had a lot of new readers email me recently saying that they followed the link from a DIY or photography post and ended up signing up for business information because they also have a creative business. Pretty neat!
I think if we’re all a little more transparent it helps the people one or two steps behind that are working so hard to get there. It shows them that we all struggle but it’s possible. I love it when my mentors open up and honestly share what’s happening in their businesses.
“It shows that we all struggle but it’s possible” – I recently had a comment on my blog about that exact thing. That unlike many blogs where they only show you the picture perfect results and the rose coloured glasses, I have been sharing the good (got my stamps), the bad (had to fire 2 different designers) and the ugly (tears and cranky dances in my lounge room).
When people only show the perfect stuff, then you come along and try it and it doesn’t happen the same way, we feel like we’re stupid or missing the “secret ingredient”, wondering how we stuffed it up. It also feels a bit artificial and plastic. And vanilla!
Nice to hear some of your struggles and how you work through it. I think sometimes our teachers and mentors don’t share enough of the “reality”! Thanks for being so brave 🙂
Thank you! I agree. When I was starting out, so many people were saying how easy it was and had been, and I thought, “Well, what am I doing wrong? I’m working my butt off!”
Hi April,
I love this post!! I think this is my first time commenting, but I’ve been watching your videos for a few months now.
I think your “authentic self” will attract all kinds of people…I think it’s one of the true pieces of successful blogging. The more people can identify with you, the more connected and comfortable they feel with you….. = success!
I look forward to more great posts and videos…..and also love your husband at the end…particularly in this video. Totally reminds me of my husband and I. So great that you can laugh and have fun together!!
xo
Alison
This is fantastic timing. I started my blog so I could follow along with your Blogging Course this summer in anticipation of the business I’m working to start. But I got stuck later, because while I want it to promote a business in the future, I also want to be a part of the creative community. I love creating stuffed animals, but what about the Halloween costumes I made? What about the creative manicures I’ve just started to love? What about decorating the new house my boyfriend and I are moving into?
I didn’t want to dilute the brand that I’d like to build, but I love creative blogs because I feel connected to the person posting the tutorials and pictures and messed up projects, and I’m much more likely to buy from them. This video is the push I need to figure out hot to tie it all together and make it work for me.
I’m super excited that you’ve brought back these other posts. I love your videos and advice, but it’s great to see more. This is why blogging is fun!
Great point about wanting to blog to express and feel creativity. I recently signed myself up for some blog challenges/swaps that ended up all having deadlines around the same time. I also had a home show that I was preparing for. My husband was worried that I over booked myself and commented to me “Are these blog events going to help your jewelry business; will they increase your sales?” I replied “Directly, no. But I enjoy participating in blog challenges and swaps because they challenge my creativity and enable me to share it with others. They also allow me to interact with other people in the beading community. I love creating jewelry and selling it (love selling it!), but blogging adds depth to my creative spirit! One of the most rewarding aspects, for me, of blogging is the new friendships I have made with some incredibly artistic people. They inspire me. Inspiration fuels my creativity!
Thank you. =)