I know the secret to business success

Okay knowing the secret to business success and being able to use it are two totally different things. They are completely, drastically, different things. So the secret is that first you need to be able to make or do something no one else has the desire to make or do or something no one else is able to make or do to guarantee business success. That's my problem. If you build it, they may or may not come. This is the truth. I make a quality product. I don't even care about the nay sayers because I pour a lot of me into my jewelry designs and I know they are well made and BEAUTIFUL. But, it's important for me to realize there are a lot of great jewelry designers out there that make fantastic products too. I'm not doing something no one else can do or lacks desire to do. I have to revamp my business. I have to add something new and amazing. This is important to guarantee the success of blaisedENVY, and me and my child and his children and his children's children.

I know that what I know, I know, I know. I don't know everything, but I pride myself on being a master of a FEW things.

JEWELS

Showcase...to who?

I had a showcase over the weekend that I would consider unsuccessful. It was a failure. I consider any showcase that does not result in sales a failure. I understand that showcases offer the chance to grow the amount of etsyers that "heart" me, build up my views, and the potential of a treasury inclusion. It gives me the opportunity be seen by all my fellow crafters. I understood this and have pumped a considerable amount of money into showcases. I think about my time. The time I have dedicated to filling my inventory, taking and retaking pictures, building the perfect lists, and corresponding with anyone asking any questions. I compulsively watch the number of views change. I compulsively check out the competition. I compulsively spend the day being compulsive.

I have had a eureka moment though. This moment came in a scenario. If I were a competitve jelly maker at a jelly making competition how would I conduct myself? I would make my jelly, put it in a decorative jar, and design a beautiful presentation. I would dress to impress, and be ready! Just before the the judging started I would walk the mile. I'd size up all my competition. I would try their jellies, and maybe even steal ideas that I could revamp and make better. I would smile warmly at my competition. Then I would return to my seat and begin writing down all my new ideas and never to do ideas. I would fluff my own booth, check my makeup, and smile at all the other last mile competitors and wait for the judging to begin. That's a showcase. I know that I visit the showcase to see what my competition looks like. I "heart" some sellers and items. I get giddy when I see someone pair something I'd only thought of. I jump off line and go create my new piece. I appreciate that showcase for the ideas it sparked. That's it.

I need to walk away from showcases. I have to stop showcasing myself to my competition and co-workers. I need to get out in the world and take advantage of everyone else. Truly, etsy is merely a neighborhood in the world wide web. There's so much untapped opportunity. So I need to post new pictures on my Myspace, www.myspace.com/blaisedENVY, and I need to fill my Facebook with more blaisedENVY information. I tweet on twitter, www.twitter.com/blaisedENVY. I blog like crazy at http://www.CRAZYglamorous.blogspot.com/ and http://www.WORKINGonTODAY.blogspot.com. I belong to www.etsyaoc.ning.com/profile/blaisedENVY, www.etsylove.ning.com/profile/blaisedENVY, and www.mycraft.com/blaisedENVY. I have the avenues to pull in business. I just need to take advantage of them! It's time to stop relying on etsy to make my mark and simply appreciate them for what they are. They are the backdrop of my business, kind of like a pegboard. I appreciate they host all my viewing parties, but they did not sign up to fill out the invitations and do the goodie bags. I'm getting realistic about this, EUREKA!

Creative bound

I remember being in elementary school, through junior high, making these necklaces out of seed beads, fishing line, and safety pins. It was a business, a marketing tool, an image. I had so many of them, I could coordinate most any outfit. I was even turning my friends on to them too. It was fun. I liked the process. I liked getting my folks to venture into the craft section of Wal-Mart to let me pick out new beads and value bags of safety pins. I liked that people would see some of my necklaces and be jealous and have to have one to, at a price.

I even remember going on a school field trip in 7th grade, I think, to this behind in the times reenactment place. I was bored out of my mind until I ran across the little lady pretending to make beads. She had this jar full of beads in front of her. I would never believe she had really made them herself, but that was beside the point. I saw beads. I saw beads no one else at school had. I saw my classmates laughing at me for buying beads from a woman in a bonnet with a sleeping German shepherd. Seriously, I saw beads that were going to be so turn of the century cheap I could do some major damage. And, I did. I bought a handful and went home and made some pretty fantastic junior high quality necklaces. Sold out in no time.

I should have known. I was a trendsetter. I did what I wanted and didn't apologize for it. I liked that about young me. I can remember in 8th grade jellies, the plastic shoe, came back in style. Wow, I was so excited. I loved jellies when I was young, younger. I begged my mom for two weeks, until she finally bought me some on sale at Target. They were old school sandal type, clear with a woven top and low ankle strap. AMAZING! I went home and pulled out my best crazy printed socks and matched up a Monday outfit. I was so ready for school. I remember being caught off guard when everyone teased me on Monday. It wasn't bad teasing, but obviously they thought it was a joke. Hell nah, I was super serious! I kept it up. Everyday I had a new fab outfit, crazy sock, and clear jellies sandals. Everyday that week, I stepped out like a runway model. Everyday that week some ultra popular, my shit don't stink, girl had something to say. I did not care. I had fought my mom for those shoes and I would wear them to death. So when the week ended I felt that I had really accomplished something. I had stared down a lion, dressed as a 8th grade girl. The next Monday every laughing commenting 8th, and trying to be cool 7th, grade girl were walking down the halls in multi colored jellies or crazy jellies and sock combinations. I was furious. Posers!

That's who I am. I do what I think is fashion. I am a creative force and I like to live it. Because that's what style is. It's what fashion means. It's the opportunity to blur lines and interpret things the way you want. The only thing that matters is fit and appropriateness.

All this to say, I love my jewels. I love the way they make me feel and the statement they make. I love how accomplished I feel when I create them or when I wear them. I love being creative. I thank God for this blessing. It's AMAZING!

Little did I know, many never to be counted, years ago I had discovered my destiny.

compulsively working

Yes, still obsessed with ribbon wrapped bracelets!

Yes, I am obsessed with ribbon wrap bracelets!

'Net Networking

So I'm blogging with friends at a couple small business networking sites. We are looking for new fantastic ways to market and advertise ourselves. It is so important to get the word out. I've been asking for advice, and now I am taking that advice and making a move. I am ACTIVELY involved with about 2 gazillion networking sites. Actively was the missing link before. I love my product. I believe so strongly in my product, but everyone else doesn't. It's not a matter of anxiety, a bad experience, or any other negativity. It's simply most people don't know that my product exists. Now, I can't continue to rely on my virtually unknown product, or business, to just sell itself. I need to do far more grunt work! Far more grunt work! So, I belong to as many sites as I can effectively manage, and I have been staying active. I tweet on Twitter, and the proof is at http://twitter.com/LeandreaLarry. I will stay loyal to Myspace, http://myspace.com/blaisedENVY. Then there's my Etsy site that started it all, http://blaisedenvy.etsy.com/. I also maintain profiles at http://mycraft.com/, http://etsyaoc.ning.com/, and http://etsylove.ning.com/.

I think and equally exciting part about joining these sites, is that right now they supply me with as much or more knowledge as exposure. That's just as important to me right now too, because I realize there's still so much I need to learn to grow. I can now officially recommend that everyone try this their own way. I got this advice and it has been more valuable than the right wire to string with.

Career v. Student v. Entrepreneur + Mom = Me v. Career + Student + Entrepreneur + Mom = Me

I'm considering big career decision. It would be at two year commitment at minimum. This position would put me back in sales, and I do believe in this product. The downside is that I see it as giving up on my chosen career and my education. Am I turning my back on my drive and my business for the guaranteed successes of someone elses?

I do faithfully attend college. I've found my second wind, and I am back finishing my degree. Would I be throwing all that work away to pursue this career? This is tough. What to do with my massive schooling? I have hours upon hours, multiple certifications, and an Associates Degree. I am down the street from my Bachelors. This work would not be completely utilized in my new career. How do I feel about that?

blaisedENVY has been my passion for the last couple years now. I have created so many beautiful pieces of jewelry. I have so many beautiful accessories and apparel designs left in me. I have crazy potential. I can make this work! Would I be giving up on this dream, this ability, and this work? Can I add 5 - 10 hours to the day and do both? Can I figure out a way to make both work? Is it even possible to make both work?

Bashing this career opportunity does not make it bad. It's still an excellent opportunity that I'd feel like a fool to pass up. I have the chance to jump into a job that will quickly become a very lucrative career. I am sitting atop a gold mine. If I pass this by I will strongly regret it very soon.

So the answer is evident. I must take a shot at this new career. Also, finding or making the time to continue to finish my education and rock blaisedENVY until the wheels fall off. I'm going to have more work on my hands than ever before. This is going to be a defining moment for me. I will be tested. With all of this going on, I'm still a single mom to a attention needing 3 yo. I can do this. The harder I work today, the longer I get to relax tomorrow!

Business is not booming

I make a fantastic product! Seriously, I do! I make some of the most beautiful jewelry I've seen in a while. It's my opinion though. I take advantage of everything I can get my hands on. I read. I watch. I research. I do everything I can think of to keep growing in this field, this industry. I feel so proud of what I do. I want everyone else to realize my ability and take advantage of what I know and create. Why isn't this easy? Why isn't business booming? I consider myself on the road to expert, because I realize the importance of taking advantage of everyone's knowledge. So again, why isn't business booming? I want to push this to the absolute edge. I want this to be a part of what ultimately defines me. I need this to work as hard for me as I work for it. So, I need to figure out how. That will be next weeks project I guess!

I'm having far too many incidents of self doubt.

www.blaisedENVY.etsy.com

www.blaisedENVY.etsy.com

Entrepreneur

I own a business. I'm the stressed out, proud, owner of a Internet based jewelry company. I am the blood, sweat, and tears behind, in front, beside, on top of, and underneath blaisedENVY. My talent is located at www.blaisedENVY.etsy.com or www.blaisedENVY.com. Who would have ever thought it would be this difficult and time consuming? I have committed to this business though. This is me shaping my destiny, taking control of my life, and doing what makes me truly happy. I love fashion, I love stepping out and staying in, I love the female form, I love knowing what's right for any body type, and I love using my body as a canvas for expression everyday. You can tell my mood by my outfit, my hair style, and my accessories. They speak for me just as well as the expression on my face.

And, I love business. I love marketing. I love the production and planning. I love strategizing. I love everything about it. I think I found my calling. I just want to make sure that I do what it takes to have this stressed out bliss everyday of my life. God help me!!!