Is this what you do?
Well, if so, then let me just stop you right there. You’re zipping around this looping track of production, so you must be really busy. Busy being busy. But, you’re missing out on a lot. In fact, you’re missing crucial aspects of business.
I encourage you to hit the pause button on your repeat cycle and take a few moments to see what you’re busy passing by:
creative opportunities: When we’re stuck in the routine of just filling orders, we can flat out miss opportunities. Whether they are ones we dream up or those knocking at the door- they can be be easy to ignore if you’ve got your nose down, music up, and production non-stop. Every now and then stop and see what’s out there. What else is going on? What is out there waiting for you?
{pause: visit the Etsy events page to see what’s happening online and in your area}
growth: Autopilot equals stagnancy. And stagnancy is the biggest deterrent for growth. To amplify your business you’ve got to get out of the same ‘ol, same ‘ol and look around. Shake things up a bit. Try something different….see what happens.
{pause: read Meg Auman’s article on Growth & Scalability}
insight: If we’ve got our nose to the grindstone then it’s really hard to gain insight about our business. We might be overlooking cracks in the foundation, mistakes to learn from, or even accomplishments to celebrate. Take time to reflect. Write about it, talk it out, create a photo collage, scrutinize your process. Think.
{pause: journal with Susannah Conway’s Creative Workbook}
passion: Filling orders for 653 widgets might squeeze a bit of the creative passion out of it all. Or perhaps you’ve preoccupied yourself with products that sell…but not products you love to make. In any event, you’ve got to find that spark to rekindle that creative fire – maybe it means selling less for more or zeroing in on the products you really enjoy creating. In the end, follow your passion, strategically, and a market will follow.
{pause: print & complete Hedgehog Concept Diagram by me and Perideau Designs to focus in on your passion}
These are just a a few (crucial!) aspects of entrepreneurial success we might miss if our business is set on the repeat cycle. Sure, there are times when buckling down and working the midnight shift might be necessary…but if all you’re doing is filling orders, you’re more of a robot than a creative entrepreneur. So, go ahead, and hit the pause button and see what you’ve been missing.
