Someone once told me that I should keep it real here on the blog. So here I am keeping it real. This is not a pity party post. No, it is merely me acknowledging the fact that I am petrified of failing.
The Lanie J. and Co. Shop has been open for over a month now. I have not sold an item yet. I am slowly adding more and more too it. So when I posted a giveaway on my facebook fan page on a Saturday morning and all anyone has to do is like my page, comment on and share the post and as of Sunday evening, there are only three shares, it is hard not to throw in the towel. I know for a fact that the post has had over 200 views. Wrong audience? Maybe. It's okay though. It just makes me rethink the way I am going about things and remember that the point of my blog and doing art and having an Etsy shop is to teach my children to chase their dreams and not give up.
Courage!
I even confessed to my 10 year old how I am feeling and told her that I will not give up, I will keep doing what I enjoy. So, I am going to list the rest of my note cards that I currently have printed and head back to what I love. I have Christmas gifts to make. I'll share what I am doing here as I go.
Leaving you with these wonderful words of wisdom...
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
~Steve Jobs
~Steve Jobs
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.
~Mark Twain
People who lack the clarity, courage, or determination to follow their own dreams will often find ways to discourage yours. Live your truth and don't EVER stop!
~Steve Maraboli
~Steve Maraboli
Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.
~Ray Bradbury
~Ray Bradbury
Happy Monday!
Oh Lanie! Don't give up! Your work is beautiful. I love all of your bright, cheerful designs. It takes some time to get an Etsy shop up and running and getting traffic. I think some shops have TONS of holiday traffic and others don't have much, just depending on a shopper's focus for their gift giving. Think of this as the calm before the storm... maybe this is meant to be your creative time. Time to get some work/designs out there before you are BLOWN AWAY with more orders than you have time to fill! Hang in there! You are showing your children what it means to be brave and follow your dreams! That's worth more than a sale in my book! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet Courtney. I really appreciate your kind words and actions. I knew exactly who that order was from before I even opened it all the way. My husband and I have had lengthy discussions about Etsy and how hard it is to get traffic. He is encouraging me to find different avenues and to keep creating as well. I spent the day doing something totally different to get the creative juices flowing and I do have lots of Christmas gifts to make. So I am busy anyway. Thank you also for taking the time to read and respond. I will get your cards to you in the next couple of days. :)
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