I've been thinking more and more about that business idea from my last post. I've been talking to a lot of people about it too. So far my husband supports it (although he's nervous at the idea, like he is about anything so risky and exciting), my Mom thinks I should give it a go, my siblings and friends are supportive and offering help and advice to help me get started, and the manager at my credit union is giving me all sorts of resources to go to for help.
I'm writing down the ideas that come to me in the middle of the night (using a little notepad on my nightstand in the dark so that when I look at it the next day I have to decipher what exactly I was thinking about). I'm making a thorough business plan. I'm looking at food handling classes/permits. I'm toying with store names and items to sell in the attached bakery I'm planning on doing along with the shop. I looked at a location on Tuesday evening with the leasing agent and really liked it. I'm thinking about quitting my job in May and working at a bakery over the summer for experience (thanks for the idea, Lauren!). I'm seeing crafty items I can make and thinking of ways to keep the store stocked. I'm thinking about marketing and advertising and getting my name out and people in.
I would love to get this thing going in the fall. Or even next spring. I'd hate to wait any longer because I'm scared my energy and excitement might fade or I'll just find something else to be too involved in and not give myself time to really do this. We'll be here for several years still with Bob's schooling, so why not do something like this now? As my mom put it, there's nothing keeping me from doing it. And even if I were to fail miserably, I'd definitely learn a lot of valuable lessons from it and I'd know what not to do.
I know it'll be stressful and the hours will be early and long. I'll have employees to hire and legal stuff to deal with. I'll have taxes to figure out and finances to learn about. There will be stocking and inventory lists. There will be permits to acquire and regulations to follow. There will be some big expensive purchases and some remodeling to take place.
But among all of that, there will be tons of opportunities to be creative. I'll be my own boss and work out my own hours and pay (which could turn out good or bad). There will be people to serve and customers to gain, not to mention experiences and chances to learn and grow.
Overall, I think those benefits will be better and more fun for me than if I just stayed stuck here with what I'm doing now. I feel stagnant right now, which is only really at work but it seems to affect me elsewhere. It carries over to how I feel about my school work, and how I feel about myself in general. I feel like me as a person cannot progress any further or improve my potential by staying where I'm currently employed.
The reason I feel that way is probably just a result of being employed as an RSM for so long. I've been employed my DAP since October 2004 (with a break for a mission for 18 months). Everyone I started working here with is long gone. So why am I still here? I'll be 24 in April. I probably won't graduate until I'm 27ish, but I don't want to wait until then to let my life go somewhere or do something productive and exciting. Maybe it's just a mental block I'm putting on myself. Whatever it is, I need something different than what I'm doing now.
Way different.
I think owning a small business will be plenty different.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Inspirations and Asperations
I recently went into a little shop just full of fun home decor items, picture frames and wall hangings, scarves and aprons and headbands, flowers, etc. I loved it!
And then I realized that I know how to make almost everything that was in there.
So I got to thinking about how fun it would be to work in a little shop like that. Then I thought about how easy it would probably be to start. I've got the skills, and because I know I couldn't do it alone I'd likely hire a few other crafty people to help me along. All I have to do is get past this fear of taking out a loan. I think that's the only way I could afford to do it, and my credit union probably has some good business loan options. I'll just have to look into it.
I know something like that would be extremely time consuming, but I'm down to taking 6 credits a semester now until I graduate. Plus, I think it would be worth it to love my job again. It's not that I hate the one I'm at now, but I feel so limited by it. I'm pretty sure I'm at the maximum hourly wage allowed for RSMs, there's no further promotion I can get (plus I'm really not interested in ever becoming Events Manager--sitting at a computer making phone calls and scheduling out the various setups/strikes for all the performances each semester). I'm limited to 20-ish hours of work a week since I'm a student and a campus employee.
Owning a crafty little shop would take most of my time during the day, but if it's an atmosphere that I like and I get to create things and use my hobbies and talents the whole time, I think I'd really like it. I say that now, but who knows if I'll still feel that way after actually doing that, right? Well, I loved working at the bead shop in Clarksville, and I seriously would have loved to work full time there. I think that's similar enough. And obviously as the owner of a business I'd have to deal with all the budget and inventory issues as well, but then again, I could always hire someone to do that part for me. Plus Bob talked about how he'd like to help out if I ever actually get this idea up and running. He'd be pretty decent at that I think.
I see all the pros and cons to this idea (okay, maybe not ALL of them right now but I see lots of each), but I'm not scared of giving it a shot. I really want to. Plus at this point in life I feel like I could focus a lot on the poor college student apartment and how to make it nicer for cheaper. I'd love to make almost everything in the store for sale too, including the window drapes, tables that things are displayed on, etc. I could even offer kits or classes on how to make various things.
I definitely want to do it. Now, when is the question. Next semester would be awesome. But it seems like these dreams of mine are only dreams and I never actually do them. But that is slowly changing. I am going to Singapore in May for a study abroad. That's something I'd always dream about but never actually do, and here I am getting a passport and rolling out a few thousand dollars for it. I'm actually doing it! Now I feel more motivation to do this store idea. Bob did suggest that I start online. Maybe that would be a good place to get things rolling and start making some income to fund this little shop idea. We'll see. I'm feeling kind of excited about it.
Oh, and I got free frozen yogurt today. Life really can be so great sometimes.
And then I realized that I know how to make almost everything that was in there.
So I got to thinking about how fun it would be to work in a little shop like that. Then I thought about how easy it would probably be to start. I've got the skills, and because I know I couldn't do it alone I'd likely hire a few other crafty people to help me along. All I have to do is get past this fear of taking out a loan. I think that's the only way I could afford to do it, and my credit union probably has some good business loan options. I'll just have to look into it.
I know something like that would be extremely time consuming, but I'm down to taking 6 credits a semester now until I graduate. Plus, I think it would be worth it to love my job again. It's not that I hate the one I'm at now, but I feel so limited by it. I'm pretty sure I'm at the maximum hourly wage allowed for RSMs, there's no further promotion I can get (plus I'm really not interested in ever becoming Events Manager--sitting at a computer making phone calls and scheduling out the various setups/strikes for all the performances each semester). I'm limited to 20-ish hours of work a week since I'm a student and a campus employee.
Owning a crafty little shop would take most of my time during the day, but if it's an atmosphere that I like and I get to create things and use my hobbies and talents the whole time, I think I'd really like it. I say that now, but who knows if I'll still feel that way after actually doing that, right? Well, I loved working at the bead shop in Clarksville, and I seriously would have loved to work full time there. I think that's similar enough. And obviously as the owner of a business I'd have to deal with all the budget and inventory issues as well, but then again, I could always hire someone to do that part for me. Plus Bob talked about how he'd like to help out if I ever actually get this idea up and running. He'd be pretty decent at that I think.
I see all the pros and cons to this idea (okay, maybe not ALL of them right now but I see lots of each), but I'm not scared of giving it a shot. I really want to. Plus at this point in life I feel like I could focus a lot on the poor college student apartment and how to make it nicer for cheaper. I'd love to make almost everything in the store for sale too, including the window drapes, tables that things are displayed on, etc. I could even offer kits or classes on how to make various things.
I definitely want to do it. Now, when is the question. Next semester would be awesome. But it seems like these dreams of mine are only dreams and I never actually do them. But that is slowly changing. I am going to Singapore in May for a study abroad. That's something I'd always dream about but never actually do, and here I am getting a passport and rolling out a few thousand dollars for it. I'm actually doing it! Now I feel more motivation to do this store idea. Bob did suggest that I start online. Maybe that would be a good place to get things rolling and start making some income to fund this little shop idea. We'll see. I'm feeling kind of excited about it.
Oh, and I got free frozen yogurt today. Life really can be so great sometimes.
Valentines Day: It's not so bad after all.
I used to hate Valentines Day with a serious passion. I can't remember a single time that holiday ever went well. I even own a black t-shirt that has "I hate Valentines Day" in red letters across the front.
However, after years of dreading the lovely holiday, I had an amazing experience for once! But it wasn't even on February 14th. It was two days early. Why? Well, I had to work Saturday night, and since Valentines Day falls on a Sunday we can't exactly go out and make a big celebration of our love and spend lots of money that day. So for us, Valentines day was observed on February 12th, instead of the 14th. I think the big deal about this is that I actually celebrated it.
I had to work on Friday, from 1:30 until 4:30pm. I called Bob when I got off work to see if he wanted to pick me up as usual. He said he couldn't, which was fine. I don't mind walking a bit, especially with how beautiful the weather has been. He also asked me to check the mail on my way inside. So I started walking, enjoying the fact that I knew Bob was up to something.
I got to our house and walked around the corner to where our mail box is attached to the side of the house. I noticed something red on top of it. I realized it was a rose petal. And I just started smiling. I opened up the lid and looked inside to find more rose petals and a couple of small red gift-wrapped packages. I pulled them out, knowing full well that they were both some kind of chocolate (and Bob has classy taste in chocolate--these weren't Hershey or even Dove chocolate bars). I turned around and walked down the stairs toward our front door, and saw another rose petal on the door knob (I think every time I saw another one I smiled even wider than I already was).
As I opened the door I saw a trail of rose petals into the bedroom, and Bob was still in there, not quite ready for me to be home yet and still getting something ready. I said hello to him and said I was getting something to drink first (because I'm really bad at keeping myself hydrated anyway) and went to the kitchen to get a glass of grape juice (not wine but about as romantic as a non-alcoholic drink can be). Bob came out after a minute and hugged and kissed me. I don't remember what all our conversation consisted of, because I was just way too enthralled by the fact that someone had done something so sweet for me already.
But he wasn't finished yet. He walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a gorgeous bouquet of flowers! I can't remember the last time anyone bought me flowers (unless it was myself for my wedding). There were three roses (one for each month we've been married), two stems of beautiful white orchids (similar to what was in my wedding bouquet), and some pretty green leafy stuff to fill it all in. I couldn't believe all the thought that went into that simple, small bunch of flowers. Bob then talked me into opening up my chocolate to see what kind it was (which really didn't take much talking into). The smaller one was some delectable orange flavored chocolate. Appropriate, I think. I opened the other one and it was some Chuao chocolate, made with cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Bob had bought some of that for me last year for Valentines Day, so I think it's becoming a tradition now (which, I really don't have a problem with at all).
Then I followed the trail of rose petals, which didn't just end abruptly, but led to our bed, which was pretty much covered in sweet smelling rose petals. I thought stuff like that only happened in movies. But really, I've got a romantic husband who spoils me quite well. Yes, we're newly-weds still, but I'm gonna live that up for as long as I can, which I honestly feel like will never really wear off. For four years now, just the thought of Bob makes my heart beat faster, and when I see him it's like a mass of butterflies is released into my stomach and I feel giddy like a girl with her first crush, and when he holds me... Well, my poor excuse for a vocabulary cannot even begin to express how that makes me feel. It's like I have this void I never knew I had is suddenly filled, because we fit so perfectly into each others arms. I feel more whole than I ever have before.
So, my Valentines day was amazing--the first of its kind. I just wanted to make a record of it.
I could definitely learn to like this holiday.
However, after years of dreading the lovely holiday, I had an amazing experience for once! But it wasn't even on February 14th. It was two days early. Why? Well, I had to work Saturday night, and since Valentines Day falls on a Sunday we can't exactly go out and make a big celebration of our love and spend lots of money that day. So for us, Valentines day was observed on February 12th, instead of the 14th. I think the big deal about this is that I actually celebrated it.
I had to work on Friday, from 1:30 until 4:30pm. I called Bob when I got off work to see if he wanted to pick me up as usual. He said he couldn't, which was fine. I don't mind walking a bit, especially with how beautiful the weather has been. He also asked me to check the mail on my way inside. So I started walking, enjoying the fact that I knew Bob was up to something.
I got to our house and walked around the corner to where our mail box is attached to the side of the house. I noticed something red on top of it. I realized it was a rose petal. And I just started smiling. I opened up the lid and looked inside to find more rose petals and a couple of small red gift-wrapped packages. I pulled them out, knowing full well that they were both some kind of chocolate (and Bob has classy taste in chocolate--these weren't Hershey or even Dove chocolate bars). I turned around and walked down the stairs toward our front door, and saw another rose petal on the door knob (I think every time I saw another one I smiled even wider than I already was).
As I opened the door I saw a trail of rose petals into the bedroom, and Bob was still in there, not quite ready for me to be home yet and still getting something ready. I said hello to him and said I was getting something to drink first (because I'm really bad at keeping myself hydrated anyway) and went to the kitchen to get a glass of grape juice (not wine but about as romantic as a non-alcoholic drink can be). Bob came out after a minute and hugged and kissed me. I don't remember what all our conversation consisted of, because I was just way too enthralled by the fact that someone had done something so sweet for me already.
But he wasn't finished yet. He walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a gorgeous bouquet of flowers! I can't remember the last time anyone bought me flowers (unless it was myself for my wedding). There were three roses (one for each month we've been married), two stems of beautiful white orchids (similar to what was in my wedding bouquet), and some pretty green leafy stuff to fill it all in. I couldn't believe all the thought that went into that simple, small bunch of flowers. Bob then talked me into opening up my chocolate to see what kind it was (which really didn't take much talking into). The smaller one was some delectable orange flavored chocolate. Appropriate, I think. I opened the other one and it was some Chuao chocolate, made with cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Bob had bought some of that for me last year for Valentines Day, so I think it's becoming a tradition now (which, I really don't have a problem with at all).
Then I followed the trail of rose petals, which didn't just end abruptly, but led to our bed, which was pretty much covered in sweet smelling rose petals. I thought stuff like that only happened in movies. But really, I've got a romantic husband who spoils me quite well. Yes, we're newly-weds still, but I'm gonna live that up for as long as I can, which I honestly feel like will never really wear off. For four years now, just the thought of Bob makes my heart beat faster, and when I see him it's like a mass of butterflies is released into my stomach and I feel giddy like a girl with her first crush, and when he holds me... Well, my poor excuse for a vocabulary cannot even begin to express how that makes me feel. It's like I have this void I never knew I had is suddenly filled, because we fit so perfectly into each others arms. I feel more whole than I ever have before.
So, my Valentines day was amazing--the first of its kind. I just wanted to make a record of it.
I could definitely learn to like this holiday.
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