Just really bummed out-but maybe it's an open door to go all out with my crafting

[Former_Member]

I had gone to DARS today. It's an agency that helps disabled people find good jobs.
But they told me today that I didn't qualify for their services-I wasn't disabled enough -whatever that means. How can I be "not disabled enough". When I do get hired they want to fire me because people don't want to put up with someone disabled.

But I was waiting to see if they could help me before I gave up and decided to just dive in and go totally all out with my crafting. I'm so fed up with people! Mad because everywhere I go they give me he shove off so I go to people who are sapposed to help and I face the same thing. Well good. I'm tired of trying to fit in with people in the world who discriminate. But I had to at least try. There goes my whole cosmetology license down the drain and no I don't have it payed off yet. Haven't even started.

What do ya'll who do this full time or even part time in the winter months when you can't go to shows? I'm going to give it all I've got and foreget my complaining neighbors who think I just need to "get a job".

[HamiltonArtandDesign]

Sorry you are having a hard time. Hope things get better!

[Former_Member]

Well thank you. I really haven't given Etsy or my crafting 100% Too easy to get distracted at home. Thought I had to make it in the "real world" where everyone works a 9-5. People like me are looked down upon for not working in the real world. But the real world doesn't want to hire me. Foreget them! If they won't hire me I'll hire myself. Yea, I'll hear the whining neighbors who accuse me of wasting my time and money on the internet who also come over and stay the whole day and then invite themselves for supper . I'm like , well why don't you just bring your sleeping bag and tent too- I don't mind once a week spending the day with friends but I don't like babysitting every day and them hinting for me to take them places....."I would like to fix such and such for supper but I have no one to take me to the store." Then I'm not just the baby sitter....I'm the taxi driver. (which is part of the reason I wanted to take a job.)

O.K. enough complaining. Time to get down to business. And if people come over they have to sit there and watch me work and read or watch t.v. (Oh I said I wouldn't complain). I just have a neighbor that doesn't like to be alone who is mentaly and emotionaly challenged and her family won't take care of her so she comes over here. My problem is finding a way to do my business when I have to take care of other people at the same time. She's only here on the days she doesn't have dialasis. It used to be every day except Sunday. Well, I guess I should feel sorry because her mom won't quit her job to take care of her. I think that's her duty since it's her daughter but she thinks otherwise.

Well, I guess I can work my hardest at this business when company is not here. I get Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday free-no company. Woo Hoo!

Sorry for the rant I've just been royally aggravated today and needed to vent.
So what do I need to do to get my act together? What do people do in the winter months when you can't go to shows/events/trade days?

[PaperPlanePrints]

I don't do craft shows at all really. I focus my time on 1) making things that i really think buyers would want (instead of just what I personally like), and 2) marketing them by using SEO and strong listings, and social media promo when I can... But most of my days are just filling orders.

[QuirkyUniverse]

I don't do shows either. If you really want to make a go of it read up on SEO and getting your items found and read some articles about taking good product photos. Those two things are hands down the most important things you need to learn.

Don't worry about what anyone else thinks, your life is yours, not theirs. If you do want to make this a business you need to treat it like one and make it clear to friends and family what your work hours are and stick to them. Just because you work from home does not mean you aren't working a real job.

[Former_Member]

I understand completely where you are coming from. I, too, am disabled and went through a similar scenario trying to do the "normal" and expected things. Set good boundaries for those people who would interrupt your progress (I have a hard time sticking to these myself, but I keep pushing the boundary back more and more to give me space to get my work done.)

This is a great time to focus on the creation of your craft, to get all that paperwork done, to focus on perfecting the art of the sale. Lori was right, there is a ton of information to help you, read as much of it as you can and implement what is appropriate for you. That is how I will be spending my cold months, anyway. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Thanks ya'll,

Yes, people do think I'm not working when I'm working at home and they take advantage of that. This little friend may not be with us much longer, but it's still aggravating sometimes. But at least it's not every day now.

Scheduling my time and not staying on the computer all day is a challenge. I may eventually just use the computer as an online contact point and make my main concentration local events.

People don't respect my time-that is always a given when I'm at home. If your there they think your available. I often get called at 7:00 am because someone wants me to take them somewhere-and they never have gas money. I guess I can just look at it as another ministry or start telling them I'm working and can't take them.

O.K. I'm going to have to get off this thing and fix some breakfast.

R.

[Former_Member]

There is just so much irony in life. . .

[Former_Member]

yes, Jean, nothing turns out how you expect. That's life.

Maybe I should view my intteruptions as opportunities? Art can be a selfish lifestyle sometimes.

Good ideas for this winter. Work on perfecting my art. I think I would like to offer some of my own designs for sale. Or work on all the legal aspects of running a business. I ordered a book that is sapposed to help me start the business properly. It's called, "Growing your handmade business." I ordered today from Amazon.

Well, later. Thanks for all your replies. Very helpful.

[Former_Member]

Rhonda, I've said this before but you need to create boundaries with your neighbors. They don't support what you are doing and seem to just put you down and minimize your hard work.

It is not your responsibility to be hostess to bored neighbors. It's not your job to be their taxi when you are struggling with your own issues finding a job/making money.

You need to be firm, but polite. When they ask for favors you don't want to do, just simply say "I'm sorry but I am looking for a job right now and that needs to be my priority." Or if you are crafting, "I'm sorry but I am working right now, maybe another time."

As far as your condition, without knowing much about your health issues, I do encourage you to talk to your disability office. My uncle is disabled and lives with my dad so we currently are dealing with this, albeit different. SS disability has a phone number you can call, they might have a different service that might be able to help you find part time work.

Bottom line: you cannot keep complaining about the neighbors if you are unwilling to change the situation. Honestly, I don't think its right the way they treat you but I don't think its right that you let them.

As far as the job, keep looking and researching other services. Talk to your doctors about getting documentation to present as evidence of your disability and talk to the disability office about possible referrals to employment services for disabled people.

Overall,I wish you luck in getting this resolved. Take care.

[Former_Member]

I work at this business like is a full time 9 to 5 job. You have got to have a routine or it is just a hobby

[Former_Member]

Yes, its not my job to babysit bored neighbors. But I see no way out of it. Everyone else is tired of her too and they run her off (her family). This person is going through kidney failure and is on dialasis. Her mother should be staying home to take care of her but she won't. I've told this person and her family 100 times that it couldn't handle having her over all day. It is unlikely that this person will get a kidney. She's older and not in good health and eats unhealthy. The only thing I'm left to do is file a restraining order against her but that wouldn't work either- she wouldn't understand it. Her family tells me she has always been like this- won't stay home-doesnt like to be at home alone. She had been staying with her aunt -just coming home on the weekend so but they ran her off. I'm thinking eventually they will take her back in after a while. It just started up again here in the past few days. I'm going to play this by ear for a week or two. She's not keeping me from my work -she's just there and has no where else to go right now.

I'm not going to get part time income right now-just make my art my job and since I'm at home o can also run the ministry of taking people places they need to go. I earned a new car this way. Or was allowed to buy a new car from neighbors whose daughter I'm always taking places. Well I'm aggravated with it sometimes but I did get a new car out of the deal and a new computer. So I guess what comes around goes around. And my job is the perfect job in this situation. I have no outside day job to complicate things so I have time to get up and go when I'm needed. And I've never gone without a meal around here. My freezer is full of meat this family has given me and I have so much food in my pantry that it is literally stacked in boxes outside my pantry in the kitchen. I have need of nothing.

[KiltedWoman]

So you are venting but not wanting any suggestions? As Dr. Phil likes to say, people will treat you the way you allow them to treat you. Or something to that effect.

[Former_Member]

What is SEO?

[Former_Member]

SEO = Search Engine Optimization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_optimization