Taking Mini-Risks

[Former_Member]

Hi team!

I bumped into the most inspiring blog post today:

How to Pick Up a Stranger (or Produce Brilliant Work)
http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/how-to-pick-up-a-stranger-or-produce-brilliant-work/

The moral of the story is this: Building up your confidence by facing your fears can lead to highly productive (and creative) workdays!

So today I challenge you to take one mini-risk. Let me know what it is in this forum thread and let's face them together!

xo
Danielle

[Former_Member]

Great post, I like that --action based, not results based.

I took a bigger than mini risk 5 days ago. I pulled work from a successful but cluttered established shop to start this new one.

It's really like starting over, but I am excited about it, no matter how it turns out. And, I'm making room for big collaborations coming at the end of the month.

It's all good no matter the twists and turns. My favorite quote by Willa Cather :
" The end is nothing, the road is all."

[Former_Member]

I'm working on custom orders right now for brides, but I took a big risk this past fall. I've been making soaps for years, and I finally decided to open a third shop.

Crazy? Maybe. Worth it? Totally.

I had the best Christmas I've ever had on Etsy, and now all those people who bought at Christmas are starting to come back and buy more stuff, because they're running out. And whenever I send out business cards, they have all my shop links on them.

Here's to taking risks - I've found that when I take a big breath and jump right in, it's usually worth it.

[TheMosaicButterfly]

I took two risks this week: I pulled work out of a slow, safe (inexpensive) gallery and put it into a more expensive but high-traffic shop. Then I said yes to a craft show I was going to turn down. I will have to work hard to create new product as quickly as possible but still of good quality. I'm grateful that my Etsy shop doesn't have to be such a risk....just another good channel to buyers who like what I do.

[Former_Member]

I'm generally afraid to take risks, even when a positive outcome is nearly guaranteed. I recently redid all my shop pictures to have a much brighter and whiter background. Soon after finishing, I panicked myself into thinking I had made a terrible choice and the pictures were too bright and all hope was lost. I am better now, especially after seeing the increase in traffic to my shop.

So, now it is time for me to start taking more risks and doing things differently.. I think I am going to start with mini-mini risk and start using my Facebook fan page to start commenting on other pages and show appreciation for their work instead of just letting my page gather dust. After all, if I can't appreciate the work of others, I can't really expect the same in return.

[Former_Member]

I have noticed my art style changing lately. Maturing maybe? I have started offering embroidered artwork in my shop. It's still animal related but slightly different than the old sleepy king. More organic maybe? Anyways I plan on changing up my plush work in the coming year. Maybe more original plush and less mass produced made to order ones.. also adding an embroidered jewelry line, and original illustrations. so that to me is a big mini risk because my shop is already well known and people like the original style. I guess I feel like sleepy king is evolving.. which I suppose is only natural. Let's just hope my customers respond in a positive way! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks Danielle!

[Former_Member]

My little risks have been emailing local boutiques about carrying my items, and booking a monthly event two months in a row while maintaining my other business as a paralegal. WHEW I am pooped but it's all worth it :-)

[Former_Member]

this is interesting. I was actually thinking of taking a bit of a financial risk in order to be able to manufacture a new item idea, that I think would do great...but as anything else would cost me money on the first couple of prototypes.....with materials that are really not cheap. And although it might be a good investment in the future...it is money that I need for other things (like rent) right now.....
...hmmmm....

[Chandeluse]

The last time I picked up a stranger they left prune whip yogurt all over the door of my car and a whiff of BO behind, but nothing bad happened. My Etsy sales are down despite listing on a number of search engines so I started an organizing business. Now I have to establish an online presence since print ads didn't do the job. The truth is,I should really try to get a job.

[grumpyoldgoat]

I'm starting to look into using facebook to promote my shop.

[Former_Member]

I've been taking some rather large risks lately with my business. I've seen some wonderful new yarns from my suppliers that are currently available only by pre-order in a fairly large quantity. No swatch samples are available.

So rather than wait for swatch samples (which won't be available until August), I've taken the plunge and placed some fairly large orders sight unseen! Now with yarns, that can be a huge gamble as you never know what the buyer response will be. I could be stuck with a 'dud' or have a gold mine on my hands. Only time will tell.

[KCsCanastotaCorner]

I like the responses better than the article.

[LAccentNou]

Great idea!
Going out from the comfort zone can give interesting results.
I'll try the Gocco printer I've bought more than 1 year ago and still didn't get enough courage to try it!
I'll tell you.

[Former_Member]

This is actually a very timely blog post for me to read today. I was bummed because I can't afford and don't have a certain machine that I need to do quilted items. If I had it, I wouldn't have to send out my work to a longarm quilter. But it is possible to quilt on a regular machine but I was afraid to try; simultaniously I was thinking about a color challenge project for another team I belong too. So I decided to try the color combination and the free motion quilting for this challenge. Even if it doesn't turn out picture perfect, I am enjoying the process of quilting this little project on my old machine, and yes, it doesn't matter how it turns out--it's fun to try!!

[AlexisSoutham]

Today I've emailed a gallery I've wanted to get in touch with to hopefully stock my jewellery and spent quite some time getting to grips with how to use facebook effectively to make people aware of my business. Both mini steps but facing fears for me, I'm very shy.
:)

[TrashAndTrinkets]

I actually do this exercise every time I add new "supplies" to my pile of cool junque that I use for jewelry making.

Sometimes even I think it's a weird idea... but that just makes me determined to find a way to make it work. It's fun.

[Foxery]

Mini-risks, eh? I think I might have skipped that bit. I took a super-risk, and left my part-time wage job. It has thus far been the smartest thing I have done. EVER.

Each day since leaving my job has been as productive as the next. My creativity has flowed well, and in fact I have a queue of ideas.

So I am all for risks, big and small, and I will keep trying to take them. Except the last time I spoke to a stranger I ended up married. So I might skip that one if that's OK!

[Former_Member]

Risks. . . I can think of a few I'd like to take. Talking to local shops about consigning my jewelry. Hiring someone to have a logo made (even though I'm still figuring out my business identity). Sharing more about my ultimate vision for my business which includes a large travel/fair trade component.

Like the article said, it's all about facing your fears and insecurites. Take a gulp of confidence and a leap of faith!

[Former_Member]

How fitting! This week I tried two new things: a new clutch design and a stab at making a piece of jewelry. One failed miserably and the other was a HUGE success. I'm looking forward to adding the fabric necklaces to my shop next week and am so excited to be expanding my brand to a place I didn't think I'd ever go.

[WoolWench]

I am about to pay for my place in the upcoming Etsy Showroom to be held here in Utrecht Holland! Its a fun risk, and a small one as the fee isnt huge, but I do wonder: do I have enough stock, how will I display everything I do have, where do I find bags/ packaging in case I make a sale?! Lots to do and find out and I have a couple of weeks to do it all in!

[Former_Member]

I like the concept of mini-risks - especially the idea of it being a "win" regardless.

I honestly have no idea what risk I can take today but I love reading everyone's responses. It's very inspiring to see what others are doing :)

[Former_Member]

I am taking a few days off from my shop ....for me that IS a "mini-risk" as I have a very hard time taking time away. This week my family needed me AND I was also sick. Normally I would have just "carried on" but I had an epiphany that it IS ok to close for a few days... the world will not come to an end LOL

"Ah but you are here", you might say LOL. Well in fairness Danielle DID send that email... it would be rude to ignore it :P And now I am off to rest :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much for the information. I will try it tomorrow.

[SiennaCeramic]

I have been wanting to take the plunge and purchase some advertising . . . see what provides the best results. I have some great new pictures and I think I'm going to do it!