Small Business Journey: Where I started and Creating a Business Motto.
Hello everyone. I am officially a small Business owner and let me tell you, It's terrifying! I have wanted to share my artwork, my ideas, and my adventures for a very long time, but I was too shy and made many excuses. As I am starting a new Chapter in my life, I am stepping out of my little shell and sharing my experiences as a business owner and artist.
I have been an artist for far too long without actually making my art. I felt directionless in why I should create artwork. I realized I wanted to make art to share love, laughter, and a sense of joy with the world, so, here I am. Ready for that adventure.
A lot of brainstorming on what my passion was went into the decision of what product I wanted to start with in my new business adventure. My gut reaction after the initial research was whoo hoo! Stickers!!! Then? I panicked. I ran away from the very idea of stickers. I said no and tried a million other ideas and got nowhere. It was my first lesson to learn as a small business owner, always follow your gut instinct.
Here I am, a year later, Twenty stickers made. Happy I decided to trust my gut instinct. The most important lesson I learned in the journey, other than follow your initial gut reactions if it is one of excitement and joy was absolutely go with the art that adds joy to your life so that you have a better chance at sharing that joy with others.
I was always a more traditionally trained graphic designer and artist who was told it will never be good to make art that is not always and only for the client. This mentality made me feel confused for a very long time on why "only" that was necessary. I am and was all about, yes, the customer comes first, but I felt there was a missing piece to the formula. I spent many a year in the retail business and love to help customers. For a small business owner I realized it just wasn't enough to always want to "serve" others in a retail setting.
There had to be more or the burnout rate was too much for me. It took a lot of soul searching and much thought to realize it was because I originally was wrong about my mission for having a business. I fell into a common trap it seems. The trap of, I am in it only to serve and then serve for the customer in hopes of making money and nothing else.
I thought I had a great business motto of serving and realized it was the wrong motto. It was not until I made my first series of stickers: The Edible Mushroom Sticker Friends, that I really stepped back and thought about what I should have as a business motto. As I sat staring at all their happy, adorable Kawaii faces I realized, I was failing because my business motto was wrong. It should be to do my best to add positivity to the world to my best abilities.
Naturally, I had been struggling that whole time with what really were my "best abilities". Those dark intrusive that humans by design get said, nothing in about a million negative ways possible. I had to hug my fears that led to those thoughts and say to myself "No." Simply, no. I thought long and hard what I have been thanked for in life the most by people who knew me. My compassion. My willingness to try to see the bright side of things. That I try to add joy to those around me. My natural tendency even at my worst to be cheerful because my authentic self tends to lean towards being sunny and full of life.
That then became my business motto. I make artwork in hopes it adds a laugh or peace and some joy to everyone who buys or views my work. Stickers are the best way for me to do just this I realized and bam! I was lead right back to my original thought "I want to make stickers". I love the idea of someone picking up their water bottle to drink, or wherever they want to place my stickers and see the sticker I created and have a sense of peace, comfort and love.
That is my mission with this business and that is what I now do my best to follow as I make more stickers. These blogs are all about bringing you along on my journey as I create my dream! I hope to see you in the next blog as I adventure deeper into being a Small Business Owner!
Leave a comment below if this resonates with you or you have questions! Check out the Edible Mushroom Collection!
-- Sleepy Fae Creations
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