Re: Women Beyond Borders - OT

This is the second thing from you that I have bookmarked today. Keep the good stuff coming...

Deirdre

Inspirational. Thanks for posting!

Anything to avoid doing what I *should* be doing. LOL!

Nah. Not really. I submitted the most recent incarnation of my business plan this morning, along with my Equipment/Supplies on hand and Equipment/Supplies needed lists. And my 12 month P&L Forecast. Bleah. I'm wrung out, to say the least.

I'm picking Prairieson up at work in a couple of hours and we're going to go play at the Gem and Mineral show and have a bite of dinner. Fun, eh?

Sounds like more fun than what you -have- been doing. Just hope you get the brass ring, after jumping through all the hoops. Or am I mixing my metaphors?

Deirdre

*chuckle* Imagine, if you will, making up a list of everything that your little heart would desire for the art/endeavor of your choice. It's almost been physically painful. I had to price shop, research what the best *fill in the blank* would be (i.e. kiln, O2 generator, etc.), find the best supplier. A good thing to do regardless, I suppose, but oh what mixed emotions I've had! On one hand, thinking about how glorious it will be if this comes through. On the other hand... well, being crushed if it doesn't.

And this has included interviewing photographers, talking to Bead and Button and others about advertising, getting all the info on the shows I hope to do... Completely exhausting.

Worst case scenario, I have a really good grip on what my business is, what it isn't and what it CAN be now. And I've had my eyes opened to the fact that I simply MUST have an assistant. So not a bad deal at all, eh?

But DAMN. I *so* want this to happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The idea of being a fantasy shopper for one's heart's desire is lovely. But it is a bit like spending your lottery winnings before you even have a ticket ... in that your hopes go into the stratosphere, on the basis of what is not yet more than hot air.

I -do- think you will do much better with an assistant, and that what you have learned about your business will be worthwhile whether you get the backing or not.

But, by gum, I sure hope you get the backing. And that it liberates your work, so you can throw yourself into it without reservation.

Deirdre

I can relate to this. My house burned 8 or 10 years ago, and I had to replace everything! It sure teaches a person to like shopping a lot less!

Tina

I want it to happen for you too. I know how exhausting coming up with a business plan can be.

Starlia

I've been working on a few little boxes of my own:

Boy, do I hear that! :-(

Arondelle

Yes. I understand why, too, I think.

It is a little like being a kid who is trying to get someone to adopt them, hopefully without seeming to try too hard.

But I also dig why they want you to think bigger, too. Scraping by on too little leaves you no flex. To be safe, you need a buffer, and some surplus. Not just barely enough. Otherwise, your enterprise is fragile, and one unexpected problem can topple it.

Deirdre

Hey -- very, very cool!

Deirdre

Somehow that doesn't surprise me.

If you're getting an assistant to help you keep track of where things are (as I gather from what we talked about when I was up there), you might consider hiring someone from the local university, in the accounting department or business school, part-time to begin with. They could use the experience as a sort of internship, and your expenses wouldn't be so high. Just a thought...

Celine

I need someone who can use the torch, too. I'm beginning to think this will be no easy task. I posted a good job description at WetCanvas recently.

Those are EVER so cool, Arondelle!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm *so* glad you guys are enjoying that site. It really made me feel something....

Thank you, thank you. :o)

Got the ideas from "Making Shadow Boxes & Shrines" by Kathy Cano-Murillo, Rockport Publishers

Arondelle

So what you are after is actually an apprentice/assistant.

I would think that would make the job even more attractive to the kind of person who would be interested in the apprentice part.

Deirdre

I would drive from Texas four times a year to have the opportunity. I drove from Georgia to Alaska and Alaska to Texas so I know I can do it.