Feel like QUITTING? Try This First!
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Holding on as a handmade business is tough enough during challenging times, but what about when it goes on.. and on... AND ON. At what point do we let go? And what can we do to try and hold on for just that little bit longer?
If you've been feeling the tendrils of burnout and fatigue creeping in as a creative, making a living online, then I made this video for you. Stay awhile.
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I feel like my self doubt is the biggest hurdle to overcome. When I see everyone’s success it makes me feel like I’m not worth it and my products are useless. But then when I create again it brings back all my happiness and my love for what I do. This is hard but I don’t think it was ever meant to be easy.
Ooof yes this is big one! This is usually when I have to make use of the social media mute buttons or delete them from my phone for a few days to give my mind a bit of a break. It's definitely something we all do though. 💚
Great video 😊.
At my age (70), I have seen So many 'trends ' come and go and then get reborn ( think cupcakes here in Australia).
I've found that finding your niche/ happy place and perfecting it, has helped enormously. You gradually become 'That' crochet Queen, or in my case, journal maker.
People get tired of 'mass produced generic stuff ' and look for more personal purchases.
Im finding though, that continuity of resources my biggest challenge....inconsistent supply creates a whole new challenge.
Platforms like Etsy and Shopify haven't helped with lack of seller support either......BUT...we love what we do, so we Will strive forward ❤
The mental exhaustion is very real. I've managed to avoid quitting by diverting my energy elsewhere temporarily, but I am determined to come back from this and my business (or whatever it is right now) is going to survive this.
The mental exhaustion IS REAL. Very glad to call you one of my biz pals ❤❤❤❤
Right back atcha love. 😉💖
Great tips! Breaks are very important and not spending them on social media is the thing that makes them really relaxing. But sometimes it feels "bad" to take breaks, because you're not being productive and this feeling sucks ;" My videos for example require lots of editing and choosing from different clips, writing a somewhat interesting script. That takes a lot of time already and then I am having breaks, which make that feeling worse. But I try to work on how to work a little smarter without stressing so much and getting more stuff done
As a fellow video creator, I doth my cap to you. I get it, it's a tonne of work, and I don't even do a huge amount of editing so I can only imagine.
Remember to move out of your chair occasionally and stretch though. I didn't do this today, and when I got up after editing a video for a few hours, my entire body cracked like a glow stick. But without the glow. 😄
I’m launching a new shop end of August. Only 8 products and looking at creating 15 to 30 pieces of content per item. It’s exhausting. TikTok, reels, static posts, carousels, a millions pins for pintrest. Blog posts and then pins for blog post. And then figure of starting a mailer lite and create content for that. It’s ridiculous. And I’ve not even got round to making the products yet 🎉
How are you making pins on Pinterest and all those other posts without showing the products? Isn't the point of all that to stoke interest in your actual products?
I need a lie down just from reading that Scampi!
In March of this year, I was ready to quit it all and I did close down one shop. In the past 1-2 years I've dealt with my brother's death and my husband's Parkinson's disease. I got to the point where I thought I'd chuck it all and give away the products staring at me 😢
After venting all this to one of my groups, someone helped me out things in perspective by suggesting not chucking it but maybe just giving myself breathing space. And I did, and glad I did! I'm cutting out other things (no pun intended) while I return to cutting out fabrics to create my products. I'm editing photos, editing titles and keywords a little and am finding that feeds my soul as I help my husband of 44 yr❤
who knows where this will lead but I'm going to keep going while taking a break when I need it.
Thank you, Kim! You're so much fun and appreciate your reality checks so much for this US maker! ❤ Ellen
I love that you're sticking with it, but also giving yourself the grace to take time out when you need it. That's so important and with everything you mentioned, so important.
Thank you for watching along and I'm so glad my silly videos can keep you company for a little while each week. Here's to making and creating for our mental health. 💚🪡🧵✂️
What I do when I feel the stress: Shop around for new patterns. I always find new concepts, new hardware and new materials very invigorating. Especially when the first new prototype is complete. Learning from the experience and making alterations to bring the product more inline with my priorities is very validating. Especially on the day it finally drops and they sell out.
I like your thinking, although I'm not sure my bank balance could take it! 😄
@@KimBliss I think it's more about finding your energy and motivation. Re-discovering the joy which brings a person into crafting to begin with. Remember: when work feels like play, stress is reduced. I often find myself passing 100 hours per week on projects. Joy brings motivation. Motivation beings energy. Energy brings production. Production brings income. Lately my only shortcoming has been photography. I'll get there though. Cheers! 🍺
Omg it's sooo true! I talk to my husband and all he does is sit there till I'm done talking. He doesn't get it and I guess I can't expect him to. I have an online community through one of the crafting memberships I belong to and that helps but MAN OH MAN, sometimes I just want to scream into a pillow as people just keep commenting "little business" and "hobby". It's enough to drive me bananas!
Those comments are always from people who have never tried to run their own business, and yet they speak with so much confidence! 🙄
@@KimBliss very true! They are so confident, for a split second I almost believe them. I should have tougher skin since people said the same thing when I first started my makeup artistry business 20+ years ago. They didn't shut up till I was doing fashion week and had my name in magazines. I guess they'll be critiques till they're fans. Sigh...
Hi dear, great video! I know it’s not your cup of tea, but I like the friendships I make at craft shows. Everybody has some information that we can all use, and we can all say together : “ why are we doing this exactly?” and have a good laugh. Shop local for friends! ❤
i resonate so much with you...the tiredness about the constant fight. I had frequent good sales 2 years ago and still wollow in the self pity that i lost all of that and can't understand it. You motivated me to get back up, fix my crown and carry on. forward, not backwards. thanks
I'm finding at the moment it's helping to just focus on the next step and then see what comes up after that rather than trying to work out everything at once and feeling overwhelmed.
Running a handmade business is hard, I love making and selling jewellery. There are so many skills one has to develop, whilst holding everything together and selling across multiple platforms...it's a lot! However being self employed is much better for my health and wellbeing.
I want to say thank you for this one. As I’ve said before I do feel at times like giving up. We are one person work horse. And there have been times I have felt like scrapping it all and say I’m just done. And then I take a week off. I honestly didn’t know if that was the right thing or not. My business is my second job so I can take off. But I want it to thrive so I feel bad when I’m not working. So it is hard to step back and let it be for a bit but I will admit that I do feel some type of focus and energy when I do come back.
I want to tell you that your podcast has become a “insight meeting” for me every week. Thank you for it. And never apologize for you rants or your rabbit hole tangents. I do the same thing.
Thank you
I really appreciate this comment, thank you, Jacob.
Thank you Kim, you're a bloomin gem. 'Step Away' is my initial go-to but sometimes that's not so easy when you have the pressure of the bills staring you in the face. But it pays in the long run despite it being counterintuitive. I have only just started taking Sundays off, but I'm not very good at days off, I get all twitchy. It says much about how I need to learn how to pause again! If I ranted to my other half I'm not sure I'd still have a hubby! So thank you for being a listening ear.
You're welcome love. 💚😊
Kinda needed to hear this one as I worked :P as a blacksmith, it would be remarkably easy to "burn it all down" .. noone would suspect a thing!
I would like to share my winning tips for keeping "me time" seperate, but if I'm completely honest I get home from the forge, open the laptop and settle into a night of website work. On the odd occasion I do something like play a game for an hour, I usually just feel guilty cause my website isnt getting sales and I should be working on that.
Playing with the dogs is probably the most enriching thing there is ever, so theres that at least :P
Oh but messing about with dogs is definitely a cup filler! I think that's an excellent one. Ours sounds like a gremlin (the ones fed after midnight) when he's play fighting. It's hilarious. 😄
I feel like I never have found my niche. I’m just rolling with it still after 4 years. Maybe that’s why my shop died off again after Christmas. Waiting for it to hit again. Slowly. Very slowly.
YAAS Critical Role!!
I need to get into more unrelated podcasts because I find myself not working if I watch/listen to videos about budgeting, business, and knitting WHILE I'm trying to budget for my knitting business. Lol
I stay working & motivated by signing up for markets. Nothing gets you moving like the panic of an actual deadline.
I don't have the guts for markets anymore, but I remember the motivational kick up the bum doing them would be. You either do the work or rock up with an empty table! 😄
Yes I have had that several times, then I think I really must do something else😅. But I my heart I know I need painting🎨. Mostly when I feel like quitting I look at Pinterest photos of cottages, sea, animals etc. and then I get inspired again😊
I look at Pinterest too! I like to look at mediums I've never tried before like scrapbooking or clay making. It reminds me that there's still plenty of creativity and art to be found. ☺️
Thank you, Kim! I love your enlightening videos. 💕
Cheer up! It does get better! Sometimes, you have to remove yourself from everything & BREATHE! I do agree that health is #1. You have to take time to re-group & re-energize. Finding something to do other than "working" can be invigorating. I paddleboard, kayak, fish, etc. I do the same watching "other stuff" videos. Watching your videos regenerates my mojo. I know how you truly feel. I've been an entrepreneur for over 40+ years.
Paddle boarding? Kayaking? Those are some awesome pastimes Sandy! And they get you to the water too, which is a definite plus. We have a lake near us, you've inspired me to take myself down there tomorrow. Thank you. 💚
@KimBliss I enjoy being near the water, whether it's salt or fresh water. I have been blessed being surrounded by beaches & lakes. Being near water gives me a sense of calmness. I believe you will agree....
100% 😊
I find embroidering along to paranormal explorers very relaxing, Kim, instead of watching things relating to creativity. Somehow they appeared on my feed and I got hooked 😂I am really hoping that the 4th of July brings more positive vibes for all of us in the UK, we really need it to start feeling that things can get better.
My god, me too Eddie! It's been dragging on for so long now, and I feel it's contributing to this limbo-like state we're all in.
@@KimBliss I have my fingers firmly crossed, Kim. Have a fabulous week❤
Thanks Kim. There are some good ideas there. I am currently experimenting with different painting ideas. There is paint all over the place - on my hands, on the desk, on the floor. What a mess - but more fun than worrying about Etsy and selling online 😁
YES! To be honest though, getting root canal treatment is better than dealing with, and worrying about Etsy.
We'll stick with the painting though. Much more fun. 😄
Another great video, Kim. I think the whole "burnout" topic really needs more "deep dives" because so many people do quit. I think if they had a mechanism where they say to themselves (like I do) "Ooooh! I really *#$&X feel like quitting this right now. I'm just going to wait a few days and see how I feel then" and then force yourself (as you said) to do a different activity for a while, less makers would quit and the world would be a happier place. 😊
We definitely need more makers and creatives in the online space. It feels like it's getting too saturated with folks looking to make money without actually contributing anything so it's become so one sided.
@@KimBliss 100% agree. 😏
This felt like a gentle hand on my shoulder 😭 you get it! X
(I won't share my coping mechanisms.... healthy gamer would not approve 😅)
Actually: one thing that does help is to occasionally look back at VERY old orders, listings, convos etc & (hopefully) see how far you've come & what you've learned.
Imagine you're your boss, giving Past You an appraisal. "Photos need work, processes can be streamlined, you don't understand x,y,z etc".
The bonus is you're almost certainly well on your way to having the necessary changes in place 😊
Yes, wfh as a sole trader can be isolating, hence role playing & talking to myself 😂
What you said about other videos in your niche really resonated because I often don't make things when i feel its already out there with me thinking i should be doing something different but then actually it limits what i do.
Plus, there are people who may never watch what's already out there, but would happily watch your version of it. 😉💚
@@KimBliss Absolutely
Hi Kim. I'm slowly quitting my Etsy shop after 11 years. I feel like I am working for Etsy, with all their hoops and loops to keep up with. The last 2 years have been dead in the water. After a year of deciding to move to Folksy, we're the fees are upfront and understandable. I'm enjoying my craft again, which is great my mind feels less Etsy Cluttered. I've only started on Folksy but I'm enjoying their platform and I now can't wait to put time aside for crafting.
That's wonderful to hear! 💚
Are you finding success on Folksy?
I've started on Folksy too! Only just, and no sales yet, but the community is really friendly and helpful.
It's funny because I too listen to critical role which designing on fusion 360 haha. It's just nice to have something fun to listen to while you work. It's one of the main reasons I really hope my small business takes off because I love what I do while doing it. While when I'm at my job, it's a no phones, do the work and nothing else kind of thing which just sucks the life out of me, but I need it at the moment to pay the bills. Just know that though you might think of quitting every now and then that you are an inspiration to many, thank you
I get burnt out a lot and it makes me feel guilty every time. My business is doing really well, but it'll get into a rut where one or two specific designs are selling more than the rest and I just get so bored of making the same thing over and over and over. And even now I feel guilty complaining like "oh no I make too many sales". But that's not it. I got into this because I wanted to make what I wanted to make. It's also why I finished culinary school and never went into it as a career. It's why I got bored in construction. The same thing over and over.
What i often do to combat this is take a long nap, then work on something new. Whether its going to be sold or not. I painted a very ugly croissant just for me. Just because I wanted a croissant in that moment. I switch it up. And I often times feel much better. But there are days where I STRUGGLE.
And my poor husband he's so supportive but you can see his eyes glaze over every time I go into it
This is exactly how I felt when I accidentally fell into festival-wear. The same two items over and over. They were so popular I didn't have time to experiment with anything else and it was horrible.
How are your POD mugs doing Kim ? Thanks for your videos 😊
Pretty well considering they were only really made for the community here. I don't make much of a profit from them so I don't actively promote them. ☺️
10:46 100% spot on, it is good to vent and have a good moan just to get it out the system, with someone who understands and is on the same playing field, get it out, then push forward, turn the page and go again.
Bonus points if you can make the rant a sweary one. 😄
@@KimBliss hahaha easy job :)
Creativity fuel comes from many sources. I watch tech videos because that's mine and my family's background. Also I take the time for education during down times. I've been studying marketing and branding. I think it's all outlook
the fear and anxiety around going back into an office and having to navigate office politics keeps me motivated to not quit. My youngest graduates in 2025, I'm throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks so I can avoid the office. I fear I'm tiptoeing into an oversaturated market and while I'm trying to find things that are not like everyone else, its hard to ignore how successful the market has been to people all across the country (usa). lol....well, I was worried about it, but then taylor swift wore a crochet dress, so maybe there will be a refresh of interest in the market.
SAME! I don't think I could work in an office now, I've tasted freedom!
Crochet does seem to have a natural dip in the summer months, is that your niche? If so get ready for autumn/winter because it'll definitely pick up again.
@KimBliss lol, I was making pumpkins listening to you. My next market (first with crochet, plants are my original obsession) isn't until September. It's slow in regards to markets, but prime time for building up inventory.
Handmade products are so underated.. may be you could offer one of niche products at a premium? Possibly attract a different type of customer... Thanks for your videos - i am not into this type of content but i still sub and hang around lol. I digress, when i get stressed.. i think of escaping the "Rat Race" and being my own boss. I love having lots of space and time for myself. Keep grinding and experimenting.. things should eventually workout if your willing to adapt. Consistency .. consistency is the key. I guess what trying to say pain, losses, and hardship are part of the journey of a small business until that magical bulb moment. Sorry rant over!
Don't apologise Ravi! Digressing is welcome here. 😄
You're right, it's all a part of it. I just wish it wasn't such a big part for as long as it has been lately. 🤪
When is it going to end? Never, there will constantly be a cycling of people coming in and out of the handmade business sphere. New ideas become old and old ideas get reimagined. The circle of handcrafted stuff.
Agreed. I meant more, when will these tough times end?
Dealing with challenging times as a business is nothing new, but it's just been one thing after another for a few years now. It's like being on a roller coaster that you can't get off.
I want to get off now! 😄
I just bought your "dont believe how you feel after 9pm" hoop.. it reminded me of a struggle im having.. it will make zero sense if i try to explain 🙈😂.. in short i think persistence amd tenacity are key.. in short.. im trying to combine laser engraving/3d printing/tig welding/arduino to make unique bird feeders 🙈😁 please dont laugh.. its something that constantly ticks in my mind.. but i am the worse procrastinator.. aw well..
Absolutely no laughing here, I'm really intrigued! And thank you so much for the order. I've just finished packaging it up so it'll be winging its way to you very soon. It was inspired by the bad habit I have of waking up in the night and I don't know if it's the dark or what, but all my self doubts start to feel really bloody real.
And then in the morning, when it's light again I don't believe any of them. I hope it's the same for you and that you can kick any feelings of self doubt into the metaphorical sea. Or at the very least, not believe them at night. 😉
@@KimBliss cheers, I'm a nightmare.. one minute I'll be 3D printing an RC catamaran.. the next day I'll be designing some 3D cookie cutters.. then someone will ask if I can make (insert ridiculous concept/request).. I feel like I've got several projects at 80% complete at any one time 😁 the problem is they're difficult to get back into.. I need to be more focused obviously
Really refreshing as always, many thanks ❤ It’s so helpful to know that so many of us feel this way. This year has been a clear improvement on recent years, but there’s still the white-knuckle uncertainty month to month. Still, it’s always been a bit intense for one reason or another, so I’m definitely hanging on to see how it all plays out 😅
It's definitely a little better isn't it? Still not great, but it'd definitely been worse. Fingers crossed things carry on in this vein. 😊🤞
Honestly feel like giving up on my Etsy clay shop. Etsy’s is supposed to bring traffic to my shop but I don’t even get one view. I have no clue what’s wrong with my shop.
Sadly we can't rely on Etsy to.semd traffic now. It's very similar to having a stand alone website now in the sense that you have to drive your own. 😔
@@KimBliss I feel like I’d be better off making a website. But it costs monthly
Hi Kim. I think I just step away and don't think about my shop for a bit. I have to admit I think I'll just work in this shop til the end of the year and then decide if I want to continue. It's been a rough couple of years
Hasn't it just! It feels like we barely get time to come up for air before another big thing comes along. This will pass too though eventually. I just wish it would hurry up with it! 😄
I can't take a break, I don't make enough money to live anymore, so I have to keep working and trying until something finally works for me. Eventually. Some day 😢 There's no much work in my zone, so there aren't too many other options for me living in rural Spain.
Print-on-demand postcards of the local area could be an additional income stream. With your own photographs.
I can relate to the not being able to take a break. 💚
Folk need to get a hobby that allows them to enter flow state; if that hobby is outdoors, even better! I got surgery done on my leg and so haven’t been able to do gardening, and I tell ya, I'm DEFINITELY feeling more stressed overall because of it 💀
It really makes a difference doesn't it! We've had some awful weather that stopped me from gardening and when I got back out last weekend for a catch up, wow. I felt so much better for it afterwards.
I hope you heal quickly and can get out again soon! 💚
Thank you for this video, Kim! ❤
You're very welcome! 💚
I am not expensie for startup channels . Trust me . I promise your channel growth with high quality editing and strategies or all refund .
Let me know what you think .
Funny you mention that video Kim. That sold me on you. You still showed up that day feeling as bad as you did, sat on the floor not feeling well and I said to myself, she's crazy and Ive always loved embroidery the hand done stuff. Not the machine done ones. So if you was ever wondering😁👍💚 The landscape of running an online business has changed so much over the last 5 years, hopefully everything will brighten soon. Hang on tight!! 😁!
I can remember being so bored too. I was very lucky and got off pretty lightly. But the isolating from everyone and having no energy to physically do much was a LOT. It gave me way too much time to think! 😄
Speaking of heat, I hope you're keep cool down in the studio. ☀️
@@KimBlissSaturday and Sunday was brutal 🥵 but thunderstorms came tru last night and knocked down the temps. Relief if only for a short time. And summer just started.🥵🤣