Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I want to start a business after I relocate to a new state over the summer.  The pickle is that I LOVE making and doing all things creative.  Example: Do lots of entertaining and plan lots of events (social and corporate). Plus, create gifts/keepsakes.

For those of you who have a similar situation, my question is how do/did you decide which passion to pursue if you`re equally passionate about and have experience in both of them? 

I know that event planning, especially wedding industry, is challenging and so is creating gifts (involving sewing).  In this situation, I will need a manufacturer/other to assist me in bringing a product idea to life.

Your anticipated feedback is sincerely appreciated!

I picked up a copy of THE MARTHA RULES by Martha Stewart and found it to be a surprisingly "down to earth" read on profitting from your passion.  I found it to be very inspirational.  Her first catering job was a disaster but she came out of it smiling and excited for her future. 

There are also a couple of books about turning your passion into a business by Victoria Magazine.  THE BUSINESS OF BLISS and TURNING YOUR PASSION INTO PROFITS are good success stories.

Also, if you are looking at the craft industry, pick up some Barbara Brabec books (www.barbarabrabec.com).  She`s one of my "mentors" and has great advice for turning your craft hobby into a career. 

I guess my advice would be to decide which one has the biggest chance of success or fills the biggest need. 

Good luck!

~Kim

I have many passions myself! But I try to take them on one at a time cause if I didnt I would probably lose my mind  I am starting up a concierge biz focused on seniors. I think this is more important than my other passion which I am thinking about at this time. I love making jewelry so I do that at night if I`m not too tired from doing everything that has to be done in the daytime.  But I figure after I get up and running I should have more time for the jewelry business. I just file away the ideas I get on that until I have the time to really do something about it. I used to make my own wedding accessories, bridal favors, gifts, baskets (baby and bridal & wedding).  Everyone loved what I made. I sold a lot to people at work and family. But I also was working 40 to 60 hours a week at my job so I had to give it up or just die from the stress!  In your case what I would do is put in down in writing, I always do. When you have an hour or so sit by yourself and make columns and headings such as:  my passion is: initial start up costs, target date for profit to be realized, difficulty to start it up, room at your home to set aside for this, market for your product (I would think event planning would certainly be more lucrative in an upscale market than making gifts),  other benefits to event planning would be meeting people vs making gifts (you would be isolated at home sewing yourself) unless you outsourced them, outsourcing has its own list too like: where to outsource, do you travel to find a mfr or do it online.  I think you should take the time to talk to family and friends and this forum, get some feedback and then put the pros and cons on paper and then wait a while before making a decision.
Lots of Luck jo


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Jo
NJ