Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Ever think your head is going to explode?

Do you think this starting a small business is like having a child? Were they start out small so as the parent you can grow (mentally) and keep ahead.

After starting this part-time thing ( don`t get me wrong I am having the time of my life) and learning a few things I`ve had to adjust and re-write the "plan" a few times, and was feeling pretty confident and cozy I was doing things right.

The plan was after the busy season to start on ebay, well the product I decided to go with hadn`t been designed yet so I am into it a bunch of hours, but I`m ready to build the final product, for photos, then learn "how to" do the ebay thing, not to mention the internal tension (fear) of shipping and handling (I am sure it will be ok, but it is new to me, heck I haven`t even sent a letter myself in 20 years)

 Then all is flowing and out of nowhere a couple customers show up ( not really complaining but their timing could have been better for me) and order custom stuff, (they are nice orders) interupting my ebay plans.

Now I know this sounds petty but I really want the precieved steady cash flow from ebay to actually get to the next level without putting more "household" cash in. Not to mention the experience to sqwish the fear.

I guess ebay will be there next week and I just need to take a deep breath, venting a bit seems to have helped as well.

anybody elses head about to explode?

 

I never get ahead.

I`ve been telling myself if only I could get ahead ... since January.

I`ve given up on the idea! Entrepreneurship is about managing the juggling act.

Never happens in our situation. We came up with a product, and mentioned it to the checkout clerk at the local food store. His uncle`s best friend`s sister knew a guy who`d worked with another fella who offered us an unlimited amount of money if only we would put his name on a plaque someday, in our eventual store.

From there, we put up an ad on eBay, and wouldn`t`cha know, it sold that afternoon. We put up another one, it sold. Then, every ad we put up sold within five hours. We decided to build our own Web site, and the day after we put it up, Google was showing us listed as number one in every category (which was weird, since we sell signal flags, but we showed up number one in space technology and molecular biology!).

A tele-marketer called us, and overheard me talking with Kathy (by accident) about making some flags that day. The person volunteered their services, explaining that she usually does sewing, but was taking a break doing some tele-marketing for a week. How great was that! So she started sewing, and then spoke with her grandmother, who owns a factory in China (and another one in Mexico).

The two of them suggested a business plan where we could get our flags made for next to nothing, but we had to provide them with a written Letter of Appreciation they could show off at the next holiday dinner.

It`s been tough, but we`ll be marking off our first $1-million in sales this December, after being in business only 60 days.

The bottom line is don`t let your head explode. Just go grocery shopping.

nhg, thanks I don`t feel alone anymore.

Craig, thank you; I know others with your kind of timing. and I have been fortunate as well, not as fortunate as you though.

Anyway, as a follow-up last night I was chatting with my wife (while in the workshop) I was saying pretty much the same to her as I was putting together a customers order. She just laughed at me and asked, what are you making right now? "a table" I told her you know that! then she asked, and are you following your new rule of designing everything to ship? "Of course" I responded (getting a bit short). then she added, and these customers are who you want right? again a little short on my part but "yes, they are over 30, appearently finacially comfortable, but not all about flashy, yes they are the exact target". Her last comment before she went back in the house, so take a picture of that and sell it on ebay.

Hope I learn this entrepreneur thought process eventually.

 

 

I once drew a caricature of myself with my head exploding in reference to all the ideas I`ve had and all the work that goes along with it.

I was being sardonic. :-)

Yes my head often feels like exploding. Sometimes I have a million ideas at once, and then a million reasons why not to execute them come rushing forward almost at the same time. I am working on it! I just posted a new post somewhere to try to grapple with my angst, my angst is that my wholesaler will cut me off if he knew my vehicle was EBay. I know psycologically they say to grab the bull by its horns, but I am afraid if I do that, metaphorically, he (the wholsesaler/bull) will disappear, and right now he is my best business idea.

Yeah my head exploded today actually, and I`m trying to put it back together now.

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I need $5000 to start my new business! If you need a logo designed shoot me an email. I`ll do a logo for $75.

sprouse83@aol.com
www.sprousedesignsolutions.com