Looking ahead to 2012 With JLynnPro.

Famous last words!  In my last post, I mentioned that my flare ups were becoming less frequent and less severe. Well, I'm afraid that was wishful thinking.  January has been a terrible month for me, health-wise.  Some of you who have been reading this blog for a long time will recall  this post about the mystery illness with which I fight what now seems like constantly.  I am due to go to the doctor again this coming Wednesday, and I plan to ask for another full work up.  This is only relevant to my business, in that my struggle with this illness has slowed me down considerably.  I am already a couple of weeks behind where I wanted to be by now.  This is not the end of the world, but it is frustrating!

Now that I've gotten that out of the way (thank you for hanging in there with me while I vent a little!) I'm ready to talk about 2011 and my hopes and plans for 2012. 

-2011 was a better year for me, business-wise. There was pretty good growth from 2010, so I have no complaints!  It was a big year for my vintage, and while the art is still slower to move, things did pick up last year.  I hope to maintain this momentum and build upon it this year.  Every step forward is appreciated, and the movement gives me hope! 

-It is said that most new businesses fail in their first five years.  When I initially started JLP, I had decided to wait until 2013 and then re-evaluate.  I have instead decided to wait until 2018, which will be ten years past when I started the business, and then re-evaluate. I have a couple of reasons for this.  First of all, I started the business right around the time the US economy tanked.  I was aware of this fact, but something inside me told me to do it anyway, and I've felt nothing but good about it ever since.  Secondly, this is a part time venture for me--a sideline.  I actually pay my household bills with a day job while I build my little business up.  That means I'm not pounding the pavement, networking, and knocking on doors (so to speak) as much of the time as my colleagues who run their businesses full time.  When I'm working for me, I give it 1,000%, but I simply have less time.  I figure that means growth (or failure) will happen a little more slowly. Plus, I'm happy doing this, so I'm willing to stick it out a while.  Who knows?  I may ultimately say "there is no re-evaluation date.  I'm just gonna do this 'till I decide to stop!" ;)  I don't feel my business is failing, by any stretch. I do feel it is growing slowly.  I'm OK with that, especially considering my additional challenges.

-I stuck my neck out a couple of months ago and actually asked my peers for feedback on my main studio .  It's not that I thought I was doing everything perfectly and nothing was wrong with my shops.  It's that I'm extremely sensitive and shy and have trouble talking to people as it is: I was not equipped, until this point, to have people critique my studio, my art, my what-I-do.  In the end, though, I am glad I did it, because I got fantastic feedback, and I now have both a plan moving forward and an idea of how to merchandise in the future.  It has resulted in two distinct product lines, which is actually pretty cool.  Sure, it means more work to market everything, but if people are having a better browsing and shopping experience when they visit my shops, then that's a good thing.  Will I maintain both lines?  I don't know. I know I enjoy both the Earthy stuff and the whimsical stuff, so for now, yes.  (The whimsical items have been moved here, but as always, I'm happy to move things around and list them wherever someone wants to make a purchase!)  I still have a lot of work to do on other aspects of my studios, but asking people for help was a great idea, because now I know where to focus my efforts.

-I completed two book projects.  My role on each was a supportive one; however, I worked very hard, that work was appreciated, and I now have two finished books for my portfolio.  As I stated in my last post, my own writing did languish, but that was mostly due to my health.  I expect to resume work on my chapbooks this year, and I'm also (as always) talking with a couple of people about some film projects.  There is still no definite plan for any of these, but the interest is still there.

-I have hung a piece in my first art show.  This is huge for me. It takes me forever to finish a regular painting, and then I tend to hide them away for years, before I even think of trying to exhibit them.  I was invited to submit to this show, which was an honor, so I submitted a mixed media painting from 2005, a much older painting, and a framed photo. The 2005 piece, called "Willow," was the one accepted.  I'll be thrilled if it sells, but it's exciting just to know that people are seeing it.  I've already received a lot of compliments.  My next painting is in progress and has been since...you guessed it--about 2006.  LOL!  Part of the issue, as I have mentioned before, is that I don't have a lot of space to pull my easel out and set it up in the studio.  I will fully admit that the other part of the problem is my confidence is somewhat lacking. Entering a show has taken me a long way toward getting over that, however!

-Based on my habits the last few years, I will be looking at hiring out some of my business functions in 2012.  This does not mean taking on an employee, but it may mean I'll be paying someone else to do a couple of things, chiefly my bookkeeping.  It's a very simple thing, but for some reason, I have a real block about that.  I don't know why.  Also, though I will be building my website myself, I actually have a webmaster--someone to handle the hardcore, technical details.  He is showing me how to update the site and add content, but he will be handling the backend "scary stuff."  I'm not at all tech-averse, but having tried to take some classes in the past, I have learned I dont' particularly have an aptitude for it, so I'm happy to hand it off.  I would like to have the site live by my birthday in April. (Yes, I know I've been talking about my website for a couple of years now!  LOL!  This time, I really mean it!  Stay tuned!)

-I will be maintaining the rotating schedule I set up for myself last year.  In optimal circumstances, it works really well.  When I focus on just one aspect of the business for a week, I get a whole lot more done.  I'm still not ready to phase any aspect of my business out--that much I know.

The biggest Lessons Learned I'm bringing forward from 2011, I guess, are:

-Self care must come first.  If that means I don't work on JLP for a couple of weeks, because I need to rest or tend to my family or what-have-you, that's OK.  I find a stopping point on a large project, or I wrap up something, and I take that down time.  As of now, because of how I've felt this month, I can't say if it helps or not, but logically, it should.  If I burn myself out, there will be no JLP.

-Reaching out to other artisans and business people doesn't have to be scary.  They do not bite, and most won't tell you that you're horrible, but the wise ones will tell you where you could do better, and that's a good thing.   (I really am terribly, terribly shy!)

-Slow growth is OK and is probably preferable when one is juggling other things, like a day job. It does not mean you're not "as good as" or not good enough.  It means you are doing what you can, when you can, in the best way that you can.  (I'm sure I would feel differently if this were my full time endeavor.  Hopefully, one day it will be!)

Here's to a prosperous, healthy, and happy 2012 for us all!  Thank you for reading.