Hey everyone!
As many of you know, I have recently made quite a big change in my business: I’m no longer going to focus on writing up/offering new patterns regularly for my Etsy shop (you can read more about that here). Since making this choice, numerous people in our little crochet niche have reached out and used the word “brave” when asking about my choice. I felt a bit puzzled about that choice word used by so many about this new path. I didn’t feel brave, I didn’t think the choice was courageous. But after I thought about it more, I saw it.
Bravery can be described as doing something courageous. Courageous can be described as doing something that may inflict fear in others. Taking risks is courageous. Yes, pattern writing takes time, attention, ability to understand perspectives and learning types but you get paid in the end after you offer them for purchase. There is reward (usually) when writing patterns, even if it’s not very much, the potential is there. With me removing the income opportunity with patterns, it has SERIOUSLY depleted my ability to spend money and do more things, expand my business. But at the price of this, I have taken a step for myself to stay true to what I want in life. I want to feel the freedom of creativity without the limitation of keeping notes or working “within the lines”.
Let’s bring in another example. I have a friend who has BIG goals. He works so hard, cares so hard and has a DRIVE to be better in all areas of life. He has these internal little demons who like to tell him that he’s not good enough because of A, B and C. Oh, and definitely D. He felt so down about not reaching milestones as quickly as he’d like plus other little things that he allowed to feed his self-doubt. The moment he took charge and emailed a goal company to collaborate instead of waiting for it all to happen to him, was the moment he changed his path. The company said yes and now he has some seriously amazing projects in the works with this company.
We can all have BIG dreams with BIG hopes. But to actually make these things happen, you have to DO them. Go for it. Reach out to the company you don’t expect to notice you and see if they want to work together. Invest all that money into that new piece of equipment you know will benefit your business but you’re really nervous if it will actually pan out the way you anticipate. Make that project that you’re secretly really excited about but not sure others will take to it. Guys, a beanie with a hole on the top came just short of breaking the internet. ALL ideas are good ideas. DO THEM. Go break the freaking internet!
Life is all that you want it to be. But it will only be as amazing as you make it to be.
Make it a proud life. Take those risks.
xo,
Jessica
