I do not want to go back to the year I apologized constantly about my lack of posting - but my posts are lacking, or I am lacking the ability to post. The last time this happened I got a large amount of emails and phone calls of people begging me to just shut up and blog. Everyone was so sick of hearing me start each blog blushing with my head down and twisting my hat in my hands, begging for forgiveness. I am older and not quite in the mood to ask for forgiveness these days. I feel more like Popeye these days, swinging my muscled arms and stating, "I am what I am".
I have been asking myself how I have gotten to this point. How could I have written all there is to write? It is not like I have an army of apprentices that I call grasshopper. I did not sell my business to Google or receive that most coveted call from The Oprah to feature my product. None of those things have happened - so how could I know everything? Why do I have writer's block? What is wrong with me? This is what I have thought about so far:
Why This Even Started
I started writing this blog because I felt I had something to say, something that people wanted to hear. I found nothing on the Internet that gave help, advice or even an honest view of what it took to run a business. and not just any business, but a business run by a woman and most likely a mother. Our problems were different, our solutions were creative and our failures were unique. The words literally came bubbling out of me, like nothing I had ever known. I did not realize I had so much I needed to share, or wanted to share. I had to be vague sometimes and coy not sharing too much. I felt that if my competition read this I would be in trouble.
As the years went by and some of my competition fell by the way side, went bankrupt or just kept hand painting, I became more open. I am not being cruel or mocking them - I decided I just decided not to hand paint my tiles. I felt I could either paint or I could design more and manufacture products. I shared what had worked for me and I tried to explain how I did it. I could produce more products (and better) for my customers, lots and lots of customers. I am happy with my choice and I am not quiet about it. I think my way was right, and um well it worked for me. Yet, I am second guessing myself these days. Did I share too much? Was it better when I was not SO honest?
The Economy....Really Must We Go there Again?
The last two years have been hard...how many times have I written that sentence. Anyone that can answer that question gets a years worth of SPAM and some new Ceramic Tiles for their child's room. I think I have beaten that poor dead horse enough. Even though it has all but consumed me or the past years, I have sort of become a broken record
How many times can I discuss how hard the last two years have been? Maybe not everyone has felt the pinch, probably the smaller the business the harder it has been. Or it could be some industries suffered more than others? Until the Economy rebounds and we are all spending money again, this weighs heavy me, hence why I write about it....a lot. But, even I am getting tired of writing about it....I am sick of it - fix the Economy already!
Blogging to Blog or Blogging to Connect
Sadly, I sort of wonder if I have said everything I have to say that about running a business. Without giving a list of my sales channels, my press releases and all of my bank account numbers I wonder if I am of done. But still, I love to write - I enjoy to connect with others. I am trying hard to find new topics to discuss. I am not giving up, I am not closing down. I am just wondering....what the hell else can I write? (pst....that is not an open ended question either...I would REALLY like to know).
Do not worry, this is not my swan song, I am not riding my horse off into the sunset today. I just thought I would be honest here (lying not my thing so much....but you knew that right?). Truth be told I am frustrated. I literally bang my head against the wall weekly, trying to figure out what to wear......write. Not much has changed in the past few years, hence the head banging. I am sure I will figure something out, or something will happen - it always does.
Jamie-
I know you may feel like you don't have anything to say right now, but give it a few weeks. We all hit spells where things feel like they're at a stand-still (mine always seems to happen around September). I love reading your blog posts. They are always on point and make me feel like I'm not alone in the crazy world of woman-mom-owned small business. I know we thrive on the constant activity of our businesses, but I'm learning to take the down time as a gift and take a much needed rest. Maybe it's the world's way of telling us - it's time to stop and discover something outside the world as we know it. Those creative writing juices will be flowing again soon. In the meantime - take a nap. You deserve it.
Posted by: Stacie Dale | September 14, 2010 at 06:21 AM
I'm still reading. :)
Posted by: kyooty | September 14, 2010 at 06:31 PM
The economy has been so terrible and if were honest it has been for almost 3 years now. Its not looking to improve greatly over the next few months either, so we all have to put pen to paper and get our heads in gear and fight back against everything that is wrong with our businesses and work even harder than we have been. Christmas is coming and it should provide the economy with a slight boom - look forward to it and start afresh in 2011!
Heres to you!
Posted by: Holly | October 14, 2010 at 07:34 AM
Holly thank you for the comment and I agree, it is like this is the new norm - every once in awhile I get all melancholy and think of how it used to be...but this is where we are now. I am looking forward to 2011 too....good luck to you also!
Posted by: Jamie Lentzner | October 14, 2010 at 09:58 AM