When There Are Aspects You Can’t Control in Your Quilting Business…
February 18, 2009 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Home & Living
When operating a home business, or any type of business for that matter, you’ll discover some things are out of your control, no matter how wisely and competently you plan. With your home based quilting related business, you’ll discover this, too.
- Currently the state of the economy in general may affect you as people have less money to purchase the items and services you provide. Try to find something that’s necessary or practical and buyers are more likely to look for you.
- Your health can enter into the picture and interfere with your ability to produce or direct your business. During most of 2008, my daughter couldn’t do any quilting and fabric art because she was extremely ill with pancreatitis. This came upon her unexpectedly and very suddenly.
- Perhaps you have to move, due to a job change, family crisis, or some other factor. If your business is predominately online, you usually won’t be very affected. However, if your work was related to the building or community where you lived, you’ll have to make some changes…or even decide whether you want to start over.
- A natural disaster can wreck havoc with one’s business plans. A fire, tornado, hurricane or flood might destroy your place of business or that of your major buyer.
- Changes in trends causes lack of interest in a product or service. When I was making children’s appliqued vests, I knew I’d have to find other items to produce if I wanted to keep this business going. Interest in the vests could wane.
What can you do?
You can’t control everything, particularly the unexpected and unplanned. However, think ahead and consider what you might do if any of these occurred.
For instance, after a fire destroyed a family business selling farm and garden equipment, we learned that a business, no matter how small should have fireproof file cabinets and safe. Because my husband had these, his accounts receivable and other important papers were not destroyed.
What have you done to meet situations that you can’t control or don’t plan on? This is not to say that you have a disaster mindset and don’t look for success. Simply give some thoughts to these matters in your business planning.
I’m totally a stick-my-head-in-the-sand type of person when it comes to this stuff. Thanks for the nudge!
Spelled my name wrong!!!
Good advice, Mary Emma.
At 63, I’ve experienced every one of these hardships. I try to tell myself, “This too shall pass”.
We’ve had a fire in which we lost virtually everything we owned. We’ve seen the market move away from us and had to move far from family and friends to start over …. and over again.
So I try to be grateful for what I have (and what I have had). Many are never so fortunate.
Yes, plan and try to protect yourself, but remember, all we really have is today – this moment. So be the best you can be; do the best you can do – this moment.
I just realized that my comment might sound preachy. What I meant is, from the vantage point of 63, living in the moment and with gratitude is what I strive to do.