Are you managing your beading business properly?
If you have been in the beading industry for quite a while now, chances are you have blind spots. At times, you’re so focused on work that you tend to neglect other areas of the business. And there might not be someone else to tap you on the back, and tell you that you’re disregarding tasks which are important for business operations.
So, what are the blind spots in your beading business?
Saying NO to Networking
Some of you might find the idea of small talk nerve-wracking. But just like any other career, there’s a need to grow your business relationships and it starts with a simple conversation. Enhancing your credibility often involves networking — talking with fellow beaders, engaging with clients, and forging relationships with people who can offer you more opportunities. It may be hard at first to connect, but building genuine connections and meaningful exchanges can help your career in the long run.
Letting Your Perfectionist Side Take Over
Some people disguise perfectionism as strength. But when you take a deeper look, perfectionism is caused by fear — fear of rejection, fear of not being good enough or fear of failure. If you’re coming from a place of fear and doubt, it’ll be hard to grow in your career. Do away with perfectionism and accept that being good at what you do takes time and practice. Keep in mind that it’s the always better to strive for progress, not perfection.
Not Accepting the Technical Side of Business
Many beading enthusiasts find themselves struggling when beading for a living. This is due to the fact they don’t want to deal with the technical side of business. If you’re serious about turning your beading hobby into a full-time business, start attending online classes, reading books and blogs, and listening to podcasts. Whether it’s creating your website and social platforms or tracking income and expenses, you simply have to allocate a little time every day to expand your technical skills.
Not Prioritizing Organization
If you have been beading for quite some time, you certainly have piles and piles of materials, tools and information collected over the years. Have you organized them properly? How many hours did you spend wasting time digging through piles to locate essential details of your beading projects? When running your business, you need to stay on top of things — keeping track of show dates, inventory, client info, product lists, income and expenses, and the like.
It’s a great thing to make money doing what you love and have creative freedom. But in the end, it all boils down to finding ways to keep your passion thriving and profitable at the same time.
Do you recognize any blind spots in your business that are indicated above? If yes, let us know in the comments!