The Choice

Wouldn't it be great to just create all day long? We're creative people, right? So what heaven it might be to wake up in the morning, make stuff, and then go to bed dreaming of what we'll make tomorrow. My mother is in that heaven, and she belongs there.

You can be there too, if that's your choice. But if you want to be a creative person with a profitable business, like the Indies featured in this collage, you'll have to add a new chorus to your symphony.

Consider My Mom

My mother is a talented seamstress. Show her any type of product made by the stitching together of fabric and she can duplicate it. When I was a young girl, I asked her why she didn't start a business selling some of the neck ties, purses, slacks, suits, vests and quilts she made.

She told me that if she did that, it wouldn't be fun anymore. It would be an

obligation to make what she had to make, and not what she wanted to make.

At the time, I was selfishly disappointed. After all, I wanted to be her commissioned sales rep so I make money too.

What she said stuck with me. If something brings you great joy, and you could do it 24/7 (as my mom still does, even today at age 83), then why add things like business plans, SWOT analyses, direct mail marketing campaigns, social media, and spread sheets to the mix?

But — and this is a big but — if you think you can get away with turning your hobby into a business without a plan, you're in for a bit of an awakening. But it can be a fun awakening, again, if you want it to be.

I'll tell you how I can help in a minute, but first, consider the amazing women in this collage.

They Are Linchpins

These women are the linchpins Seth Godin describes in his book, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? As Godin says, these people are indispensable. They're indispensable in their field (health and beauty). But more importantly, and pay attention here, they are indispensable in their specific niche within that field.

Top Row: Charlene Sevier of Charlene Sevier Jewelry, Lela Barker of Bella Lucce and Maggie Hanus of A Wild Soap Bar
Row 2: Mandy Aftel of Aftelier Perfumes
Row 3: Katherine Corkill of Sterling Minerals and Lisa Kapser of Blue Moon Candles
Row 4: Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove

Visit their websites. Follow them on Twitter. You'll see what I mean.

It's A Choice

My mother made a choice. She loved to create things with needle and thread. As capable as she was (and still is) of selling what she makes at a profit, she chose not to. And she stuck with that choice for her entire life. Even when our family could have used the extra money to pay college tuition or automobile insurance, she never sold anything at a profit.

Charlene, Lela, Maggie, Mandy, Lisa, Debbie and Katherine are making a different choice. They are enjoying making what they make, and sharing it with the world — at a fair price.

This is how they are in business. They staked their claim. They have a vision.

They don't stop when the economy sucks, nor do they blame the economy when they don't make the sale. Instead, they get right back on the horse and start galloping confidently toward the next customer.

They plan and then execute, not the other way around.

And that's a choice.

Question: What's your choice?