I have a new adventure!!! Today, I registered a domain name. For my new business. I will announce the domain name when my website and business is up and running. But I am excited. This is the first and easy step in a long exciting road on a very exciting adventure I thrilled to take.
What is my new business you ask? I will be starting an online store. Selling Yarn and other knitting and crocheting supplies. I know, there are plenty on the website already, but why can't I have one too? Besides, I'm not really a fan of the ones that are out there. Mine will be different and fabulous.
This website will also be a perfect segue into the Brick and Mortar business I will be starting someday.
Yes, I am so excited, and being the nerd I am, I have already stocked up on tons of books on opening a store, retail business, small business, and now I am looking a books on starting an e-business. And my uber-organized husband encouraged me to get a notebook so I can keep all my important papers, questions and notes.
Why am I doing this you ask? Because the Entrepreneur inside o me is just waiting to come out. I have always wanted to have my own business and be my own boss and do my own thing. So while it is a long road ahead, it is an exciting road and I am excited!
So here I am, just in the research stages, setting a timeline and I am on my way. Originally, I was going to open my business (Brick and Mortar) by the time I was 30, which is just less than 2 years. But now that I am going to start out in the e-business realm, I am thinking of moving that timeline up. Maybe 6 months to a year. I'm looking more on the 6 month side.
But, AHH I am so excited. So if any of you out there have any advise for starting your own business and/or where to get product from, let me know. I need all the advise I can get.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Making Changes
So I am seriously contemplating changing the name of my blog. Since my life isn't just about Mary Kay and there is so much more I want to share with you about my life.
Like did you all know that I love to cook, and I love to eat. I also am an avid knitter. Seriously, knitting sounds like something only your grandma would do but it is ADDICTING!!! I can't sit still so knitting totally gives me something to do when I am just sitting in front of the TV on a road trip (when I'm not the driver of course) or when flying.
I am currently working on my second pair of socks, look really cute. I also just got a book on knitting socks, I am totally going to work my way through that book and learn to knit all those types of socks, there are lacy socks, cable knit socks. It's sad that I am so excited about knitting socks. :) I also am working on a sweater, white alpaca sweater.
Yesterday, I looked into my fridge and saw NOTHING!!! There was nothing, there hasn't been anything in the fridge for like a week, and yesterday there wasn't even enough to be creative anymore. So I made a grocery list, now I am an avid believer in not going to the store without a list, not that I have never done it, or that I ever get stuff off my list. Of course I do, we all do. But I am also a believer in meal planning. So I got out my Rachel Ray cookbook, got some yummy recipes to make throughout the next 2 weeks including a recipe for minestrone soup for lunches this week. I just made it and I have to say my house smells delicious!!! And I must say, my husband better know he is the luckiest guy alive. What other guy comes home from a long road trip for work and then gets steak, pasta and the football game. Blue cheese Spaghetti- YUM!!!
So here I am doing all this, yes, I am busy, I am still always trying to work my business. Wow, now I don't even know why I started writing this post in the first place. Maybe to show you all that I have more going on in my life besides Mary Kay. Well, you have to have more. I love selling Mary Kay but you have to have other activities to round out your life.
Anyway, thanks for listening to my rant, hopefully my thoughts will be more organized next time.
Like did you all know that I love to cook, and I love to eat. I also am an avid knitter. Seriously, knitting sounds like something only your grandma would do but it is ADDICTING!!! I can't sit still so knitting totally gives me something to do when I am just sitting in front of the TV on a road trip (when I'm not the driver of course) or when flying.
I am currently working on my second pair of socks, look really cute. I also just got a book on knitting socks, I am totally going to work my way through that book and learn to knit all those types of socks, there are lacy socks, cable knit socks. It's sad that I am so excited about knitting socks. :) I also am working on a sweater, white alpaca sweater.
Yesterday, I looked into my fridge and saw NOTHING!!! There was nothing, there hasn't been anything in the fridge for like a week, and yesterday there wasn't even enough to be creative anymore. So I made a grocery list, now I am an avid believer in not going to the store without a list, not that I have never done it, or that I ever get stuff off my list. Of course I do, we all do. But I am also a believer in meal planning. So I got out my Rachel Ray cookbook, got some yummy recipes to make throughout the next 2 weeks including a recipe for minestrone soup for lunches this week. I just made it and I have to say my house smells delicious!!! And I must say, my husband better know he is the luckiest guy alive. What other guy comes home from a long road trip for work and then gets steak, pasta and the football game. Blue cheese Spaghetti- YUM!!!
So here I am doing all this, yes, I am busy, I am still always trying to work my business. Wow, now I don't even know why I started writing this post in the first place. Maybe to show you all that I have more going on in my life besides Mary Kay. Well, you have to have more. I love selling Mary Kay but you have to have other activities to round out your life.
Anyway, thanks for listening to my rant, hopefully my thoughts will be more organized next time.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Game Plan
So, yes I have been busy lately, and tired, I don't know what it is, when I get home from work I'm just dead and have no motivation. Anyway, I have been busy.
For One, I GOT MARRIED!!!
Yes, my fiance and I decided to go to the courthouse on Saturday and get married. He is going to Mississippi for the Navy for 9 months so we decided to get married before he left. When he gets back from Mississippi we will go to Hawaii and do it up right on the beach, complete with flowers, a fancy wedding dress and a fabulous vacation in paradise.
Until then, here I am, working and working and working my Mary Kay.
In fact, with all this motivation I have and as hard as I am working, if my promise to myself this year was to really work my Mary Kay business and be a rock star at it then I may be doing ok, but I could always be doing better.
For one, I was talking to my Sales Director yesterday, now she is motivated, she has her Cadillac, which I must say, laugh all you want about the Mary Kay Pink Cadillac, but once you see one, you want one!
But I digress, she told me, since I don't get to go to the weekly sales meetings she would love to sit down and talk with me one day about my business. She even said, if I ever want to sit and talk to her about a game plan she would love to help me. Now, as much as I love her and as much as I love selling Mary Kay, I was just nodding my head, every time she sees me she tells me the same thing, she would love to sit down with me and help me with my business, blah blah blah. Information I keep for when needed but not really process.
Anyway, as soon as she said "Game Plan" honestly it peaked my interest. Game Plan?! That's one thing I don't have. I don't really have a game plan or really any goals beyond selling 30 products in 30 days. That's kind of a small goal and maybe I need to think bigger if I ever want my Cadillac, or to even REALLY grow my business.
So now I am thinking, what is my Game Plan? Where do I want to be with my Mary Kay business a year from now? Where do I want to be 3 years from now? When do I want my Cadillac? Where do I want my business to be THIS SUMMER?
My Sales Director is going to be on vacation for a bit, but in the meantime, I need to think...What do I want out of my Mary Kay business? Where do I want to be a year from now, etc.? What are my goals? WHAT IS MY GAME PLAN???!!!??? Then I need to write them down and discuss with her on how to get what I want.
For One, I GOT MARRIED!!!
Yes, my fiance and I decided to go to the courthouse on Saturday and get married. He is going to Mississippi for the Navy for 9 months so we decided to get married before he left. When he gets back from Mississippi we will go to Hawaii and do it up right on the beach, complete with flowers, a fancy wedding dress and a fabulous vacation in paradise.
Until then, here I am, working and working and working my Mary Kay.
In fact, with all this motivation I have and as hard as I am working, if my promise to myself this year was to really work my Mary Kay business and be a rock star at it then I may be doing ok, but I could always be doing better.
For one, I was talking to my Sales Director yesterday, now she is motivated, she has her Cadillac, which I must say, laugh all you want about the Mary Kay Pink Cadillac, but once you see one, you want one!
But I digress, she told me, since I don't get to go to the weekly sales meetings she would love to sit down and talk with me one day about my business. She even said, if I ever want to sit and talk to her about a game plan she would love to help me. Now, as much as I love her and as much as I love selling Mary Kay, I was just nodding my head, every time she sees me she tells me the same thing, she would love to sit down with me and help me with my business, blah blah blah. Information I keep for when needed but not really process.
Anyway, as soon as she said "Game Plan" honestly it peaked my interest. Game Plan?! That's one thing I don't have. I don't really have a game plan or really any goals beyond selling 30 products in 30 days. That's kind of a small goal and maybe I need to think bigger if I ever want my Cadillac, or to even REALLY grow my business.
So now I am thinking, what is my Game Plan? Where do I want to be with my Mary Kay business a year from now? Where do I want to be 3 years from now? When do I want my Cadillac? Where do I want my business to be THIS SUMMER?
My Sales Director is going to be on vacation for a bit, but in the meantime, I need to think...What do I want out of my Mary Kay business? Where do I want to be a year from now, etc.? What are my goals? WHAT IS MY GAME PLAN???!!!??? Then I need to write them down and discuss with her on how to get what I want.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Off My Ass
As a follow up to "My Lazy Ass" I am proud to say I am off my ass.
I confirmed an appointment, I called to follow up on an order and... AND, while playing with my new BlackBerry last night, I downloaded the Mary Kay "The Look" App on my BlackBerry. So now I have my catalog everywhere I go that I can show off to potential customers.
Ok, good night.
I confirmed an appointment, I called to follow up on an order and... AND, while playing with my new BlackBerry last night, I downloaded the Mary Kay "The Look" App on my BlackBerry. So now I have my catalog everywhere I go that I can show off to potential customers.
Ok, good night.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Lazy Ass
I feel like a Lazy Ass. I haven't sold anything in a week. Now how is that for working my business? Not good. I need to work! I need to get out there! I need to make phone calls and contacts and promote my business!!!! But no. I'm just sitting here chillin', doing other things. Yes, I have been busy, but Mary Kay is a job. When I signed up for it I was signing up for a second job. My own business. This is income for me. This is extra money and I'm just letting it go by. Not coming my way. Yes, I suppose I can "Secret" it in and let the universe bring the clients to me, and yes, I probably will do that. But seriously, the Universe is busy, you can't always just sit on your ass wait for things to happen. Everybody in the world who has ever done anything or gotten anywhere was NOT sitting on their ASS!!! They were working! They were out there going for what they wanted, what they needed, what they deserved!!!
But not me, I am sitting on my ass, perfectly content in not bringing any extra money in, making excuses.
OK. NO MORE EXCUSES!!! I AM NOT TOO TIRED, I AM NOT TOO BUSY!!! I NEED TO WORK!
Here I go. Off my ass.
But not me, I am sitting on my ass, perfectly content in not bringing any extra money in, making excuses.
OK. NO MORE EXCUSES!!! I AM NOT TOO TIRED, I AM NOT TOO BUSY!!! I NEED TO WORK!
Here I go. Off my ass.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
So Tired!!!
I am just tired, I think I am just lazy, I want to sit and watch TV. I want to knit, I want to go to bed. I have been working all day, I want to rest.
But I can't, and I won't and I am not. I began my evening with dinner, a short nap on the couch, then BANG. Turn on the computer and before I play and look for accessories for my new Blackberry, I will do some Mary Kay work. Its a new month, and with a new month comes a new Pacesetters challenge. This months challenge is to sell $600 in retail before January 15th. At the same time doing my 31 products in 31 days goal. I did make a calender by the way to track my progress, I will let you know how I am doing later in the month. All I will say is I am happy with my progress so far.
With the Pacesetters Challenge on the consultant website they have MP3 downloads for tips and inspiration, and happily enough, while I was listening to a few, I was texting and talking to a client taking an order. :)
Now I need to get her order ready to bring to work with me tomorrow. I still also need to follow up with 2 customers about parties, follow up with another customer who was flipping through my Look Book and oohing and Ahhing, I am sure she wants something. Wow, now that I have hypothetically gotten off my Ass. (I have been sitting on the couch the whole time) I am so not tired anymore. Ok, now to shop for BlackBerry accessories and go to Ancestry.com.
But I can't, and I won't and I am not. I began my evening with dinner, a short nap on the couch, then BANG. Turn on the computer and before I play and look for accessories for my new Blackberry, I will do some Mary Kay work. Its a new month, and with a new month comes a new Pacesetters challenge. This months challenge is to sell $600 in retail before January 15th. At the same time doing my 31 products in 31 days goal. I did make a calender by the way to track my progress, I will let you know how I am doing later in the month. All I will say is I am happy with my progress so far.
With the Pacesetters Challenge on the consultant website they have MP3 downloads for tips and inspiration, and happily enough, while I was listening to a few, I was texting and talking to a client taking an order. :)
Now I need to get her order ready to bring to work with me tomorrow. I still also need to follow up with 2 customers about parties, follow up with another customer who was flipping through my Look Book and oohing and Ahhing, I am sure she wants something. Wow, now that I have hypothetically gotten off my Ass. (I have been sitting on the couch the whole time) I am so not tired anymore. Ok, now to shop for BlackBerry accessories and go to Ancestry.com.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Monthly Goals
So with a new month comes new goals. As always, I am going to do my 31 products in 31 days and of course get 1 new customer a week. But this time I am going to keep track. I is hard to figure out if you have reached your goals if you are not keeping track. Even if you are doing really well and achieving your goals. I have found, if you don't have a way of keeping track of your goals, you might as well not even have them. Because then you don't know how close you are to your goal and you have no idea or motivation to push yourself just a little bit further because you are almost there.
So I am actually going to write down my sales and new customers.
Also, this is more like a weekly goal because it need follow up this week. I have had 3 customers tell me they are interested in holding a party after the holidays. Well, it is after the holidays and we are in a new year. So, what better time to hold a party.
This next goal I am kind of scared about. It being a new year, it is time for me to get organized and ready for taxes. How much I have spent vs. how much I have made. It's not hard, I'm kind of anal about spreadsheets and accounting stuff. I just need to sit down, get all my sales sheets and inventory slips together and get to it. I'm thinking a day or weekend project depending on how many breaks I take. Shouldn't be too bad.
I'm also kind of confused, I know I can get the appropriate tax forms and things (1099? W9?) from my Mary Kay consultant website but does Turbo Tax have a category for direct sales business? I know they have a small business thing, but what about direct sales? Are they the same thing? Am I considered a "Home based business"? Yikes!!! Should I hire a CPA?
Anyone out there with experience in this please let me know. Maybe I'll ask my sales director.
Now, I need to get up and make some dinner, yes, it is 3 in the afternoon, but I am going to make Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguinon, it takes 4 hours. I am also making Potatoes sauteed in Butter. If this were the Julie/Julia project blog, I could cross off 4 recipes, since I have to prepare the onions and mushrooms that go into the stew in accordance with her recipes for onions and mushrooms respectfully.
Yum Yum Yum!!!
So I am actually going to write down my sales and new customers.
Also, this is more like a weekly goal because it need follow up this week. I have had 3 customers tell me they are interested in holding a party after the holidays. Well, it is after the holidays and we are in a new year. So, what better time to hold a party.
This next goal I am kind of scared about. It being a new year, it is time for me to get organized and ready for taxes. How much I have spent vs. how much I have made. It's not hard, I'm kind of anal about spreadsheets and accounting stuff. I just need to sit down, get all my sales sheets and inventory slips together and get to it. I'm thinking a day or weekend project depending on how many breaks I take. Shouldn't be too bad.
I'm also kind of confused, I know I can get the appropriate tax forms and things (1099? W9?) from my Mary Kay consultant website but does Turbo Tax have a category for direct sales business? I know they have a small business thing, but what about direct sales? Are they the same thing? Am I considered a "Home based business"? Yikes!!! Should I hire a CPA?
Anyone out there with experience in this please let me know. Maybe I'll ask my sales director.
Now, I need to get up and make some dinner, yes, it is 3 in the afternoon, but I am going to make Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguinon, it takes 4 hours. I am also making Potatoes sauteed in Butter. If this were the Julie/Julia project blog, I could cross off 4 recipes, since I have to prepare the onions and mushrooms that go into the stew in accordance with her recipes for onions and mushrooms respectfully.
Yum Yum Yum!!!
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