As you may have noticed, I have changed the name of my Blog from "Mary Kay Adventures" to "My Adventure". As I explained earlier, this is because my life is more about Mary Kay and I want to tell you about it. Also, in discussing with my husband the other night, he so bluntly stated, "Don't you think the train has left the station." And yeah, I think he is right, I think the train has left the station. My Mary Kay business is over. It sucks because as you know, I am currently working on starting a business and if I quit Mary Kay, and/or can't be successful with Mary Kay, what do you think that says about this new business that I am starting? Will that endure the same fate? I hope not! Of course, I can make excuses all day long on why my new business is different than Mary Kay and that it will work and will be successful but at the end of the day its business, and that's the gamble you take when you start a business, whether it be Mary Kay or any other business. It's business.
So why am I quitting Mary Kay you ask? Because its not successful. I've given it a year, over a year and nothing. Yes I have had customers and mad a little bit of money but realistically, I have put more money into this business than I have gotten out of it. I have put my own money into this business and not seen a return. Despite my efforts. So to keep up with Mary Kay at this point would be a bad business decision, not to mention a bad personal financial decision. Especially when I am trying to improve my finances and get out of Credit Card and Student Loan debt. So So Long Mary Kay, (maybe later, or not. Maybe I'll just find a Mary Kay lady because I really do like the products). And on to other adventures in my life. Including my new business. I have a timeline all made up of deadlines for a business plan, financial plan and marketing plan. I have a fabulous web/graphic designer who is stoked to help me and i am EXCITED!!!
On a personal level. In December I turned 28, YIKES!!! 2 more years till 30! A friend of mine is 29 and is currently doing 29 new things on her journey to 30. So I am thinking about doing the same thing. I already have a few ideas, including: Getting a Tattoo, learning how to paint in watercolors and oils, taking a sushi class, a wine tasting class and learning how to snow board. Any other suggestions would be welcome. What has anybody else done that was awesome?! I don't think I want to bungee jump or sky dive. So give me something interesting.
Anyway, when I turn 29 I will post the list and let you know of my progress.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Its just ART!!!
Last night I took my husband to First Friday, the monthly art "fair" downtown. I'm sure every city has one. All the galleries in the Arts District downtown open their doors on the First Friday of every month and all sorts of people come. In fact, that is one of the selling points for my husband to go. All the crazy people watching. Unfortunately, the rain last night kept most of the people away, all except for the angry emo teenagers and hippies selling their wares. And the artists and gallery owners of course. However, there were the die hard art goers, the ones who really annoyed me and reminded me of why I don't really go to First Friday that often, despite my love of art.
It's just art for crying out loud! It's not pretentious, you don't have to be in a certain tax bracket or a certain level or field of education or understanding or even background to understand and appreciate art. You just have to be YOU. Seriously, there were people there who were seriously "high brow" posers, acting like because they had a plastic cup of "Two Buck Chuck" wine and were standing near a painting they were cool. Really?! Maybe it's because I actually did study Art that I feel that art is not pretentious, it just is? But I think I may have been the only one in my class who felt that way.
But seriously people, its just art. Cave paintings are one of the earliest forms of art that we have, art is one of the earliest forms of communication, paintings today are simply an interpretation of what the artist sees, much like what the cave painter saw. This blog is art, I am telling you what I see. I'm not above you the reader, you the reader are not above anyone else just because you are reading my blog. Some of you will like what I am saying and/or understand it, some of you will not. And that's OK. If I were a painter, it would be the same, some people looking at my paintings will like and/or understand what I am conveying through my painting, some will not. But those who like/understand my paintings are not above the person who does not. That's just what they see. Or say I paint a big blob. The person who sees a butterfly is no better than the person who sees a blob. That just what each individual person sees. However, on the flip side, if I paint a butterfly and someone sees a blog, either they need to get their eyes checks or I need to go back to art school.
Anyway, that's my rant, Art is not a pretentious thing and those who look or make it are no better than the novice who just comes to check out the galleries and the people watching.
On a business note, I am getting organized. I read a little more today, took notes and organized my notebook. After I post this, I am going to plug my computer in and do some more market research. I even did a little market research today. I ordered some things off of my competition today, one because the product was on sale and looked fun and neat. Two, its research, I want to see how they do business, from when I click on the site to after I get my order. As an adamant e-shopper and very involved in the activity in which I am perusing, I have been a member of their mailing list for awhile, which is how I knew about their sale. And of course, how did I hear about this website? Word of mouth through a group of this related activity. See, that is the market research I am conducting, from word of mouth and advertising, to mailing lists, to sales to ordering and my satisfaction of the product and process of receiving that product to after I have ordered, how much will I hear from that website to my likelihood of purchasing from them again.
OK, battery is getting low, time to do my research and find out what time my Pi-Yo (Pilate's/yoga) class is tomorrow.
It's just art for crying out loud! It's not pretentious, you don't have to be in a certain tax bracket or a certain level or field of education or understanding or even background to understand and appreciate art. You just have to be YOU. Seriously, there were people there who were seriously "high brow" posers, acting like because they had a plastic cup of "Two Buck Chuck" wine and were standing near a painting they were cool. Really?! Maybe it's because I actually did study Art that I feel that art is not pretentious, it just is? But I think I may have been the only one in my class who felt that way.
But seriously people, its just art. Cave paintings are one of the earliest forms of art that we have, art is one of the earliest forms of communication, paintings today are simply an interpretation of what the artist sees, much like what the cave painter saw. This blog is art, I am telling you what I see. I'm not above you the reader, you the reader are not above anyone else just because you are reading my blog. Some of you will like what I am saying and/or understand it, some of you will not. And that's OK. If I were a painter, it would be the same, some people looking at my paintings will like and/or understand what I am conveying through my painting, some will not. But those who like/understand my paintings are not above the person who does not. That's just what they see. Or say I paint a big blob. The person who sees a butterfly is no better than the person who sees a blob. That just what each individual person sees. However, on the flip side, if I paint a butterfly and someone sees a blog, either they need to get their eyes checks or I need to go back to art school.
Anyway, that's my rant, Art is not a pretentious thing and those who look or make it are no better than the novice who just comes to check out the galleries and the people watching.
On a business note, I am getting organized. I read a little more today, took notes and organized my notebook. After I post this, I am going to plug my computer in and do some more market research. I even did a little market research today. I ordered some things off of my competition today, one because the product was on sale and looked fun and neat. Two, its research, I want to see how they do business, from when I click on the site to after I get my order. As an adamant e-shopper and very involved in the activity in which I am perusing, I have been a member of their mailing list for awhile, which is how I knew about their sale. And of course, how did I hear about this website? Word of mouth through a group of this related activity. See, that is the market research I am conducting, from word of mouth and advertising, to mailing lists, to sales to ordering and my satisfaction of the product and process of receiving that product to after I have ordered, how much will I hear from that website to my likelihood of purchasing from them again.
OK, battery is getting low, time to do my research and find out what time my Pi-Yo (Pilate's/yoga) class is tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Adventure Continues.....
The fear and rationality set in. Oh yeah, of course I still want to start my business. This is my dream. I have always wanted my own business. The little Entrepreneur in me is just waiting to get out and have fun.
I am still in the research stage of my business with my launching date in 1 year. FEBRUARY 1st, 2011 will be the date.
So yes, I am researching, I have a ton of books, and am looking into ordering more. So far all my books are on the topic of starting a Brick and Mortar business, which is fine, because I will have a Brick and Mortar store one day, but I am starting out online, an online business is a completely different animal. Different rules, different stuff, so now I need to find some books on starting an online business, an ECommerce business. Not just a Yahoo business, or an Ebay business, but a www._________.com business.
And now the fear has sunk in, the excitement is still there but now I am thinking, OK, How do I promote this? How do I bring customers, keep customers coming back and get new customers? How do I get the Buzz out? What will my website look like, including down to the details. What about logistics likes shipping, inventory control, etc etc....
Yikes, I hope at least some of these answers are in all those books I am buying, and websites I visit. However the scariest part is, some of these answers I'm going to have to find out on my own, the hard way.
Oh well, wish me luck, and any advise would be awesome!
I am still in the research stage of my business with my launching date in 1 year. FEBRUARY 1st, 2011 will be the date.
So yes, I am researching, I have a ton of books, and am looking into ordering more. So far all my books are on the topic of starting a Brick and Mortar business, which is fine, because I will have a Brick and Mortar store one day, but I am starting out online, an online business is a completely different animal. Different rules, different stuff, so now I need to find some books on starting an online business, an ECommerce business. Not just a Yahoo business, or an Ebay business, but a www._________.com business.
And now the fear has sunk in, the excitement is still there but now I am thinking, OK, How do I promote this? How do I bring customers, keep customers coming back and get new customers? How do I get the Buzz out? What will my website look like, including down to the details. What about logistics likes shipping, inventory control, etc etc....
Yikes, I hope at least some of these answers are in all those books I am buying, and websites I visit. However the scariest part is, some of these answers I'm going to have to find out on my own, the hard way.
Oh well, wish me luck, and any advise would be awesome!
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