I'm afraid my craft creations have taken a back seat this week. Firstly I had to head back to work. Secondly I had a decision to make.
For over two year I have kept saying 'I'm leaving my job and I'm going to set up my own craft business'. For years I've said it but never done it. I've plodded along making a little money out of my hobby.
However this week I took the plunge. No I didn't leave my job. I wish I could say I have. I have though, sat down and come up with my two year business plan. Sound like a long plan? Yes it is, and it still isn't finished.
I realised that if I am going to do this I need to do a number of things first.
1. I need a healthy pile of savings in the bank - just in case this business doesn't pay for itself right away. So sticking with the rat race for now.
2. Work out what my goal was - which is? Self employment on a smaller income but with flexibility and creativity based. A business I can run and be responsible for.
3. Finally, how the hell I'm going to get there without tearing my hair out.
It might sound simple but you should see the note book I've drafted all this up in. The poor thing has graphs, plans, brain storming spider grams.... soooooo much. All I need to do now is type it up (I like things to look official and then to take the plunge.
I have decided that there are two things that are going to cripple me. This first is sticking with my job to get the savings in the first place. I struggle to juggle crafting and work at the best of times. The other fear is Accountancy. How scary is that? I mean I've done my tax returns before... but not for a business. SCARY!
If you have any fail safe tips let me know :D
So over the coming year you may see me typing in stress. If so, no need to call the men in white coats... unless the post reads in tongues.
So all I have had time for is cutting out felt templates...
Playing around with some kilt pin ideas...
Oh and catching up with some magazine reading. I keep all the craft mags I buy and sometimes I like to read old issues. Always good to get the mojo flowing. And here, little Hera can be seen telling the world how much she loves Craftseller!
So I'm off to Handmade Monday to check out what others have been up to this week. More than likely more crafting than I hehehehe. Please check out the link and pop along. The more the merrier.
Gingerbread men...woohoo!
ReplyDeleteWhat a very brave decision...good for you, and best of luck!
Working for yourself is the best thing ever, no more rat race, office politics and the rest. You will also be amazed how much going to work costs, when staying home and crafting is far more cost effective. Good luck with your planning, my advice make sure you have at least 1 years worth of funds then jump in the crafting pool
ReplyDeleteThanks hun. I hope to aim for just over that so I have a bit of security. However A year minimum and then time to cut the full time strings with a move to part time if needs be.
DeleteOh, I wish you the very best of luck. I jumped when I was offered redundancy, but I then took on a part time job to help out (I'd recommend working part time for the first couple of years, even if you have savings). Caroline is right, working from home is cost effective and I really don't miss office politics! You'll work longer hours for less pay (I do, anyway) but it's so worth it.
ReplyDeleteI aim to get a heavy level of savings so that when I do go part time I can be a bit more flexible. With regards to the hours - Im a slave to my current job. Least I can be a slave to a job with more rewarding benefits :)
DeleteGood luck with your new venture, just have patience! It will happen but don't rush it, just make it happen!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good plan to me! Believe me accounts arent as bad as they seem, I am awful at maths and i am ok doing it. I kinda have to work from home as I can't go out to work but it is very rewarding and you get to choose your hours, the best bit though is working in your Pjs, well i think so anyway :)
ReplyDeleteWorking in my pjs? SCORE :)
DeleteI like your little helper, he looks well settled with the magazine! Good luck on your crafting journey and I hope it works out for you.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your big leap! Looking forward to seeing your gingerbread men when they're done.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with putting your business plan into motion. It's not easy, but worth it. The accountancy is not that difficult -what is more difficult is to be organised enough to input all receipts and income in the spread sheet on regular basis. (...says she, as her receipts pile up in the old envelope).
ReplyDeleteBrilliant - making a plan is such a good idea. As they say "fail to plan, plan to fail"!
ReplyDeleteThe best things about making your own plans are that they can be reviewed and altered to suit the current situation, not like working for someone else when you often have to work to their plan.
Good luck. Step one - declaring it to the world is one of the biggest!
ReplyDeleteKat, well done on all the planning, I am sure you will be very successful... just remember there are people who like numbers and might want to help you out... Have you considered approaching a local college to give them some practical accountancy experience?
ReplyDeleteGet yourself booked on one of the free Inland Revenue Courses on tax - they are simple, clear and really helpful! Good luck its worth doing and your work already speaks for itself and is really popular x
ReplyDeleteWow, i'm impressed that you've sat down and done a business plan - very professional. Hope it all works out as planned and in a couple of years i'll be reading a very different blog post. look forward to following your progress.
ReplyDeleteWell, good for you! I think the first steps are the hardest. I know when I went back to college (years ago now) with 3 small children, I told myself, just one step at a time. The first step? Go register. I would not worry about any of the rest of it, I would just worry about getting THAT done first. Then I would worry about the next thing. I know you're going to do just fine! xxo
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your plans, great photo of you'r cat she looks just like one of my cats Holly :)
ReplyDeleteVery brave of you to take that first step. I wish you good luck in your venture. Love your kilt pin decoration. Hugs mrs a.
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ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the kilt pin!
ReplyDeleteI wish you lots and lots of luck with eventually going solo. It is a hard decision to make - leaving behind a regular salary is a very difficult decision, but the other side of the coin (doing what YOU want) is sooo good. Hope you have a good week and look forward to hearing how you are getting on with your biz plan.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing how your two year plan comes along-well done on making a start.Love the kilt pin.
ReplyDeleteHi Kat,
ReplyDeleteThank you for becoming a follower.I have become a follower of you so I can follow your brave step into the unknown
Good luck with whatever path you take, and I hope it leads to the crafting goal. You seem very sensible and have obviously thought and planned this all out - a brilliant start. Have a good week, Jo x
ReplyDeleteThat's so exciting even thought it's scary. Good luck!
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