Weekends

I try not to work on weekends.  But I usually do.

We seldom have weekend plans, and I actually like to paint, so I, more often than not, find myself sitting at the kitchen table working.

Once in a while I think maybe I should find a hobby.  Knitting or something.....then I remind myself that I do like to paint, and I am lucky to be able to make money at what once was my hobby.  And so I go back to work.

I really could use a good book to read, but I haven't taken time to go to the library and browse.

Not a big movie watcher.  I really don't do anything to de-stress...

And I wonder why I start to feel burnt out.....maybe I should take some time to myself, huh?

Panic and Stress

A couple weeks ago I talked about panic and stress and how I wanted to figure out an acronym for each of the words.  Well, I did it and uploaded the file to my site.  So if you want to print your own (colorful) panic and stress sign, click here : )  It is a pdf file and you only need to print one and then cut it apart.  Hopefully it will help me (and you) chill out during this busy season.

Hmmmm.....I'm thinking maybe I need some kind of little stuffed animals, or pet rocks, I could name panic and stress. Then maybe I could learn to take care of them and love them. Notice I did not say plants? I so kill plants : )

S * T * R * E * S * S

Boy oh boy, I can tell this is going to be a humdinger of a week.....yesterday I wrote about panic and today I am going to write about stress.  Not a good sign so early in the shopping season.

Today the feeling of panic has passed, but boy do I feel stressed. It's like if one more thing comes up that I have to do, or take care of, or deal with, I think I will just scream. Really.

So here is my STRESS mantra.....I need help with the last "s"es.
S - slow down
T - take a deep breath
R - relax
E - exhale
S - scream.  okay, not really, but that's what I want to do.
S - ???

Picking Your Battles

Ready the last few posts, helped me decide what to write about today. Working from home for the last 25 years has taught me a few things about setting priorities. When you work from home it’s easy to blur the lines between stay at home mom and work at home mom. When you leave each day to go work somewhere else, I think it easier to not fret about the fact that your house isn’t clean or your dirty dishes are in the sink. But when you work at home you suddenly think you are supper woman and can do everything at once.

Let it go. Pick your battles. A clean house is great, but the only one who really notices it is you. Give your self a break and only worry about those things that really matter at the end of the day.

Stress and guilt are killers, and I wish we could figure out a way not to be so hard on ourselves, but as woman I think we are just wired that way

I've been so busy, yes productively so, that I almost forgot to post! That's a good thing.

Today I'm juggling a couple things. Aren't all of us WAHMS juggling a couple things every minute of our lives? Like Lynn's post - I can't ever seem to catch up and hate the guilt that comes with not being caught up -or feeling like I should be working. I've also come to realize that those days off when I get farther behind are the days that I'm "living" my life.

Last night I watched the special on Randy Pausch, he wrote "the last lecture". I didn't realize he had died. I've seen him before on Oprah, I think or another show. I've thought about getting his book, watching the whole lecture, but just haven't done it yet. So inspiring to listen to him and his wife, in previous interviews with Diane Sawyer, about how they live their lives, what's important.

Yeah, we all hear the stories, vow to change, vow to stop and smell the flowers and cherish every moment of our lives - regardless of how far behind we are, how much our kids are whining and fighting and how we might be struggling to pay the bills.

I think this time I just might be able to follow thru. Think about "how important is this" before I say or do something. I've got the serenity prayer under the glass on my desk. Read it everyday. There are lots of days when I just don't know how to change the things I can, how NOT to TRY to change the things I can't and pray for the wisdom to know the difference!

I don't get it right very often:) But knowing that I do sometimes keeps me trying!

At the end of June I was told that I needed to have a biopsy on my left boob - is it ok with you if I don't say breast?! I went thru the panic, the fear, the "why me", the "why not me" days. The wondering if the results didn't go my way if I would have the strength to get thru it. Then, it occurred to me that I wasn't THERE yet. This was a biopsy, I hadn't been diagnosed yet. I have no family history of breast cancer and trust me, there isn't alot of breast to hide it in here. I found that I could change the way I looked at the situation, couldn't change the fact that I had to have surgery, and that I had the wisdom, or really common sense to know the difference.

It's been a couple weeks and reality has set in. I'm fine, healthy, but with a nice scar to remind me of how lucky - blessed I am to "just" have a scar. I'm trying to "live every moment" and trying to let my stress over not getting everything done roll off my shoulders at the end of every day.

Final notes - it's actually Thursday now, never finished this yesterday! Please ladies, have your mammograms, do your self exams, go to the doctor! Life is a beautiful thing, no matter how much stress we have in it. I may never get all of my to-do lists done, but as long as my heart is full and my family is happy, I'll be good:) I'm going to take my kids to the pool now - I'll work on that list later.....

Argh....

Last week I posted about stress. And how I (sorta) deal with it. Apparently my way of dealing with things isn't working too well. *sigh* This past week I made 2 mistakes on orders.

One order the lady asked to cancel. So I deleted the email order, voided the credit card transaction, and then the next week proceeded to send her the piggy bank anyway. All I can think of is that I didn't pull the hard copy and that is what I work from....so now she has a piggy bank she doesn't want (and didn't pay for) and I am going to have to pay her to ship it back.

The other order, well, I guess it isn't clear on my website, but when you order a white monogram piggy bank, the ears nose and tail are painted a coral color. No matter the color of the letter. I have to check, but I don't think it says anything about that on the website. My bad. So the customer gets their piggy bank with a hunter green letter and coral colored ears, nose and tail. And it isn't what they expected and they don't like it.

I apologized, found out what they did want and painted a new one. I told them to keep the first one. I just don't feel like paying to have it sent back. Maybe they can find someone else whose name starts with "L".

I know these past couple weeks have been stressful for me. There is so much going on and places to go and things to do and then the garage sale on top of all that. Thank goodness that is over. I know it's summer and I would love to have a break, but it doesn't look like one is coming and how do I tell people "No, I can't do that." When they expect me to be able to drop everything and do whatever.

Falling behind stresses me out and when I am stressed I make mistakes and I can't afford them. So I need to figure something out....how to better organize my time and myself, learn to make a schedule and stick to it....or maybe just tell people to leave me alone during the week and let.me.work. I don't know....I just know I feel terribly stressed and I don't want to feel that way.

Stressed = dessertS

Stress is a very real part of a wahm's everyday life. There may be orders to fill, phone calls to make, deadlines to meet....all on top of taking care of a family and home. It is important to learn how to deal with stress.

Although I am not one, really, to talk about it. Or offer advice. Stress stresses me out. I get irritable and moody, and generally just want to be left alone until I do what I have to do.

My other way of dealing with stress is eating : ( Sweets in particular. Desserts does equal stressed backwards, you know. Or vice versa.

How do you deal with stress? The stress of working at home. The stress of raising kids. The stress of trying to do it all. There has got to be a better way than eating your way out of it.....

Hi, My Name is Lynn and

I am a control freak. I like to do it all myself. Sometimes it is just easier to do it yourself and get it done right the first time. Sometimes it just makes more work. Regardless, I like having total control of my business. I wonder, are most wahm's like that?

When it comes to my business, I do everything....let's start with the website. Yes, I had Kathy of the dezignspot design it for me. But then I tweaked the design a teeny bit here and there and off I went....adding products and pages and links myself. I have a pretty fair knowledge of html now and I maintain the website myself. If I manage to mess things up beyond my very limited expertise, I contact Jo, my webhost. She's bailed helped me out numerous times, but I still muddle along maintaining my website myself. It is mine, after all.

And then there are the products....piggy banks, personalized plates and other stuff. I have molds for most everything I make in my basement. I hand pour these myself. Timing is critical and I am a perfectionist and I want my products to be of the highest quality. So I manufacture them myself. When it gets to be fall and I have too many orders to handle myself, I sub out the easy work.....base coating, cleaning piggy banks....things that I don't have to do, really. But I do paint all of the designs. Painting is my stress relief.

And then orders need packed and shipped. I do that too. Unless I am too busy, then I have a friend come over and do the packing. But I actually enjoy that. It gives me a break from painting and I can make sure piggy banks are packed securely.

Oh and don't forget the paperwork. I print my orders up and run all the credit cards myself. As well as the shipping paperwork. I do have a friend who does my bookkeeping. I am terrible with numbers. I'll gladly admit that.

And I also print my own business cards, gift cards and fliers. Yep, I designed them too. I like being able to tweak things how I want them. And I like being able to change layouts for different times of year. I did have a fellow wahm design a brochure for me....but I had to tweak it and edit it just a little until I was perfectly happy with it.

Maybe I take things too far. I know I am a bit obsessive about my business. In fact, reading all that I wrote makes me think I am micromanaging myself. Can you do that? My business is a reflection of me, and I want things to be just-so and I won't be happy until they are. Even if I have to do it all myself. Call me crazy, but I like it this way. And I wonder why I am stressed out once in a while....I better get going, I'm sure there is something I should be doing : )

*** It's Christmas in July at Korff Ceramic Originals! ***
Only 176 days until Christmas!

Guest Article: The Power of Asking

This week's Fantastic Friday post will be a guest article from my favorite professional speaker and author, Jack Canfield. I listen to his "Success Principles" on CD whenever I need a boost in my productivity.

The Power of Asking; 7 Ways to Boost Your Business
by Jack Canfield

The gift called "asking" has been around for a long, long time. One of life's fundamental truths states, "Ask and you shall receive." Kids are masters at using this gift, but we adults seem to have lost our ability to ask. We come up with all sorts of excuses and reasons to avoid any possibility of rejection.

Yet the world responds to those who ask! If you are not moving closer to what you want, you probably aren't doing enough asking.

Here are seven asking strategies you can implement in your business (and in life) to boost your results and your bottom line:

Asking Strategy 1: Ask for Information

To win potential new clients, you first need to know what their current challenges are, what they want to accomplish and how they plan to do it. Only then can you proceed to demonstrate the advantages of your unique product or service.

Ask questions starting with the words who, why, what, where, when and how to obtain the information you need. Only when you truly understand and appreciate a prospect's needs can you offer a solution. Once you know what's important to them, stay on this topic and find solutions for them.

Asking Strategy 2: Ask for Business

Here's an amazing statistic: after giving a complete presentation about the benefits of their product or service, more than 60 percent of the time salespeople never ask for the order! That's a bad habit, and one that could ultimately put you out of business.

Always ask a closing question to secure the business. Don't waffle or talk around it—or worse, wait for your prospect to ask you. No doubt you have heard of many good ways to ask the question, "Would you like to give it a try?" The point is, ask.

Asking Strategy 3: Ask for Written Endorsements

Well-written, results-oriented testimonials from highly respected people are powerful for future sales. They solidify the quality of your product or service and leverage you as a person who has integrity, is trustworthy and gets the job done on time.

When is the best time to ask? Right after you have provided excellent service, gone the extra mile to help out, or in any other way made your customer really happy.

Simply ask if your customer would be willing to give you a testimonial about the value of your product or service, plus any other helpful comments.

Asking Strategy 4: Ask for Top-Quality Referrals

Just about everyone in business knows the importance of referrals. It's the easiest, least expensive way of ensuring your growth and success in the marketplace.

Your core clients will gladly give you referrals because you treat them so well. So why not ask all of them for referrals? It's a habit that will dramatically increase your income. Like any other habit, the more you do it the easier it becomes.

Asking Strategy 5: Ask for More Business

Look for other products or services you can provide your customers. Devise a system that tells you when your clients will require more of your products. The simplest way is to ask your customers when you should contact them to reorder. It's often easier to sell your existing clients more than to go looking for new ones.

Asking Strategy 6: Ask to Renegotiate

Regular business activities include negotiation. Many businesses get stuck because they lack skills in negotiation, yet this is simply another form of asking that can save a lot of time and money. Look at your vendors and suppliers and see if there are areas where you can be saving money. Just ask.

All sorts of contracts can be renegotiated in your personal life, too, such as changing your mortgage terms and rate, reviewing your cell phone plan and requesting a policy review with your insurance agent. As long as you negotiate ethically and in the spirit of win-win, you can enjoy a lot of flexibility. Nothing is ever cast in stone.

Asking Strategy 7: Ask for Feedback

This is a powerful way to fine-tune your business that is often overlooked. How do you really know if your product or service is meeting your customers' needs? Ask them, "How are we doing? What can we do to improve our service to you? Please share what you like or don't like about our products." Set up regular customer surveys that ask good questions and tough questions.

HOW TO ASK

Some people don't enjoy the fruits of asking because they don't ask effectively. If you use vague language you will not be clearly understood. Here are five ways to ensure that your asking gets results.

Ask Clearly
Be precise. Think clearly about your request. Take time to prepare. Use a note pad to pick words that have the greatest impact. Words are powerful, so choose them carefully.

Ask with Confidence
People who ask confidently get more than those who are hesitant and uncertain. When you've figured out what you want to ask for, do it with certainty, boldness and confidence.

Ask Consistently

Some people fold after making one timid request. They quit too soon. Keep asking until you find the answers. In prospecting there are usually four or five "no's" before you get a "yes." Top producers understand this. When you find a way to ask that works, keep on asking it.

Ask Creatively

In this age of global competition, your asking may get lost in the crowd, unheard by the decision-makers you hope to reach. There is a way around this. If you want someone's attention, don't ask the ordinary way. Use your creativity to dream up a high-impact presentation.

Ask Sincerely

When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the way it is, lumps and all. Don't worry if your presentation isn't perfect; ask from your heart. Keep it simple and people will open up to you.

© 2008 Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield, America's 1 Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: http://www.freesuccessstrategies.com/

Talk about it Tuesday

OK, that was weird. I got kicked off blogger. I am back now so here goes.
I have owned and operated D's Stitcheree for 16 years now. Over the years I have been very very busy and then sometimes not so busy. This is all OK but..... I think I have repetative motion issues now. Since I hoop A LOT and cut A LOT it seems that my right wrist is now very weak, my right shoulder hurts more times than not. The reason I bring this up is because if you are like me you may be living without insurance. Be it medical or disability insurance. I am thinking now (a little late huh?) that I should have purchased disability insurance years ago. For us small business owners this is probably something we put off because we can't afford it. Think about it now though OK. I am going to look into disability insurance because I still have years to work.
So, for Talk about it Tuesday. Talk about it. Do you have insurance? Do you think about it?

Monday Motivation 2

So, with that in mind, my weekly to do list is as follows:

1. Schedule Camp Physical for Daughter
2. Get Daughter Ready for Camp by Sunday
3. Read Article My Husband Asked Me to Read
4. Increase Sales by 40% over Last Week
5. Issue Gift Certificates to Customers that Sent Us Photos to Use on our Website
6. Work on new Table Pricing
7. Email Authorized Dealers Regarding Table Pricing
8. Make List of Needed Repairs on New Shop
9. Fax list to Real Estate Agent
10. Freight Bills for this Week's Shipments
11. Thank You Notes
12. Pay Personal Bills
13. Color Hair
14. Pay for Girl Scout Troop Trip to Johnson Space Center
15. Have Lunch With Noelle!!! Woo Hoo!
16. Walk the Dogs at least TWICE this week - it was so much easier when there was just one!
17. Figure out how Lynn puts lines through what she's finished!

Frustrated

Today I am frustrated. No matter how hard I work, or how much I paint, I canNOT get caught up. I suppose that is a good thing....it means I am still busy. But....but I just can't seem to get a handle on things. It feels like things are out of control. I'll ship out some orders today, but I still have the orders to paint that they have to have next week. And paperwork needs done, and paints need put away. And so I never get a break....

I have to start saying "no" again. This is usually a slow time of year, but not for 2008. So when people ask if they can get their order in 7 days, I've been saying "sure". But all it is doing is creating stress for me, so now I am going to say "No". Turn around time is posted on my website for a reason....and that is what I am going to stick to. It's not worth the stress for the extra $. You all have to hold me to it now : )

Lynn
Korff Ceramic Originals