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Indie: Compass e-course [Registration Open]

Hi everyone! Jill, Kyla and I are beyond excited to let you in on the details of our new eCourse, Indie Business: Compass. We’ve been dreaming, scheming and writing our hearts out since the fall, and are so proud of the finished product! The Compass achieves what the annual Indie course was missing, by offering a thorough, engaging work at your own pace approach to setting up a successful and strong foundation for new businesses and giving existing business owners a chance to perfect and grow what’s working for them. It’s all new, completely original content and a fresh perspective on how you can approach your creative business!

 

 

 

What is Indie: Compass?

Indie: Compass is an e-course built by the creators of the widely-loved and successful Indie Business online class. The Compass is the perfect starting point for your small business journey. The Compass will guide you through eight chapters of teaching and prompts for action and examination that have been specifically developed for people starting, growing or fine tuning a creative independent business. The Compass is a foundation for understanding yourself, your motivation and how what you bring to the marketplace can make your business irresistible!

At the conclusion of each chapter in this e-course, you'll find a section called "Calibrate Your Compass" with an image of that chapter's puzzle piece. Using the printable Compass chart made available in the course, you can track your discoveries and progress and use the your 'Calibrated Compass' to guide decisions in your future.

We believe that your business should be perfectly designed for you. We've written the Compass to help you a) explore your options, motivation and interests b) develop your focus, style, ideas, brand, name and to c) ultimately help you establish a foundation that will guide your entire business' future.

 

Our Course Outline

1. Your Core Motivation:  Different types of people open business for different reasons, impacting everything that lies ahead. This chapter explores the variety of motivations people have for going into business and the unique strengths each brings to the table. Identifying what drives you will help calibrate your business compass.

2. Open Your Sails:  A lasting business keeps its options open. It’s important to consider versatility and range when building your foundation. Open Your Sails explores how you can structure your business to carry you farther and serve your customers for the long term. Shifting trends and interests don’t have to rattle your business, with your sails open you can surf the winds of change.

3. Discovering Your Business Style:  Style isn’t just about your favorite colors and how you dress- it’s the way you do things and how you transport customers to a world of your making! This chapter offers written and visual cues to help you identify the direction of your business’ style, equipping you to infuse personality and identity into your brand.

4. Creating a Business that Breaks the Mould:  Whether you’re a handmade seller, life coach or photographer, at their core, all creative businesses are connected in their ability to enhance the lives of their customers. Through exploring this chapter and "Your Core Motivation" from Chapter One, you can fuse your unique strengths with your chosen field to ignite your passion and build a unique platform for success in your industry.

5. Connected Products & Services:  Products and services are opportunities to reach customers & engage in their lives. This chapter redefines how you approach creating products and services, and breaks down the walls between them. Connecting and expanding what your business offers will allow you to create new opportunities, revealing a versatile business that thrives.

6. Your Message, Your Story, Your Brand:  Strong branding creates a memorable identity for your business that helps customers believe in you and feel confident about what you offer. Your Message, Your Story, Your Brand helps you discover your story and create a message that partners perfectly with your businesses style from Chapter 3. Through this process your brand will emerge and will reinforce your compass so no matter what the situation, your brand and its true purpose will direct you

7. Elements for a Lasting Name:  Choosing a business name is one of the most exciting (and intimidating) defining moments of your new venture! Elements for a Lasting Name helps you make an educated decision through guided brainstorm and fire-tested tips. Using our litmus test, you will feel confident about choosing a name that has the strength to grow with you!

8. Looking Through Your Customers Eyes:  With the confidence of Chapters 1-7 behind you, we turn your focus outward. Looking Through Your Customer’s Eyes explores who your ideal customer is, what their needs are and examines what their experience of your business will be. This final part of our journey helps you discover the most impactful ways to engage with your target market so they’ll make a connection and support your business for the long run

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I access and read the course?

A. The Indie Business: Compass is a privately hosted online e-course and you will receive access by email as soon as payment is complete. Your e-course purchase will also include a digital copy of the Compass so that you can read it on any device that reads a pdf (tablet, iPhone, eReader, etc). This is a great option for those who do not always have Internet access and want to learn as they go.

Q. What's taking an e-course like?

A.  An e-course is a stand alone, self paced experience where students work through the chapters on a timeline that works for them. The entire course is made available to students and they can take advantage of it as soon as they like. An e-course is a little like a blog, so the navigation will be easy and familiar for students, but there are no comments on the chapters.

Q. I'd like to purchase the Compass for a friend, is that possible?

A. How thoughtful of you! Yes, you can purchase the Compass for a friend by using our special Buy Now button here. The course is the same price but this purchase button gathers your friends name so that we can help him or her redeem their gift.

Q. I've taken one of the annual Indie Business classes before-- will the Compass be useful for me?

A.  Hey Mogul! The Compass achieves what our annual Indie Business course was missing and we've created completely original content that will set you up with a foundation for success! We'd love to see you benefit from the Compass too!

Feel free to email us if you have a question, Hello@FreckledNest.com

 

Meet the Teachers

Indie Business courses are created and taught by owners Jill Munro, Leigh-Ann Keffer and Kyla Roma. Get to know us better here:) With over 27 years of combined small business experience, our teaching team has seen it all and we want to help you make your dreams come true! 

Hear from Previous Indie Students

Jennifer of Lucky Jackson “The Indie Business course is essential to anyone starting a creative business venture. I have read books upon books on starting and running a small business but they did not offer the clear guidance, resources and support that this course provides. For those looking to start or improve upon their new ventures look no further than Indie Business.”

Dianne Knight of Simply Design  “Indie 3.0 helped me re-evaluate and take a fresh look at my business. Even though I’ve been working on my own for a few years, it was valuable to see experiences from other classmates, and learn from the amazing teachers. Owning a business is a journey, it is constantly evolving and never ending and it’s important to keep a fresh outlook. Indie helped me do just that!”

Moorea of Moorea Seal  “When I took Indie Biz 2.0, I was still debating over whether I wanted to run my Etsy jewelry shop as a hobby or a business.  Taking the class confirmed that I wanted to turn my jewelry business into a full time job, and within a year after taking the class, I made my dream a reality!  I have been self employed for a year now and I absolutely love it!  Indie Biz gave me all of the tools to market my business well with a clear vision, taught me how to produce my work more effectively, and so much more.  My blog following, twitter following, and all of my social media sites began to really buzz after taking the class which is a really important thing in trying to promote your business online.  The skills I learned in Indie Biz are what have given me the opportunity to be featured on 50+ blogs and websites, featured in magazines, and interviewed by multiple websites and businesses that I absolutely adore.  And my jewelry is stocked in over 20 stores across the globe.  It’s all thanks to Indie Biz!”

 

 

We’re so excited to put this into the world, and hope that you absolutely love it. You can purchase the course using one of the secure Paypal buttons here or if you’d like to learn more, you can explore the Indie Business HQ :)

xo, Leigh-Ann, Jill and Kyla

Q&A: What unique personality traits are most present in the way you do business?

In celebration of our Indie Business: Compass e-Course launching next Thursday, we're doing Q & A Wednesdays! Me & my fellow teachers will talk about our experiences & challenges in our businesses and I'd would love for you to answer the weekly question in the comments below! Let's share :)

I love people and socializing but because I’m an introvert, I get shy, anxious and drained in large groups and I need retreat physically and mentally to recharge.  Aware of this, I built my business model focusing on individual experiences in the online marketplace and I work from my home or office.  I’ve found that one of the coolest luxuries of building your own business is that you can customize it to suit all of your strengths and work around your weaknesses!

Another personality trait I use in business is my keen intuition! My instincts are based upon past lessons & success and I use them to plan, design, make decisions, explore options, direct our business and determine how I treat others. I love that I have an internal compass that guides me and I nurture it by learning from everything around me and by trusting my gut.

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I am a Dreamer: Purposefully day dreaming all aspects of Lune is a powerful tool in keeping things fresh and innovative. It’s easy to do so, because I am a lifelong dreamer. This has gotten me into some trouble over the years, but hasn’t waned and I’m so thankful for that!  

The free form way I run Lune supports my tendency to constantly dream up different ways of doing things. There was a time that I felt this impulse to act on my list of new ideas was a negative, but I have come to embrace it. Because of that, I continue to have passion for my business. Taking Lune mobile two years ago is a good example of how I craft my business to suit my nature.  Lune is an organic, true reflection of me as an individual.

I am Devoted: I have been through my share of trial and heartbreak with Lune. There were times when I considered hanging up my keys and taking the more trodden path. But, I am devoted by nature. When I dedicate myself to someone or something, it is near impossible to break that bond.  It isn’t easy for me to form these solid connections, but when they are forged – to the end of the earth I will go! This attitude has allowed me to move forward past heartache and misstep without seemingly skipping a beat. It is what drives me to remain positive and forward thinking in my business, which turns 9 years old this winter!

 

The traits that best describe me, especially in business, are perceptive, determined & a little sassy. My perceptiveness means that I naturally want to explore all sides of any issues that present themselves so I can understand exactly what's happening & find a solution. I can easily see things from other people's perspectives, and can imagine how they're feeling based on their writing or how they're speaking, which makes me a good problem solver who can find solutions in hard situations- and I can usually get to the heart of the matter quickly. I really like to make sure that Freckled Nest's clients always feel heard and feel that someone understands them- and I love being one of those people.

My determined personality means that I love making plans and following through on them. Once I have an idea I want to get all the details figured out and then stick with the plan! Making decisions based on the information that's available and taking immediate action charges up my batteries and gets me excited! I'm adding sassy to the mix because I have a big personality and like making sure the people around me are having a good time. I have a nearly unshakable sense of humour and don't take myself too seriously, which I think is really helpful in making my clients feel comfortable and it makes the long days that go into having an indie business much easier to work through.

 

• What unique personality traits do you bring to YOUR business?
• Take a look at our first & second Q & A Wednesday!

 

Indie Business: Compass eCourse is launching January 26th, and you can buy access now to be the first in line! Click here for a course outline, answers to Frequently Asked Questions & to register for only $32.

Q&A: What challenges did you encounter in the start-up of your Indie Business?

In support of the Indie Business: Compass e-Course launching on January 26th, we're doing Q & A Wednesdays! Me & my fellow teachers will talk about our experiences & challenges in our businesses and I'd would love for you to answer the weekly question in the comments below! Let's share :)

I jumped into small business with a lot of zeal but with very little information and footing. Looking back, I think what I needed most in the beginning was a mentor to help me find my way a little more smoothly. Overtime, everything worked and I learned a lot through trial and error but it would have been nice to talk with someone who shared the same drive and dream, understood the struggles and work behind every little thing, and someone whose wisdom and perspective I could learn from and be inspired by. When Jill and I met a year later, we became the perfect cheerleaders and support system for each other-- we’d go for coffee & cake with our notebooks and dream big, brainstorm possibilities, push our comfort zones, update each other on new things with each of our businesses, and through everything, we knew we could share anything and feel understood.

Around the time we met, I was struggling with finding the right marketplace for my handmade goods.  After renting tables at a few Christmas Craft Sales, I discovered that the local market wasn’t my scene. My handmade work was really well received but not often purchased, the craft sale season was short lived each year, and I wasn’t ready to open a local store or split profit with consignment. I wanted a different approach that I could manage alongside my day job and that would keep me in charge of my brand and sales. Jill encouraged me to keep going and we brainstormed options for my next move. Challenges will always flex my business muscles but I’ve been lucky to have both Jill and Kyla as the best cheerleaders around and love doing the same for them-- it’s so much better when you’re not alone!

 

The first challenge I faced as a young indie business owner was financial. I had a basic plan for how I would run my hobby vintage business, but didn’t have any savings or support to back it up.  Since I was young and had a very short credit history and no experience, a business loan was out of the question and my day job barely paid the bills as it was. My only option was to start from scratch, work with what tools I had, and to be very frugal with my earnings.

I know that if financial support was made available to me in the beginning, before I had a firm understanding of how and where to invest it, Lune would not be here today. I would likely be paying off debt from a long forgotten project, and have missed out on a world of experience. Working within my own budget allowed me to take small chances with little risk, and feel able to change direction at will without great financial waste or repercussion.  In hindsight, I’m positive that dedication to my Indie business was forged because of the struggle it took to keep believing in it.   It also gives me faith that anyone can make their business happen if they take it at their own pace and play it smart!

 

My indie business life has two parts: Before I became a partner in Freckled Nest & after, but for this question I'm going to focus on the before. When I was just starting, my focus was on my blog advertising program and my etsy shop, which meant that my business relied on selling lots of small products at low price points. I had a plan and I knew that it could work in time, but it meant that I needed to transition from having my blog as a personal space to being a place that I could also share the projects & products that I was working on. But when I tried to share what I was up to, I felt so lost!

My blog had been entirely personal up until that point, and while I had previously shared a few recipes and crafts here and there I was concerned about how my audience would react to hearing about this new part of my life. As a bit of an over-thinker I was also very aware of how sometimes blogs that have a selling component to them can feel less relatable than what I liked reading, so I knew I had to find a way to add this new part of my life and business into my blog in a way that was natural for me. The solution came as my confidence increased and I realized that my blog readers were curious about all kinds of things that I was interested in, and that as long as I was being genuine, choosing the times to talk about my business deliberately and letting my personality shine through I was still delivering what they wanted. It was a big weight off my shoulders & an exciting realization!

 

• If you've started a small business, what were your biggest challenges?
• Have you found ways to overcome them?
• Thank you to everyone who shared their story last week! I loved reading about what sparked your own business and I left a comment for everyone :)

Take a look at last week's Q&A!

Indie Business: Compass eCourse is launching January 26th, and you can buy access now to be the first in line! Click here for a course outline, answers to Frequently Asked Questions & to register for only $32.

Q&A Wednesdays: What sparked your Indie Business Dream?

In support of the Indie Business: Compass e-Course launching on January 26th, we're doing Q & A Wednesdays! Me & my fellow teachers will talk about our experiences & challenges in our businesses and I'd would love for you to answer the weekly question in the comments below! Let's share :)

As a child, our family Garage Sale was the highlight of each year and I took it really seriously-- at 7 years old, I wore a tool belt, considered customer service a necessity and had the masking tape around my wrist, ready to slash prices in an instant.  In my early twenties, I started Freckled Nest because I’d unintentionally built an inventory of handmade gifts. My love for inventing and handmade had kinda consumed me and I didn’t need the 50+ handmade albums I’d made, so I participated in a few local craft sales and opened an Etsy Shop. My yard sale instincts kicked back in and I was excited about the opportunity to run my own business, with handmade goods and lots of special touches and personality! The pleasure of making people smile with a good experience has always been the biggest spark behind my Indie Business dream! And I love playing store ;)

 

Back in 1995, I wore my thrift shop finds with pride.  My favorites were a 1970’s sheering coat, a silky brown velour track suit with yellow piping, and a collection of snug western snap shirts. There is nothing better for a 15 year old on a short allowance than scoring a great wardrobe piece for under a dollar. When I moved away from home at 18, I was on a tiny budget and needed to furnish my apartment. Thrift shops and auction sales did the trick. There came a time when I realized that I wasn’t the only one who valued vintage.  Deciding to sell some of what I found made a lot of sense. It gave me a reason to spend time on my hobby, and pulled in some extra money too.  

Having the ability to control and change my world has always been important to me. Before I created Lune Vintage, I always had a hobby brewing.  I’ve dabbled in soap making, hemp jewelry design, sign making, furniture refinishing, and perfumery.  I realized that exercising my power to create and build an environment of my design empowered me as an individual. It gave my life purpose in a time when the future seemed so unsure and far away.  That feeling of positive change and control lit the flame for what would be Lune Vintage.

 

When I was younger I didn't have a clear picture of what I wanted my work life to be like- I just knew that I wanted to be excited about it every day. During and after high school, I was drawn to the entertainment industry and worked behind the scenes in theatre, film, TV and music. I eventually started zeroing in on marketing and was excited to be using my strengths and to be around the energy of the industry. It was also one of the only places I could picture my social media, blogging and design background being used in my day to day work. However, the more time that I spent in entertainment the more the lifestyle and high stress work environment wore me out, and I realized that it wasn't for me. I also realized that I didn't know what kind of work would make me happy.

Around that time I started thinking more seriously about what life could be like if I owned my own business. As soon as the thought was in my head, it sparked something in me that quickly caught fire! I couldn't think about anything else and I knew that this was something I needed to do. I started working on design every day and creating products for my Etsy shop, I found mentors through the blogging community who I could check in on and be inspired by every day, and I planned and researched my heart out to see if this was something that could work. Being in a situation where I wasn't happy with my job and needed to invent a better future for myself was the start of my indie business dream, and the start of a whole new, much happier, life.

 

• Do you own a business, or do you dream of being an indie business owner?
• What sparked that dream for you?
• Share your own indie story in the comments of this post! xo

 

Indie Business: Compass eCourse is launching January 26th, and you can buy access now to be the first in line! Click here for a course outline, answers to Frequently Asked Questions & to register for only $32.

an Indie Business eCourse!! [announcement]

We have some exciting news! The popular Indie Business online workshop series is back and entering new waters in 2012! With all new content for past students and new entrepreneurs, Indie Business is the ultimate resource for small business owners wanting to start, survive and succeed in the word of creative business. Since 2009, Indie Business has supported over 1,500 creative entrepreneurs worldwide in achieving their dreams of being business owners. The newest addition to our series is sure to set you in motion for the new year!

The brand new Indie Business: Compass eCourse is the perfect starting point for your Indie Business journey! It will take you through eight chapters of teaching, prompts for journalling and self reflection that have been specifically developed for people in the very first stages of starting a creative independent business and those who want a stronger foundation and focus. The Indie: Compass is the foundation for understanding yourself, your motivation and what you bring to the marketplace that makes (or will make) your business so irresistible.

Read the full Indie Business: Compass eCourse and take a look at the 8-Chapter Overview HERE!

Not sure what an eCourse looks like, or have additional questions about the Indie Business series? Visit the FAQ page HERE!

Indie Business: Compass will launch on January 26th, 2012- but registration in the eCourse is already open! You can be among the first students to work through the new eCourse, or give access to Indie: Compass as a gift this holiday. Delivery is instant and digital, so it’s a perfect way to show love and support for far away friends with entrepreneurial dreams. 

The Compass eCourse is only $32 USD

Purchase the Indie Business: Compass Here

& have all your questions answered by visiting the FAQ page!

Authors: In 2011, Indie Business was re-imagined by myself, Jill Munro and our new member of the Indie Business Teaching Team- Kyla Roma. Read about our years of personal experience and passion for creative business and guiding others on their own paths by exploring more about the Authors! 

Spread the Word: Are you excited about starting 2012 off as the year to make your indie business bloom with the Indie Business: Compass? Grab a widget!

Do you know others who could benefit from this eCourse? Tweet it out and talk with other students using our official Indie Business Twitter hashtag #indiecompass!

I'm really excited about our Compass eCourse-- through our experience as small business owners, we've created 8 chapters that will jumpstart your business and give you a foundation you can stand on for a lifetime :)

Watch for more details & Compass news in the coming weeks, we've got lots of fun stuff planned!

xo, Leigh-Ann

ps. Kyla designed our new Indie Business website & we had a tattoo artist do the illustrations, have a look-- it's all so pretty!!!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me below in the comments :)

How our Company got it's Name (plus naming tips)

In the beginning, I started off making and selling handmade photo albums, embroidered goods and small custom pieces at craft sales. I was into cutesie (ie. scrapbooking style, circa 2005) and named my business “Quaintessential Crafts” --I KNOW! lol, not just Quintessential, it was Quaint ;) I thought it up in one hour, asked a guy friend what he thought of it and proceeded to buy a 5 year registration of the Domain Name. Within two weeks, I hated it. It was too long, confusing, targeted ("Crafts") and basically, it was kinda embarrassing. I let that name die and started fresh.

One of my first Studios // Master Bedroom with a table in the middle, surrounded by supplies & projects

I saw my companies future going in many directions and didn't want the name to corner me (now us) in one product direction. I was re-naming the business around the same time I was starting my blog and etsy, and knew I needed to think of a name I’d love forever. I wanted the name to feel warm, visual and inviting-- like a little world.

To start brainstorming, I went to my roots... the dictionary. I wanted a name that started with ‘f’ because I like the way it looks in handwriting and I scoured the f pages. Freckle immediately jumped out at me because of my love for these human polka-dots and their imperfect beauty. I was looking for a two-word name and brainstormed with a friend; she asked me questions that would inspire ideas for part 2. She said, “You like nature, right?”-- I said yes! and explained to her that I love animals so much, I’ve let a family of sparrows nest in my roof awning for the past few years. Suddenly, the names met in my mind and I blurted out “FRECKLED NEST”! I jumped on google to make sure it was available and then did a happy dance at work. I'd just met the new love of my life.

To me, Freckled Nest has always been the perfect name because it focuses on natural beauty and a gathering of elements to make a home. What does it make you think of?

Now, 5 years later, I'm still in love with our company name and love the ways it suits our Freckled Nest family and community. Freckled Nest is like a growing child to me, a real being and I'm glad she has a name she can grow into and that her parents are proud of :)

1. Give your name time to set in before you announce it or make it permanent (ie. Domain Names, Registration, Business Cards, Sky Writing, etc).

2. Ask wise people for feedback: What visuals come to mind when they hear your name? Is it easy to say, spell and understand? Do they like it and think it suits you, your style and your long-term business plan?

3. Choose a name that you can grow with, avoiding words that describe your current product, field or focus.

4. Brainstorm the name around things you've always loved and that you feel a connection with.

5. Can you marry this name? If you have any hesitation, wait-- you want to pick a name that you'll love forever :)

*I'm excited to hear your name ideas but I won't be doing name consultations through the comments because there's not enough information/conversation to give good advice. 

flashback to 2007

When Freckled Nest began, Design Teams were all the rage (a scrapbooking thing) and I wanted to have one for Freckled Nest :) We didn't have a kit club though and the company was still very young, but I had 9 wonderful friends online who believed in FN's future and wanted to be a part of making things happen :) We had a private blog where we discussed FN progress and ideas week to week and supported each other in all of our creative goals... it was a really sweet little community and we called ourselves the "Freckled Nest Chicks" (we punned up ever aspect we could). The club ran for about a year and dissolved after life got busier and busier for each of us... but I still often think back to our group and what a positive impact these 9 women had on me and FN. (Hi Chicks if you're reading this, xo!!)

I recently got an email from my friend Kristen (one of the Chicks) who had come across one of the newsletters I sent out in 2007. I got so excited and nostalgic, it was awesome-- seeing my blind eagerness, remembering each of those sales and growing stats as a celebration with the girls, talking new products and ideas, remembering the drama of our 75 handmade bags that had the potential of reaching Oprah... and constantly dreaming of Freckled Nest being my full time career someday. I had no idea how real that would be and the potential this company held. My dream did come true-- I get to do what I love every-day, FN is successful & flourishing, plus I gained the best business partner ever and FN now has a team of 12 (with a new full time Customer Service Manager & Artists Assistant being introduced in August) and our webdesign team will be growing again soon! It's incredible and I'm so thankful and happy!!! :)

At the time our "Tweet" newsletter was top secret type stuff, we held our cards close ;) ... but today I'm loving the opportunity to share it. We started small and have come so far in 5 years. I hope that this encourages you to believe in your dreams and GO FOR THEM :) They can happen :)

Love Leigh-Ann

3 Best Ways to Be Productive When You're Self Employed! [Visitor Pass: Moorea Seal]

Hi everyone!  I'm Moorea from Moorea-Seal.com, here to give you some tips on how to be productive when you are your own boss.  I'm excited to be guest posting while Leigh-Ann is on a U.S.A. adventure!  I first connected with Leigh-Ann through the Indie Biz 2.0 class last year.  My dear friend Kyla Roma was taking the class so I thought, "Hey, I opened up my Etsy Jewelry shop recently, I should join in too!"  It was through the class that I began to email back and forth with Leigh-Ann and realized she was a perfect friend and role model to have as a fellow blog designer and successful small business owner.  Leigh-Ann ended up inviting Kyla to join the Freckled Nest team in the summer of 2010, expanding the team from one to two, and then she hired me to become a part of the Freckled Nest team soon after!  I was so thrilled :)  And now, we are a big ol' team of Freckled Nest folks, collectively working to make the blog world a more beautiful place :)

Thanks to Leigh-Ann's helpful business advice and guidance, my Jewelry business has grown immensely since I took the Indie class over a year ago (you can check out my shop here). And my blog design work has gotten better and stronger as I've worked with more lovely clients through Freckled Nest and have gleaned the wisdom and encouragement I needed from my dear friend Leigh-Ann.  I love this girl! 

So, the first thing I recommend to get your confidence and productivity levels all reved up in the morning is "get ready every morning as if you were leaving the house!"  I am the sort of person who really really likes staying in bed in the morning :)  And I could easily just wear my pjs all day long as I work at home.  But I find that if I let myself slowly wake up, slowly saunter into the kitchen to get breakfast, slowly slink into my workspace while still in my jammies, put off taking a shower, I just feel like a mess and end up having an entirely disorganized day.  So, even if I know I don't have a reason to leave the house that day, I try to wake up at the same time everyday, eat breakfast, and hop in the shower as soon as I can.  I pick out an outfit I really like, even picking out the shoes and coat that look best and I put it all on.  Yep, I even put on the shoes though I am not leaving the house.  I usually end up taking off my shoes when I walk over to my desk to start working.  But the simple fact that I have visual proof that I took the time to take care of myself in the morning through what I am wearing, and the physical feeling of putting on a good pair of shoes help me feel prepared and confident to take on the work day.  And, if I need to run out of the house later in the day, I'm ready to go!

Making sure you are investing in yourself straight away in the morning is KEY to be productive.  If you feel crappy, chances are, your work day will feel much harder and more exhausting.  Take the time in the morning to make yourself feel confident and beautiful even if no one sees you.  This is all about YOU feeling ready to take on your world, even if the only world you are facing that day is the world of the web :)

I go crazy if I try to work on one project all day, all week long.  My mind feels so much more refreshed if I work on projects in 2-3 hour intervals.  For me that means in one day I can work on a blog design for 2-3 hours, get up and get a snack, package some jewelry for 2-3 hours, go rock climbing at the climbing gym for an hour, drive over and mail the packages, design some jewelry for an hour, go to a coffeeshop for 3 hours and bring my laptop to work on some blog posts, paying bills, freelance illustration, or answering emails.  Every so often I get the urge to just totally focus on one project all day long at home, but zoning in on one thing all day long on day to day basis would make me stir crazy.

If you are running your own business, doing freelance work, or any other work from home sort of job, you probably have a few different elements of your job that you can use as variety in your work day.  Say if you are an Etsy shop owner, you can craft your goods for 3 hours, answer some emails for an hour, do a photo shoot for an hour, pay some bills for an hour, hangout at a coffeeshop with your laptop and research ways to advertise for an hour, do your accounting for an hour, package your sold items for a few hours, list some new items for an hour.  There are lots of ways to create variety in your day if you simply brainstorm about the different elements of your work.  And the elements of your job that you don't like feel like less of a burden if you mix them in between the parts of your job you love :)

If you have any other friends who work from home, plan a work date with them!  My best friend does research work from home so she often comes over to my house and works on her laptop while I work away at design work or jewelry.  I also have a friend who hosts a weekly craft night.  I often bring jewelry projects over to work on or even my laptop to work on design work or illustrations while everyone hangs out, crafts and chats.  It adds fun and variety into my long days that are usually spent alone.  Try searching out other people in your community who are self employed and plan a work date at your house or a coffeeshop!

And don't forget, you need 3 healthy meals, moments of rest, and at least 30 mins of exercise everyday to get your energy and focus going.  Think of meals and exercise time as treats.  They are great breaks in a monotonous workday :)

To have a productive day, I have to have a list of everything I need to get done that day right beside me so that I can check off each task when they are finished.  I prefer to write it down in a big notebook, but many people prefer to create their lists online or on their desktop.  Here are some programs that I recommend checking out to create lists for your daily/weekly/monthly goals and tasks that are hosted on your computer or on the web: Wunderlist, Evernote, and Teuxdeux.  Sometimes when I feel like I have been getting especially distracted while I work, or I just need to track how many hours I have spent on a projects, I use a free online timesheet to track my hourly progress.  I use Clockbeat though I know there are lots of other online timesheet programs to choose from if you just search "online timesheets" (LA likes Toggl!!).

I think it is really important to set a few different types of goals for yourself as a self employed person to keep yourself constantly motivated and productive.  Ask yourself everyday, "What do I want to accomplish today?"  It can be as small as, I'll respond to a bunch of emails to finishing a huge project.  Take pride in your daily accomplishments no matter how big or small they are.  Pride in yourself and your efforts greatly aides in your productivity.  Ask yourself weekly and monthly, "What do I want to accomplish this week/month?"post a weekly/monthly calender somewhere where you see it ALL the time so you are constantly reminded of your goals.

Dream big and create a list of things you hope to accomplish this year or within the next few years.  Mix in those dreams that feel far fetched with the ones you know you can accomplish, and maybe some of those far fetch dreams will turn into realities too :)  Post this list next to your monthly/weekly calendar.

DO NOT forget to to have small and large goals in your personal life outside of your work life.  Self employed people can often work themselves toooo hard, feeling guilty when they let themselves relax and unwind.  Don't do that!  If you constantly work yourself to the bone and never have fun, you will always be drained and slow while you work.  If you give yourself goals of, "I'm going to have lunch with Katie on Wednesday" or "I'm going to take a road trip with my boyfriend in June" you will feel so much more excited to power through your work, achieving work goals while you aim for your personal goal.  You need fun, friendship, relaxation, family, and adventure outside of your life so you don't turn into a grumpy slow workaholic.  And those you love deserve your attention too.  So allow yourself to get excited about your personal fulfillment goals so that working hard on your work goals has even more meaning.  Create a monthly/weekly calendar of JUST personal goals and post it next to your 2 other calendars.


xo- Moorea

ps. You can keep up with my constant creative flow and silly antics by following my twitter! I look forward to connecting with you!

Here comes Papercuts Handmade! [Visitor Pass: Corey Marie]

Hi! My name is Corey Marie.  I'm an illustrator/comic book artist & web designer (proud to be part of Team Freckled Nest!) and basically an all-around creative nerd type.  Leigh-Ann was sweet enough to ask me to share the story of my little shop, and how it came to be.

I have a fond little memory of an otherwise uneventful evening back in the Winter of 2005.  If you'll allow me to set the scene: My husband & I were newlyweds living in a 400 square-foot apartment in Lansing, Michigan.  As the snow piled up outside, we spent most of that winter inside, together, listening to music and working on various creative projects. Maybe it was the cabin fever, but I was trying very hard at the time to come up with a way to combine scrapbooking and comics.  It never worked out, but it was one of these evenings that a friend told me to check out a band called "The Boy Least Likely To." 

I found the song inspiring, and used a snippet of the lyrics in an art project.  Even though I didn't really know what it would become at the time, I knew it fit me, and the name "PAPERCUTS" stuck around in my head, waiting patiently for me to find the inspiration for a project to go with it.  We only stayed in that tiny apartment for a year before moving into a rented house in Richmond, Virginia on our first anniversary.  My husband had gotten a job offer that would allow us to start our family, and we took the opportunity.

October 17, 2007 was my birthday, and I bought a gocco screen print machine -- found on this cool web site I had stumbled onto called Etsy.  Since I'd already signed up for an account, I decided to try my hand at running my own shop, and November 29, I had my first Etsy sale (a screen print of four cassette tapes) and while I was certainly no overnight success, I was fortunate enough to have several sales by the end of the year.  Needless to say, I was stoked.

My son was born in the Spring, and the responsibilities of a newborn kept me busy for quite a while, but by the time his first birthday rolled around I was experimenting with different types of things in my little shop.  I was collecting vintage books and interesting found papers and putting them into themed kits.  A close friend encouraged me to try out book-binding and I made a few journals with the same sort of mixed and found papers.  PAPERCUTS was born.

As I said, I'm also a web developer, and through the blogging community had the awesome opportunity to help Elsie & Emma launch the Red Velvet Shop earlier this year.  I had a blast helping them build their dream store and was thrilled to work on a site called "Shopify." I left Missouri feeling super inspired and started making notes on what I'd do with my own shop. 

 

This week, I quietly opened my brand new store to friends and family and blog friends, and am continuing to add items as I get ready for my June 1st "Grand Opening."  It's been an incredible experience to build a professional storefront that is completely customized to my own tastes and aesthetic.  I love how easy it is to manage my products within the store, and by using their built-in "Collections" and tagging systems, I've been able to feature my products in ways that just aren't possible with Etsy.  I'm no longer limited to plain text, white backgrounds and five photos per item-- the sky is the limit!

I could write love letters to Etsy. I still love Etsy and think it's a great resource and opportunity for artists, makers and vintage enthusiasts to shop and sell.  (I'm definitely still going to shop there!)  I'm excited if a bit nervous to take these first steps with "my own store" and eager to see my dream continue to grow.

Thank you for letting me share my story!  I'd love it if you'd come by the shop and take a look around!

xoxo,

Corey Marie

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Added by LA: Corey Marie sent Kyla and I a surprise package last week and we were so excited to open it up, each gift was beautiful and clever :) I love Corey's shop, material choices and quality craftsmanship! Thanks Corey, you're so sweet and talented!!!

Visitor Pass: Product Packaging Tips [Katie Kukulka]

Hi Freckled Nest readers! I'm Katie of I go by Katie & Darlingtonia Moccasin Company & today I am here to share some custom packaging tips for all of you online handmade entrepreneurs out there!

One of the greatest things about being a handmade business owner is having the ability to deliver really amazing & creative products to customers. Why not take that creativity & make your packaging really shine? After all, your packaging is the first thing your customer physically interacts with so make that first impression a lasting one! Here are a few tips to inspire you...

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• Custom Packaging •

Customizing the outside of your shipping boxes as well as your interior packaging can be a really great way to really wow your customer & make them feel great about supporting your small business. I've also found when I am in line at the post office people read my boxes & ask me where they can find what I sell!

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Rubber Stamps - These are so easy to use & to get custom made, it's silly! Just head over to Rubberstamps.net & order yourself one up to 6x6"!

What Kind? - I order my packaging boxes in bulk from uline.com which come flat & are super affordable. I choose not to use USPS flat rate boxes unless I am shipping super heavy stuff. I've found shipping in my own boxes to be the same price if not lower.

Screen printing - I screen print all of my packaging for Darlingtonia Moccasin Co, which is a great way to embellish a stack of boxes quick. If you've never screen printed before I would stick to using stamps or a print gocco for smaller packages if you've got one.

Interior Packaging - Inside each shipping box you will likely have your final jewelry box or in my case shoe bag. Make your interior packaging really stand out any way you can, with custom stickers, stamps, embossed lettering (which you can do yourself with embossing powder that you can pick up at any craft store!), ribbon & etc. When it comes to using fabric bags - I make my own using cotton muslin I pick up by the bolt when it goes on sale & embellish those too. If you wrap your items in tissue paper make sure it matches your branding in color & add something special to tie it all together.

Shopping Bags - When it comes to shopping bags get creative! Dissect a store bought bag, use the pattern & make yourself some newspaper bags like the one pictured above. Or add a little handmade touch instead of just your business name... Like using yarn & a hole punch to embroider a monogram on the front.

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• Thank You Cards •

Thank you cards are another way to stand out & you should you always include one with each order. Here are some neat ways to say thanks...

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Vintage postcards & stationary - Theses can be such fun thank you cards, especially if you write in pencil so the customer can reuse them - it's like a freebee! I've found vintage stationary & post cards for pennies at a yard sales & antique shops.

Print your own - I print my own thank you cards using my photo printer & double sided matte photo paper. It can be super affordable if you've got the right paper (check out redriverpaper.com - awesome & cheap). I also include a little reminder of my policies too.

Custom Post Cards - pick yourself up some promotional post cards to use as thank you cards. There are tons of sites that offer custom printing services like vistaprint.com, moo.com & 4by6.com

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• Promotion •

Put the cherry on top of your custom packaging sundae by reminding your customers where they found you & how to find you again!

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Freebies - I hand out pocket mirrors with each moccasin order, they are a fun gift & promote my business at the same time. I've also seen folks hand out a variety of really cute custom stuff.

Business Cards - Have some! Weather you make them yourself with a custom stamp ;) or order a batch from moo.com like I do - always include one with each order.

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Now that I've spilled my secrets & shared some of my resources I hope I've inspired you to come up with some of your own awesome new packaging ideas-- now go out & get creative!

xo, Katie