{Day 18} 31 Days of Craft Show Preparation – Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster

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Running a business can be a real roller coaster ride for your emotions. One day you might feel like ‘You’ve Got This‘ and the next day your might feel like “Why Am I Doing This?”. Work is hard that’s nothing new but when everything is riding on YOU then it can be a bit more stressful.

Continuing on with the 31 Days Craft Show series inspired by Molly (mollyeleen.wordpress.com) today she shares how her emotions about doing her first show go from positive to negative. 

I remember my first show. I was pumped but a little scared too. I’m not one for public places but I was exploring this as an option to sell my products. I didn’t know what to expect as a vendor and I was definitely a little naive. I went to the show ill prepared. Although I sold crochet in this show my main product wasn’t crochet, it was imported goods.

The First clue that pointed out the glaring fact that “I did not know what I was doing” was when I trusted the event spokesperson when she said there would be tables. I assumed a lot – don’t do that. Ask questions.  My table was a small circular table that did not meet my needs.

The second clue that shouted “What are you doing here?” was the fact that right next to where they had me set up was another seller, selling the exact same imported stuff I was. Ugh. They had a professional set up with three tables, cloths, hanging apparatuses and well, I felt super low.

Finally, I think when my boys came back after an hour of doing the fun kid activities, I was beat. I felt like such a failure. I wanted to cry. The guy in the next booth with his hand turned wooden bowls told me not to worry. I guess he saw the green, feel like I’m going to get sick, look on my face.

image: OhMega1982 via http://freedigitalphotos.net

Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This

Listen to advice from those who have gone before you. Ask a lot of questions. Prepare for the bad days because they will come. You’ll be going along nicely tackling your ‘to do’ list and then out of nowhere the funk hits. You start questioning yourself and your motives for starting a business. You might even get negative feedback from others who are waiting for you to quit. Don’t Listen.

When days like this happen take a look at your business plan or manifesto. Remember why you started. Write a list of things you have accomplished. Talk to someone. Vent. Sometimes all it takes is chatting with a friend or coach to get you past this little bump.

Remember, this is your dream. Do not let it die. Go for it and don’t let a couple of bad days stop you.

How do you get through rough days? Share your tips in the comments below.

Join me in the 31 Days of Craft Show Preparation by Blogger Molly of http://mollyeleen.wordpress.com. Molly was inspired to do the 31 days challenge when her friends took on the challenge that The Nester hosts each year. (based on the 31 Days to build a better blog by ProBlogger)

 How You Can Participate

1. Visit Molly’s Blog post which has all 31 posts in the series
2. Blog about it. You can do one post for the entire week or one post per day. I’ll be doing one post a day. (31)
3. Chat about it either on the Crochet Business fanpage or in either the CBB Google+ community.