It's Another Flippin' Day.....So many things to say/do - so little 'Flippin' time!
Ok....commencing rant(S)...
SOCIAL MEDIA - I (Mother Broad) grew up in the '70s and Daughter Broad grew up in the '90s so...NOTHING prepared either of us for the marketing madness that is social media! Does anyone else feel technologically OLD? We totally do! Sure we had a "My Space" and a Facebook page to keep up with family, but now...YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat...and...I'm sure we are missing a few. Marketing is hard! Trying to get your business known is like trying to pull teeth (without the apple and/or string and door knob doing the work 😉 LOL) We have been getting familiar with a few of the social media sites (mainly Facebook, Pintrest and Instagram as they seem the "easiest"), but with every site working differently, it can be complicated. We are learning (or would like to think we are) slowwwly. A little helpful (hopefully) advice: DON'T BE AFRAID to Google or YouTube your questions, most questions you currently have other people already asked! Someone with more experience/time has figured out how to do what you need and has posted a helpful video or blog (this is the part of technology we LIKE!) You will eventually learn "the right way" - that is the way that works for you. Us, we have learned how to use (for the most part) and have been adapting to this media marketing phenomenon, though we still do not feel like we understand how to actually "make it work" for TFB. Like us, all you can do is KEEP on KEEPING ON!...Finding/Creating/Marketing our "Brand" has (IS) been the hardest part of our journey so far...and...don't get me started on creating Ads and Discounts 😬.
MATH (your teacher was right, you WILL use it in your everyday life! 😲) - There is a LOT of math involved in owning/running your own business; accounting, inventory, taxes, cost, selling price, car mileage...you name it. If you are currently unable (like us) to pay for an accountant/bookkeeper/tax specialist/etc..., there are many free programs with helpful videos/blogs online. We have been doing research for what seems like forever (lets face it, a few years) and have FINALLY found what seems to work for us. All the crazy equations and programs out there for cost, selling price, margins, etc. won't help as much as you thought until it makes sense to you and your specific items/creations. Best advise we can give: find what you like/understand, makes sense to you and is "easy" to apply to your entire inventory! ...We thought we would be up and running within a month (2 at most) and have a good idea of what we were doing...well, let me tell you WE WERE WRONG! Be patient with yourself and remember (that teacher again) Rome was NOT built in a day!...(neither was Amazon) 😎
FAILURE - Who else HATES this word? I (Mother Broad) have never been "good" with my own failures (this, of course, was passed along to Daughter Broad). I tend to create a (very) high standard for myself and (7 times out of 10) it is unobtainable! It was a little "easier" while I was working in the medical field as there were so many other factors/people in the equation. Now, there is only myself and Daughter Broad. I am (and have always been) much more understanding of others "failure" (set backs, mistakes, etc.) as I truly see that they were doing their best with what they had or with the situation at hand. Let me tell you...creating TFB has been a very BIG life lesson. Though I still have my "moments", I have become much more understanding and kinder to myself. I now know that along with my many abilities...I also have limitations. The best part of this "discovery", for me, is knowing that between myself and Daughter Broad there are FEW things that we can't figure out together. We can rely on each other, ask for advice, be honest knowing that we each have our "better at" and "not so good at" parts and what one doesn't understand the other grasps easier. Now when I find the "not so good at", I pivot and either ask for help or put it aside to move on to something I'm "better at". I am much happier knowing that I can't (and don't have to) be great (or even good) at "everything" and I am "human" after all! This knowledge has greatly helped me become (continuously becoming) a better wife, mother, friend and human being! Give yourself a break (insert Rome not being built in a day again) and remember This Is What You Have Always Wanted - do your best, learn from your (and other's) "failure" and ENJOY the process!
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT - So, we don't like waste (reuse, recycle, repurpose), of any kind, and strive to use materials responsibly (and sometimes for what they were actually intended). (Insert Teaching Moment Here 😄)...Love what you do and do what you Love - Don't WASTE time, money, resources, tears, materials or energy on second guessing if this was "the right move" or if there is "a better way" - continue to grow, learn and do this for yourself (selves) - know that you are the BEST at what YOU do.
Ok, end of rant(s) - for now 😁
Until next time....Have an awesome 'Flippin' Day!
