The Mindset That IMMEDIATELY Changed My Handmade Business (for the better)

Kim, have you heard the story about the fisherman and the businessman? I think of that story a lot when I am running my handmade business. If you haven't heard it, you should look it up. I think you would LOVE it!

I will never forget the lady from HMRC laughing at me and telling me I can’t make a job from a sewing hobby when I was calling asking for help with setting up a new business. I asked how can she say that when she does not even know me or my background. She was so rude so I hung up. It gave me more reason to make it work. That was nearly 9 years ago and I’m still selling my sewn pieces!

I was born in the 70’s, and grew up under Maggie’s reign. My parents were always self employed, and they worked harder than anyone I’ve ever met, and I grew up with a very strong work ethic and drive to be ‘successful’. As I recently hit 50, and have been going through some crazy hormonal shifts, I’ve realised that stuff is all, totally, irrelevant. It’s the adventures, the campfire chats, the good food, time spent with the people (and animals!) I love and the creative rabbit holes I frequently fall down that bring me joy, not earning £xxxxxx. A quote I recently read said “the definition of success is simply a positive life experience’ and that made me SO happy! Just by shifting my viewpoint a little, I realised I am one of the most successful people on the entire planet! 🤩 I’m new to your channel and LOVE this first video of yours I’ve seen 👌

It took Earth millions of years to create me, and this might be the only chance I get to live in this amazing Universe. I'd rather live my life the way I want to. Dedicating your life to that horrible rat race seems like such a waste of a unique opportunity. I'm done being a cortisol factory, now I feel at peace. Making it work is a fun challenge, mainly because I'm doing it for MYSELF! I make the rules, the schedule, everything; it's my "baby" and I pour a lot of love into it. And I'm finally happy 🧚‍♀

Semi-retired here, you hit it on the nose. A little bit to keep me busy, and active and supplement my income. I don't need it to go viral and bog me down in a full-time status. I don't need to keep everything I sew and I love the idea of someone enjoying something I've made.

To be honest at this rate I'm just hopeful I can make it to the giddy heights of becoming a 3-figure business 😂. I'm so looking forward to being able to even make a spreadsheet with the ambitious title 'INCOME'... to go with my two 'Expenses' ones 😑. For me it's far more about getting to continue being my own boss, and not killing myself physically (as I do now as a self employed gardener).

The deep sigh at the beginning... I FELT that. Wonderful eye opening points. Thank you for saying it, as many think it but don't actually put it into words.

I retired early due to ill health from teaching in an infant school and now my knitting patterns business earns me a little and allows me to be creative and occupied with works in progress. And my health is much better as I’m not constantly stressed! Yes, I’d love to earn a bit more, but generally I’m happy with my lot and wouldn’t want the extra work that would come with a bigger business.

So many people generalize business all together. Everyone has different personalities, different abilities, different wants and needs. Therefore, everyone should run their business the way that fits best in their own lives. Thank you for being an honest and real human being!

I spent about 15 years ina a corporate world (11 yeara as a manager in a huge international corporate company) I will never go back to that world. Yes, pay was good and that's all. Nothing else....no happiness, no flexibility, no passion, no enjoyment, because it was all about money!

Think your opinions are well worth a listen. I went in to this hobby to keep me from losing it after losing everyone I loved. I get great pleasure from people buying something that I have made and want it. The view she has is nothing like the views we have. I love what I do and you inspire me. This is the best therapy I have ever known. The cute comment I have had People say that but they don’t understand. Keep up the good work.

Kim, I don't know why you feel you must make excuses to some corporate harpy. I was in more or less your position some years ago. I learned to let them rant and enjoy my lifestyle. When they signed my paycheck, I cared about what they said. They don't anymore, and therefore I couldn't care less about anything they have to say. I absolutely love your candor and sincerity.

I spent 40 years in the corporate world, in engineering, usually as the only female. While I sometimes loved my job, most of the time I felt like a square peg in a round hole. Now that I'm semi-retired....I teach engineering classes online, but I have also been exploring crafts. I think I'm settling on laser engraving, because I can scratch my tech-itch while also being a maker. I've never thought of myself as artsy or particularly creative, but I am surprising myself devising jewelry offerings. You are absolutely correct that a corporate mindset does not work for small handmade businesses and we need to drop that mindset as "negative learning" and relearn what is important to us.

I really like this perspective actually! Well spoken, I have met many sellers with the same mind set, it all about what fits your personal goals as a business owner!

When I retired a few years ago, I turned my crochet hobby into a small Etsy business selling crocheted baby blankets. It takes about 2 weeks to hand crochet a quality blanket so it was never realistic to think I could make a lot of money. That is not why I'm doing this. My joy comes from creating beautiful things for people who love what I make.

That intro... sums up my week. :)

Hey, fun fact. Did you know that when you release a new video I’m fine with liking it before even watching it because i know it’s gonna be good!!! 🎉 thank you Kim!

Yes I've been thinking about this! Most handmade sellers just want to have some freedom and live comfortably which lives by completely different rules than a multi-million dollar corporation. What I value in my business and life is different from everyone else, everyone's different and have different goals. If I'm living my life comfortably and happy and making little money then so be it, I want to stay true to myself and that still makes me successful :)

When I was working at a warehouse, I had little time or energy to make good items for my shop. Now that I have been fired and am looking for the next job, creating anything that seems useful and pretty helps me not to get too hyped up about not earning money for the last few days and also keeps my hands busy while watching videos. I hope to find a part-time job or a job that leaves me enough energy after work to work on personal projects until I can work for myself

I really appreciate that you mention the differences for handmade sellers. I've noticed a lot of Etsy advice that has a more corporate feel to it. I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing by not following all of it, but I'm doing this partly to escape that culture. I'm not sure why, but it's always made me feel uneasy. I appreciate having a little more flexibility to my day too.