Building A Better You!

My last post for 2008:
I spent some time today focusing on goals for 2009. I first evaluated my 2008 goals and if I had met them. In reviewing my list from last year…I exceeded what I had written down.

My 2008 goal was to meet more people and expand my list of friends. I achieved this goal by joining a Community Center and took a class that was offered.  A class is a good way to meet like minded people and extend the friendship boundaries.
(Goal reached)

Another goal was to create some jewelry tutorials. I enjoy teaching and when an opening occurred to teach jewelry making, I jumped at the chance. Even though I had no formal teaching training, I recalled how I like to help people with finding items at our local craft store. I always speak out and assist customers. This comes naturally to me. The results were a teaching job at 2 different venues each week for the last year. Each class I teach requires a step by step tutorial for the project. Now, I have a file folder full of tutorials.
(Goal reached)

This teaching venure became another source of income for me.
(Goal reached)

Becoming more organized was also on my list. Well, I can tell you that if you have to plan 2 classes a week for 12 students, you get your act together. Both venues require a class schedule at least 1 month ahead of time. They need this info for their newsletters, so by the last week of the month, I am planning the schedule for the month after the next one. That means having the projects sample done and having the supplies to create the project for at least 12 students.  A  lot of planning and organizing is necessary and there are 12 months of classes.
(Goal reached)

So, I offer you the following advice in this article I just wrote:

Focusing on Jewelry Business Success for 2009

By Cheryl Coccaro

As 2008 comes to a close, I want to share some thoughts of mine which have the potential to make 2009 your best year ever!

Where is your focus?

If you don’t know where you should be focusing, then you won’t succeed as much as you can in the New Year.

To me a lack of focus appears to be a major cause of jewelry artists not succeeding as they had hoped.

If you try too many ideas at one time, it’s very difficult to succeed. When your steps are divided it’s harder to focus and you might make mistakes.

Unfortunately, jewelry business mistakes are often costly tend to result in spending more than you make.

Know what you want to achieve in 2009, focus on it, and go for it.

Make the first step and then another, as each step brings you closer to achieving your goals.

Choose to invest in what you need, rather than in what you want, to achieve your goals.

Ignore everything else!

For example, if your goal is to sell on Etsy, then focus on setting up your shop, learn how to take sharper photos of your work, and create your items with care and precision.

After all, your work is a reflection of yourself.

Ignore everything else until you have achieved one goal – and then move on to the next one on your list.

The second goal comes easier than the first one!

If your goal is to have a jewelry website, then check out some free websites.

Don’t forget that you’ll also need to promote your website in order to have sales.

So you may also decide to set up a blog to help promote your site.

Taking one step at a time prevents you from overloading your mind which, which is a major cause of mistakes.

So write down what steps you’ve taken and you will see your success!

This will help you remain focused. Seeing your goals helps you achieve them.

Nothing happens overnight, and you need to be ready to persevere for at least 3 months to see any results.

You can’t expect to make sales if you put up an item on Etsy but don’t promote your shop.

Instead, you need to focus on making your Etsy venture a success – by listing items often, marketing constantly, and being consistent to get things moving.

Persevere and give yourself those 3 months – and then make a change and wait another 3 months to see if you have results.

Setting goals and focusing on them one at a time will assist you in achieving success, no matter how small.

Remember to take it one day at a time, and I’ll see you at the top!

Wishing you much Success in 2009!

- Cheryl Coccaro

Internet marketer, author, entrepreneur, and jewelry designer

Let me tell you how I made my dream come true:

II decided to take a Polymer Clay class at the Senior Center in our town. I need to meet people and I sure did. It turned out that the “teacher” was 84 years old man, and he was new to polymer clay but wanted to learn. He is a lovely man with many years of experience teaching. I admire him greatly.

Well I have experience in polymer clay so I offered tid bits of advice and before you know it…the gentleman announces he is stepping down as teacher and said I’m asking me if she would take over. I said…we could do it together.

So, the result is…I am teaching Wire Wrap Jewelry at the Senior Center every Tuesday from 3-5 in the afternoon. I continued the month out with polymer clay, then switched the class to jewelry doing wire wrapping. I’m having a great time.

Soooooooo, I’m over at ACMoore buying supplies for this class and a woman behind me comments at the amount of items I’m holding..”Wow, that looks like serious crafting to me!”  I mention teaching and she says, “Oh you should teach here also, I’m in charge of  getting teachers and filling time slots for this store.” We exchange business cards and before you know it….I’m also teaching there, too on Wednesday nights 6-8 pm.

Luckily I had business cards with me at each class and make sure I give one to every student. I was asked if I teach on other days, and times…so I replied that I also teach at my studio in my home!  Well, I go home and quick put up a Class Schedule Page on my website, and send emails to those students in the classes linking them to that page. Well, two of the ladies called and I now am teaching them in our bonus room over the garage…calling that my studio. 

 Don’t mean this post to sound bragging, but I have thought about how when we built our house and I wanted this room to be mine; and it is.

So I do believe in whatever you dream about becomes a reality. Happy dreams to all.

CherylCoccaro

www.cherylcoccaro.com/ClassSchedule.htm