Tag: inspired

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Quilt Market Aftermath

Aftermath

Now that quilt market is over, how do you actually follow through with all those good ideas and big plans?

The aftermath from quilt market, all those samples, being behind at work, and figuring out how to stay inspired, is a problem we all face.

Once you catch up on sleep, organize your life, and start prioritizing and tackling your to-do list, you’ll still have to turn those big ideas into actions. Here are some tips on how to stay inspired so those non-time-sensitive tasks don’t fall by the wayside.

Staying inspired

Since inspiration is a big level idea, the ways to stay inspired are big level too. A good way to keep the motivation after quilt market alive is through your vision. What do you envision your business becoming? How do you envision getting there?

Another way to not fall in to the same rut is finding what motivates you. If that’s money, then that’s okay! Find something concrete to help measure your progress so you can see your ideas to fruition.

Stay healthy

Oddly enough, when reading what keeps other people inspired, the topic of health came up more than once. This makes sense though! If you prioritize a healthy diet and exercise, not only will you feel better, but the endorphines released during your workout last well beyond the 30 minutes of your routine.

Life often seems like a never ending to-do list. But when that to-do list has purpose behind it, it doesn’t seem as daunting. Living a balanced life while trying to accomplish our goals sometimes feels like an extreme sport, but as we entrepreneurs know, the reward is so worth it.

If you’re looking for more information to guide you in owning a retail business, subscribe to American Quilt Retailer today. Already a subscriber? No worries—join our Facebook group for insights and dialogue from industry specialists like you.

 

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Dog Days of Summer

The dog days of summer are upon us. Friday afternoons are spent counting down the minutes and itching to leave. And Sunday scaries are even worse with coworkers taking advantage of their vacation time, knowing the week’s work load will be even more than it already is.

The weather is the best it’s going to be all year long, and yet I’m still completely uninspired.

Dog days of summer..png

Here are some suggestions to get through this summer slump.

  • Change your scene. That’s right, take a vacation and unplug, baby. Work will still be there when you get back. I know it requires some forethought but getting the heck out of dodge can help you appreciate everything you have when you return. And yes, it also stinks to come back to a pile of things to do, but to really ward off burnout make sure you take as much time as you need to come back feeling inspired and refreshed.
  • Read and write. As if we don’t do enough of that already. Reading anything and everything you can will broaden your knowledge, and writing it down will help you decipher those true strokes of genius when you stumble upon them in a long lost note in your phone.
  • Workout. Making time for the gym is definitely the hardest part about a workout (first find a routine that works for you), but making that time will make you a better boss/employee/creative/etc. in the long run. Take some time for you, let those endorphins release, and reap the benefits.
  • Bask in boring. That’s right, sometime our best ideas are born out of the most boring of days. That’s because our minds want and need to be stimulated. Once you think you’re going to go crazy, the creative gears start turning.

Don’t forget that it’s okay to take care of yourself, being a small business owner (and living out our dreams) requires hard work and means were constantly on the grind. If this summer is stifling your creative process, take some time to get back on track.

If you’re looking for more information to guide you in owning a retail business, subscribe to American Quilt Retailer today. Already a subscriber? No worries—join our Facebook group for insights and dialogue from industry specialists like you.