We interrupt this blog for an announcement.
I have a book for you.
Actually, I’m writing you a book. Like writing you a letter, but a book instead. Or a book-let. A booklet kinda thing.
A Book for You. I’m Writing You a Book. There, I said it again. I know the grammar is off but I don’t care. And BTW if you really, really care about those things you should prolly just skip my book anyway. Prolly.
OK, this is SCARY. Because now I announced that I’m doing this. And I’m feeling all the feels…
So my book – it’s not going to be War and Peace.
It’s more like a pocket guide to help you with those EVERY.DAY.ENTREPRENEUR experiences. Every darn day.
Like a little pistol you’d strap to your thigh if you were an international spy, it’s a little book(let) you could strap to you thigh to help you through the crazy brain moments.
Honest stories and tips – so you know you’re OK. You’re not doing it wrong, you’re on a journey like the rest of us.
Because Chekov and I agree, this every day living stuff – every day entrepreneuring, if you will – can really get to you.
“Any idiot can face a crisis; it’s this day-to-day living that wears you out.” ― Anton Chekhov
So true. Thus, the book/booklet/pocket guide I’m working on.
In this episode, I talk about what it’s REALLY like to run a business every single day. Other people just don’t understand.
I also ask you a favor. So if you’ve ever gotten value from this show, I hope you’ll consider it. 🙂
Listen now:
You can also listen on iTunes and Stitcher Radio
Mentioned in this episode:
- The essay I did for NPR (National Public Radio), A Grown-Up Barbie
About the favor I’m asking you…
How could my book help you?
After you listen to the episode, would you consider answering this question in the comments below? How could my book help you?? I can’t wait to read what you say!
Jane
Great you’re writing a little book! I’d like to ask, if an entrepreneur is showing up and being consistent with content and email marketing, what is a realistic timeline to expect a good amount of traffic and web sales to start coming in. And if there is not much increase in traffic, how much time should one give before deciding is it time to rethink the current content strategy?
Hi Sheela,
These are great questions and a lot depends on how often you’re promoting the content and in what ways. Just putting up content is not going to do much if you’re not driving traffic to it. If I put a new episode of the podcast out but I never send an email or put it on social media or do a Facebook or Instagram live video about it, not very many people will be listening. So I can’t give you a specific answer, but I will tell you that I ask my clients to commit to a specific strategy for three months minimum and then decide if they want to pay that. I hope that helps.
I think great reminders on how to link back to the customer are always needed! This seems to be a theme in your messaging that I sometimes forget but am always happy when you remind me!
Oh yes, it’s always about the customer. Thanks, Liz!
I definitely feel all alone on this journey. It might help me feel less all alone. Been directly at it for almost 5 years now and indirectly my entire adult life. Also, trying not to doubt myself and keeping back that choking feeling when things go wrong or it’s not happening fast enough or your pattern maker quits pattern making and gets a full time job, or the production shop cuts your fabric before you check the marker and it turns out the marker is way off and $800 worth of tencel/cashmere fabric has to be thrown away, etc., etc.
Oh my gosh Sally I think I’ve been through every single one of these things!! You are NOT alone.
One time my factory shut down for a month while the owner had a family emergency and I couldn’t get any of my stuff for a month – even though I could see my fabric and patterns through the window!!! And the time there was a mistake with the cutting ticket (mostly mine but sort of the cutter’s error too) and the bodice and skirt fabrics on a dress were reversed. Chiffon bodice was cut, velveteen circle skirt. Unbelievable and so disheartening – at the time. And then the $6,000 of dresses that turned green-ish when you dry cleaned them (metallic threads in the fabric hand woven in India) – ugh. The struggle is real. Especially when you said, “the marker is way off and $800 worth of tencel/cashmere fabric has to be thrown away.” For these types of reasons, I’m always harping on my clients and students to have better margins. Knowing there is wiggle room reduces your stress.
Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
Jane
Jane, Good luck with the book – You’ve put it out there in the universe and it shall surely come to pass. Your book would help me if you could talk about how to tangibly/organically raise capital to run the business while you are putting things in place. Especially when there’s no uncle or auntie to ask for help, and no mortgage or retirement account to raid in order to ‘go for your dream’. I’m talking about the money you need to start building and continue to build the foundation for the business even before you have any type of product on hand to sell. I’ve discovered that the set up of the business before you even launch the line can eat up so much of your start up funds – especially when it takes 2 – 5 years to finally get to a product launch. Paying for and maintaining these foundation items adds up over time. Some of them you really can’t avoid and must have in place and pay for over time – knowing how to creatively fund these in an on-going basis without depleting the amount you had plan to use to start the business will be extremely helpful.
Got it! I’ll work on how to help with “knowing how to creatively fund these in an on-going basis without depleting the amount you had plan to use to start the business”. Thanks, Akon!
Jane
I have also struggled with what to call my shorter books and have settled on guide, or tutorial, depending. You called it a pocket guide in the episode, and I think that’s perfect, because the length doesn’t necessarily affect the impact the guide can have.
And I want Jane Hamill in my pocket! What I love about your podcast is the combination, that I get no where else, of: a kick in the pants, incredible encouragement AND do-able step by step action steps that demystify marketing, all from someone who has been in the trenches and earned their stripes.
That’s what I’d like the book to be. Jane Hamill, the voice in my earbuds, also in book form, that I can pull from the pocket on my thigh, anytime, and get that boost of confidence, encouragement, and “this really isn’t that complicated, imperfect action is better than no action and consistency will win.”
Hi Eliane ! I always love hearing from you. 🙂 I appreciate your advice about the “pocket guide” I’m writing. I think you nailed it and I’m going to tape this on my wall as I write my essays…
This book is for my clients. It’s “the voice in your earbuds, in book form, that you can pull from the pocket on your thigh, anytime, and get that boost of confidence, encouragement, and “this really isn’t that complicated, imperfect action is better than no action and consistency will win.”
Boom. If feels right and it will give me the motivation and direction I need, THANK YOU!
Jane
1. Quick reference guide to reliable production companies like sewers, pattern makers, etc.
2. How to spot dishonest production companies wanting to steal ideas
3. Simple first steps
4. How much initial capital is needed to produce: e.g. a small clothing line
5. What not to waste time on. E.g. – the many classes, coaching, programs, fund raising platforms that charge so much
Thanks Rose!
Keep explanations simple because most of us have ideas swirling around in our head all the time, getting to the point explanations stick with me for a longer time. My Fav…is perfect is good, done is better. On another note, it would have been helpful to have a simple list to follow for designing to keep me on track. For example…..First get drawing and idea, then make pattern, get pattern to fit well, then grade pattern…..then look for fabric, I was doing it backwards which ended up with lots of fabric and a few patterns that work in a few sizes, not really reading for selling. This would be for designing. But if there was a checklist in order for designing, then other checklists in the same suit, like to sell online, checklist for website, then for social media, etc. Maybe some really great simple sayings to keep us focused on what is important, for example, how to keep family first, how to help family and friends understand your need for design time, etc. What would I love to see? Your fabulous at being just dog, raw honest. I love that, good and bad, your approach helps me to feel normal. I love it when you kids interrupt your videos (you probably don’t) but that is how my life is and I would not change it for the world, your world seems normal to me and I so appreciate that, Keep being GENUINE, it is working for you, besides once people start working in the industry they see through all the bull and we come back to those you are real! Many blessings for your book, can’t wait to get a copy!
Thanks for your input, Sherri!
we have benefited immensely from your no-nonsense advice
so take our suggestions as OUR experience which may or may not be applicable
– very little real research is done by entrepeneurs on who their customers REALLY are – they think they know ( oh they must .. ) .. but don’t actually – it’s off the top of their head – or the classic mistake which you’ve pointed out many times of filling a line or boutique with things that YOU like …
and getting past the information overload blur is harder & harder – ppl are just tuned out
– so how about sending out a survey to your readers to give to THEIR CUSTOMERS
and get some crowdsourced CUSTOMER WHO/WHAT feedback
how do you buy
when & how do you shop ( at work, online, after kids in bed )
do you just use your phone these days
do you read email any more
would you open a hand-addressed envelope ( we send all our new customers a TY with coupons for friends )
rank what you use for recommendations – Google, Yelp, friends
what are the obstacles to visiting a physical store
where do you actually shop for clothing
what are your favorite colors, bright ?, pastel?, b&w?, patterns?
what do you like about Amazon / dislike ( and other online venues you use )
if they’re a “good” customer ( like maybe 2-3 time buyer ) .. ask them “I know it
might sound a little weird, but could you give me a guided tour of your closet?”
after the initial surprised look most people say yes, and they have a blast and
become really loyal customers
etc
Thanks Rebecca!! This is a terrific response and has my brain spinning with ideas.
Jane
Hi Jane,
How are you doing this is Jorden Mercury, you know this is not a joke but I am not sure that you know how important yout voice is to others you have this Joy that comes throught the phone and it really lift peoples sprit, because you care for people and you reconized that no one of us in this world is perfect also GOD bless you I have to believe that you are a born again beliver. I love you positiveness keep going.
about this question you ask what can you do for me in this every day living of life, i put it in my words. Life is a journey we have to live it some roads are straight some are curve some are steep some are sloope some are rockie other you might even have to clear because they have not been used for a long time, now it is our turn to take that journey and we have to face it with everything in us when we reconized that to have gotton to a place that it seem as thought we cant take down the mountains we step back walk away relax and get back to it again then we can continued. I am sure you have gotton some of these time also, can you recall some of those moments and those day and share what you did to overcome. Life is always going to have truma so we have to live with it.
Thanks for sharing I hope this was helpfull
Jorden
Hi Jane,
A book sounds great!
I would love a step by step on how to run a pre-launch – launch event on Instagram. How to build anticipation, how to run the launch/sale, how to manage the sales from the event.
Also, how often to pitch stores and templates on what to say and when to say it. Examples of 1st through last email templates to stores – what to say and when.
How to run finances from bootstrapping from your personal bank acct to moving to biz acct.
The break down of what profit is as opposed to paying yourself and what the biz is supposed to make, etc.
Thanks!
Love the book idea! They come in handy for me. I found several ideas above that would interest me. I would be interested in finding out more on how to figure in how to pay myself as the business starts and grows. Currently I am taking Shannon Lohrs Factory 45 class and am almost at the end, something you recommended about a year ago. I am nervous about my income, and am weak in this area-
Thanks for the time and have fun with the process writing it!
Thanks for your comment, Wendy! Love it — ‘how to pay myself as my business starts and grows”. I hope Factory 45 is going great for you! Appreciate your input,
Jane
Hi Again Jane,
I just heard one of your podcasts that discussed press releases. This is another topic that would be very useful to flush out in detail. What are they and how to, etc…
Thanks!
Got it! Thanks, Kathy.
Jane
Hi Jane!
I’m super excited for your book!
I’d love to see some advice in your book about how to take a little break when you feel burnt out without totally shooting yourself in the foot for the rest of your business. I’d also love some tools and advice for helping to step back and reassess my longer-term business and life goals and priorities during a mini-break from the daily grind.
Will you be at the LA Textile Show this year? Hoping to make it to a workshop of yours while I’m there.
Thanks!
Rachelle