APRIL LOVE 2016: 05 Intution

Dear Intuition,

I met your friend Empathy, when I was still a teen. I didn’t know what it was, yet I knew how it felt. When I asked my mother, why could I literally FEEL what other people were feeling, sh replied “That is because you are an EMPATH and you have the ability to not just know or understand what others are going through, you can FEEL what they are feeling and are able to connect with them. That is your intuition of feelings for your fellow person.”

I was a mere 14 at the time and was dumbfounded by this and really struggled with understanding this and knowing how to handle it. As I grew older in age, I started realizing things from here to there that I was more AWARE of those feelings as well as KNOWLEDGE about things in my life that made me learn and grow and SEE things before others did. I just KNEW when I was pregnant with my first child within the exact moment it happened. When I told my mother this, she said ” Ah INTUITION has arrived to the party!” At a mere 19 going on 20 now, I felt still unsure about what all of that meant.

Through the years as I aged,  more and more I because very AWARE of things. I could feel it in my gut, my heart knew the answers before I did, and my hands tingled when I sensed things.

Ah, yes this what INTUITION must feel like.

in·tu·i·tion

ˌint(y)o͞oˈiSH(ə)n/

noun

1. the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.

   “we shall allow our intuition to guide us”

   synonyms:

   instinct, intuitiveness; More

   • a thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning.

     plural noun: intuitions

     “your insights and intuitions as a native speaker are positively sought”

     synonyms:

     hunch, feeling (in one’s bones), inkling, (sneaking) suspicion, idea,sense, notion; premonition, presentiment; informalgut feeling, gut instinct “this confirms an intuition I had”

I KNEW things before others did. It was like a feeling inside me that I knew without a shadow of a doubt, even though I would have NO facts to support my claim. But I just KNEW it! I would INSIST that I knew it even! (premonitions, hunch)

I would have these “uneasy” feelings about things I was unsure of  or just knew they were wrong or at least not the right thing or answer for me. (hunches, gut feelings of queasiness)

In business, I had HUNCHES about which tradeshows to go to, which people to or not to do business with, I would see red flags in my head, trying to warn me of danger or someone or something that would or could harm me. (Sense, notions)

It was like the universe was nudging me to make leaps and jump into things. (Inklings)

I would have that “sneaky suspicion” when others were lying to me or not telling me the whole story. (suspicion)

I would stop in my tracks because I sensed something, like an animal who in the middle of walking would just STOP, LOOK AROUND, AND PAUSE before going on. (Sense)

I IMPULSIVELY jump into business deals, hiring someone and pivoting my business on a  dime. (notion)

I would know the answer before someone could answer. When we were asked to call family this past January, immediately I knew my mother in law had passed away. I knew at 3 am in the morning that my sister’s dog had died in the kennel after need diabetic medicine. I knew our house sold before we actually heard the news. I didn’t know HOW I just KNEW.(Premonition)

I have a STRONG business INSTINCT of who to do business with or when to take a deal or move forward in my business. (instinct)

All of these are you, my dear friend INTUITION, yet it took some time before I really knew you were there, until I fully believed all those things I KNEW and FELT.

Doctors and therapist are amazed at how SELF AWARE I am. They may not see things I do and at first disagree then I will tell them I am SURE of my ailments or issue before they even take xrays or get back test results.

When I was young, I felt you were a curse. It was almost too much to bear to have all this knowledge and insight and feelings and senses so readily available and surrounding me. In my 30s and 40s, now, I relish in the joys of you. I welcome you with open arms and embrace you in a warming hug that I never want to let go.

But it wasn’t until 2011, when I was 41, that you fully came to live in my home, in my heart and in my life. Once I truly saw you and accepted you and understood, you have been there fully ever since.

I have Brave Girls Club to thank for that. The Soul Restoration I and II course that I did with Melody Ross and her sister Kathy explained my soul to me so well that I was able to see you, hear you, touch you and embrace you in my life, fully, whole-heartedly and completely.

Now, I protect my soul house fiercely!

Now I know when I need to listen to the Soul Restoration and Soul Strength playlist to reconnect me.

Now I know my soul and my intuition have united!

I cherish you and now KNOW when you are not there and when I need to connect with you again because I yearn for you when you are gone and miss you. At times, I am running in circles, and dealing with drama and chaos and then you show up again SUDDENLY waving your arms in from of me TRYING to tell me things or to warn me.

You are my love, my life my soul.

Thank you for showing up in my life.

Thank you for helping me shine.

Thank you for never giving up  on me.

Thank you, to the Universe, for this lovely gift we call “Intuition”

XOXO,

TrishaTrixie

Trisha also does Intuitive Counseling, Candle Readings,Tarot Readings, Energy Work, Mindfulness Maven, Guided Meditations, Art Therapy and Envisioning Vision Boards.

To find out more about her services, please go to the Services tab in this website. While you’re there, feel free to look around at what other amazing gifts she has to offer!

TRISHATRIXIE IS A SOLOPRENEUR, EMPOWERMENT GURU, LIFE DESIGNER, PASSIVE “EXPERTISE” INCOME EXPERT, PINUP MODEL AND SPRINKLER OF FABULOUSNESS. SHE IS THE FOUNDER OF TRISHATRIXIE DESIGNS, TRISHA TRIXIE AND COMPANY, THE GOOD OF SISTERHOOD, JUSTE ETRE: JUST BE, MS. COURAGE, AND THE PEP CLUB. HER AND HER NEWLYWED SPOUSE BEN (OFTEN KNOWN AS HUNEPANTS) LIVE IN CENTENNIAL, COLORADO AS NEW RESIDENTS (TRANSPLANTED FROM IOWA, VIA CALIFORNIA, VIA EVERYWHERE ELSE) AND RESIDING WITH THEM IS THEIR 3 CATS, MISS IVY, MR. BOOTIES, AND MR. DUDE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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April 6, 2016April 6, 2016 by TrishaTrixie™ Categories: #AprilLove2016, AprilLoveLetters2016, The Trixie Times: TrixieLand LifeTags: Aware, Brave Girls Club, Business, gut feelings of queasiness, hunch, Inklings, Intu, Intuition, KNEW, KNOWLEDGE, Life, Melody Ross, notions, premonitions, Self Aware, Sense, Soul, Soul Restoration, Soul Strength, suspicion, TrishaTrixie, uneasy

Behind my Buffer curtain

What I seek is what I post.

Yes. It really is that simple.

To see “behind the curtain” of Trisha Trixie is to know me. If you don’t know me, just follow me on Social Media and you soon will.

My mind is always racing. I have an overactive imagination as well as a very overactive mind. I sometimes think my brain is like a 3 year old’s brain. In the 3 year old stage, from what I can remember about my kids, 3 is that “WHY” stage. Why is the sky blue? Why is the dirt black? How do I do this or that?

Yep. That is my brain.

What you may not know until now however, is that you get to see the results of all those questions through Buffer tools.

I have the Buffer extension added to my Chrome browser and for me, it has been the best benefit in the world. Depending on what your interest is, yours too.

What I do is look up images, quotes or articles on google Search and I go through them to find the answer, image or quote I am looking for. Then, I open them in a new tab so I can read them more or find the quotes I am looking for.

All I have to do is click on the Buffer Extension and this magic thing happens. Like transforming into a new dimension, a buffer window pops up and asks me which social media account I would like to post to.

The kewl thing is if I already have certain accounts checked off, it makes the posting into my Buffer that much easier! Every now and then, I want to post something to a different account and all I have to do is select that account. Sometimes, I realize that I don’t have the accounts checked that I plan on posting to, so I open another tab with all my accounts at Buffer.com so I can check them off and then when I go back to my searching and posting, it makes it easier for me.

That is just one of my workaround skills, but it’s a good one for me. It works for me, at least. Then I can right back into #BufferMode (as I call it) and Buffering away!

I love BufferMode!

Every weekend and sometimes on Friday, if biz is a bit slower, I go into BufferMode. I sit down with a timer and a purpose. I do my searching, I Buffer or Pablo images, maybe grab something off the Buffer Mood Board and add it to my Buffer queue, schedule it or every now and then something strikes a chord in me and I just must Share IT Now, and you know what? I can do that because Buffer lets me! I LOVE THAT!

Buffer has been my automation find of the century.

I have taught many people about Buffer and how to use it to their advantage, from Realtors, to Small Businesses, to Entrepreneurs or SoloPreneuers, StartUps, Growth Hackers, to anyone who will listen!

If you ask me, Buffer is the way to go!

Until next time,

XoXo TrishaTrixie

TrishaTrixie is a SoloPreneur, Empowerment Guru, Life Designer, Passive “Expertise” Income Expert, PinUp Model and Sprinkler of Fabulousness. She is the Founder of TrishaTrixie Designs, Trisha Trixie and Company, The Good of Sisterhood, Juste Etre: Just Be, Ms. Courage, and The PEP Club.Her and her newlywed spouse Ben (often known as HunEPants) live in Centennial, Colorado as new residents (transplanted from Iowa, via California, via everywhere else) and residing with them is their 3 cats, Miss Ivy, Mr. Booties, and Mr. Dude.

 

 

April 4, 2016April 3, 2016 by TrishaTrixie™ Categories: Hints, The Trixie Times: TrixieLand Life, Tips, TricksTags: Automation, Automation Tools, Buffer Extension, Buffer is awesome, Buffer Mood Board, BufferMode, Business, Entreprenuer, Growth Hacking, marketing, Pablo by Buffer, Realtors, small biz, Small Business, Social Media, SoloPrenuer, Startup, Tools

Trixie Tech Tip and Tools: My Money is on Buffer

Everything is Awesome

We all have that thing, that app or site or tip or tool. You know what I mean, that one thing, that when asked

“If I had to pick ONE thing to start the year right, or to grow my biz the way I need to and want to, what would be that one thing, the #1 thing I could do to change my business this year, what would it be?”

BUFFER

Yep, Buffer.com

I found Buffer on @Twitter and thought I would give it a try. I was drawn in by their candor and demeanor online.  They were lighthearted and even fun posts about business and what they offer. They have Buffer chats where you answer a question or two they ask. Many followers of Buffer participate in their Buffer chats. Plus, I really love their attitude. I feel that Buffer has that

je ne sais quoi

ˌZHə nə sā ˈkwä/

noun

 

1. a quality that cannot be described or named easily.

   “that je ne sais quoi that makes a professional”

Many of the people, I noticed,  at Buffer work remote. Everyone seems to really love their job at Buffer or they wouldn’t be there. I like how they treat their employees. I am always amazed at what they offer their employees, but understand now why they join and why they stay. The wording they use on services they offer is also desirable. Words like “The Awesome Plan”. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a part of Awesome?

Yes, they have a free plan and honestly, I think it’s great. When I tell people about Buffer, that is one of the first things I tell them. Go online, try it out. They even have a free plan you can get started with. If you need a little bit more, they have the Awesome Plan which is only $10 a month.

What an investment! Only $10 a month and I can reach my audience with more content, better ways to share my content and fun tools to do it with? Where do I sign up? Www.buffer.com 

What I really LOVE about Buffer

I am a one woman band. I am banging the drum, clapping the cymbals and playing the harmonica. That’s how I see myself anyway. To be able to be a successful entrepreneur,, more so a successful SoloPrenuer, you have to have the right tools to get you where you desire to go.

The term SoloPreneur is of course a blend of the adjective solo meaning ‘done by one person alone’ and the noun entrepreneur, which refers to someone who starts their own business and is good at spotting and securing the best business opportunities.

Often I get asked “How do you do as much as you do? I always see you online, you have made a presence for yourself, and you are successful. How do you manage to do all that and more? Easy…Buffer.com Buffer is my #1 so to as the best business opportunity because it gives me an opportunity to focus on other tasks I really need to. Buffer helps me handle my Social Media so I can do the rest, efficiently.

Since many are new to Buffer I will tell you what I tell people in person and what I say in praises about this tool…

“Buffer is similar to HootSuite, however, instead of YOU having to take the time to schedule when everything post goes out, Buffer has already figured out the algorithms for you. It knows how many times to post that post on Twitter, or Facebook. It knows how often it needs to go out for each social media tool. For instance, Twitter posts need to go out more often than Facebook or Pinterest posts. The cool thing is, you don’t have to worry about that. You just create, then Buffer.

I like to schedule some of my posts, I just don’t have time to do that for all of them. I know others who need to have that control and the great thing Buffer can do it for you. How you schedule your posts and articles is up to you.

You’re in luck! Buffer also has that option! There are a couple of ways to schedule a post. You schedule it to go out once at a certain time and day, or you can schedule it yourself to go out as many times on Twitter as you want, or to go out more than once to Facebook. It is all up to you. You decide if you want Buffer to help or you want the reins. Or perhaps a little of both, which is how I do it. I schedule a few I know I want to go out at a certain time, and then mostly let Buffer do the rest.”

But wait! there’s more!

The Buffer ExtensionThe Buffer Extension for me is the great things since sliced, homemade bread. (That’s the bestest of the best) Now, whenever I am reading my articles or see an image online I can either choose to Buffer it, schedule it or add it to Pablo with one click to open the extension and then I choose which account to post it to, now, buffer, or scheduled.

Who is Pablo? The real question is not who but what?

What is Pablo?

Buffer also has Pablo. I  imagine Pablo similar to a sign twirler. It is like the

Bad Ass Picture ToolOn Pablo, you can use their images and quotes and/or create you own. As a PinUp model, I like to use my pictures to help brand my company. I mean, for me, I AM my brand so using my pictures just seems like logical and smart branding.

You go to Pablo, upload your image, add a quote or some wise words to say, the share image. You can change the height or width by choosing wide, square or tall , depending on which Social Media you plan to share it on. Then you add it to your Buffer or Share the Image right away.

You can also use the extension tool and add it to Pablo, then use the suggested quote, scroll through the quotes or post as is to you Social Media streams you have chosen on Buffer.

Here is an example of one of my Pablo Posts…

I just uploaded my picture, entered my quote, added the Secondary text with my website so I can be found and get some click overs to my site. I Buffered it to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and Pinterest. When I do pictures, I get way more clicks and engagement then when I just do a text post. I love this feature and plan to use Pablo a lot more this year as I see in my Buffer analytics that pictured posts had a higher ROR  (Rate of Return) for my sites and my business. Posting this on multiple social media streams helped me reach the users who reside on those sites and streams.

Social Media StreamsThere are many choices of Social Media streams you can choose to add to your buffer. You can add Pinterest, Google Pages, Facebook Profiles and Pages, Twitter profile, LinkedIn Profile and LinkedIn Pages or Groups. I had some LinkedIn Groups attached for awhile and my Facebook Model page, but when I went through my analytics from Buffer, I saw that those two had low to to no engagement so this year I switched around a few choices to see if I get better engagement on Pinterest this year. Plus I currently am taking a break off Facebook, but i do have some Facebook items Buffered, so my audience is still getting what they need without me having to onto the site.

You know what’s Awesome? Buffer, Pablo, Respondly….everything is awesome!

What are you waiting for? Go to Buffer and start your year off right! #IVoteBufferfor2016 #bufferhasmyvote #VoteBufferin2016 #BufferisAwesome #BufferisFabulous

Have you heard the news, Buffer is Awesome!

Now go…do…be great…no,…

Be Fabulous!

January 15, 2016 by TrishaTrixie™ Categories: SoloPrenuer Sweets, Trixie Tech Tips & ToolsTags: Awesome, Awesome Plan, Buffer Extension, Buffer is awesome, Business, Business opportunities, Desires, Entreprenuer, Everything is Awesome, FAcebook, Focus, Google, GooglePlus, Group, Hootsuite, Lego, Legos, Model, One Woman Band, Pablo, Pablo by Buffer, Page, Picture, Pinterest, PinUp, Profile, Quotes, Resondly, Scheduling, Social Media, SoloPrenuer, Streams, Tech, Tips, Tools, TrishaTrixie, Trixie, Twitter

Catapult Your Business

Are you ready to catapult your business, then you might want to check this out!

https://businesscatapult.com

This is a great resource to log into, give them the required information and Jump Start your business to the next level!

Give it a whirl. What else have you got to lose?

August 1, 2015 by TrishaTrixie™ Categories: Fashion FabulousTags: Business, Catapult, Entreprenuer, JumpStart, Startup

You want to be small fry or a big fry?

You wanna make $10 or $10,000?

That is the ultimate question.  Indie sites, like Etsy, Farmer’s Markets, and Vendors shows as well as many of these other small handmade businesses are great. You are making money here and there. But after talking with a mentor this week the big question loomed out there.

do I want to do my passion and potentially make no money or do I want to be in business? This is the difference i the $10/$10,000…seriously.

Making money on Etsy is fine for some. It’s $10 here or there. If you are fine with that, then great. I have no problem with that. Maybe you only desire to have a little spending money. Or maybe you just want to earn something for what you love to do.

However, if you want to play with the big kids here is a few things I learned yesterday I actually had no real awareness about til now…

Today I am doing research on Business Models. This is not a model like walking down a runway. I am talking about the Business Model for your company or Brand…aka what you are selling.

• For every product you make you have to look at it as 1,000 items not one.
• If Modcloth, or Rebel Circus or QVC Lori Greiner from Shark Tank Modcloth wanted to sell my product I would need to make 1,000 of the same item to be sold in their inventory. That is how it works. (Ok I kinda knew a bit about this but not as much as I learned yesterday)
• Every product you decide to make you have to ask yourself if this product is worthy of 1,000 of the same item being made?
• Is this product something you want known as your brand?
• Is this product something you desire to make 1,000 of?
• Then there are the channels….
  • That is where you are selling your product or item
  • Retail
  • Consignment
  • Drop Ship
  • Etsy
  • Goodsmiths
  • Square Market
  • Shopify
  • Other
• This is all alot to take in even for me and I know there is SO much m ore I am not even touching on because well, honestly, I don’t know it all. 🙂

I found this online and really like the explanation of it so I thought I would share…

• 
• I also found this explanation of Goods on Wiki that I think is helpful as well http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_good 
• Learning about your Goods and what you have and where it fits in this stream is a good thing to know.
• I think it makes a difference in how you move forward…
• I am currently looking up Business Models of brands I like and that inspired me.
• Uniqlo is one of them. Here is their model
• 

I am a lover of Modcloth. So when I was doing research for this blog I found this little diddy and fell in love with the story. Check out how Modcloth made it here http://mashable.com/2013/08/13/modcloth-scaling/

I am going to drop off this subject with this little board I saw and think this might be a good thing to find inmy notes from Leonie Dawson and Right Brain business Plan…I have something like this from them..Might be a good place to restart my engines..

Now we move onto to channels (or what I am learning about them anyway)

This is the old way

This is the new way (or so it seems to be the most)…Shop Channel sites like ones I mentioned earlier

• Etsy
• Goodsmiths
• SquareMarket
• Shopify
• IndieMade
• other (What are you using that I don’t have in this list so I can update my list…please comment)

My mentor challenged me to a couple of “homework” items to make some changes to change my thinking and how I am doing business based on the answer I gave him..

Which was..

I want to make $10,000, be in business and get off this presipus I am on.

Step one:

I need to make it easier for my customers to buy off my website. I have a lot of people who say they love my site www.trishatrixie.com 

but the feedback from my customers is they have a hard time finding out HOW to buy things and WHERE to get things, HOW to order a custom Apron or Accesorry and so forth.

So I have to fix that.

I have these channels:

Brick and Mortor Stores:

Inspired Locally

Burlesque Hall of Fame

Green Goods for the Home

then I have two channels for online stores

Goodsmiths for my Comic Creations (Actions Aprons/ Superhero Inspired pieces etc)

and

Square Market for everything else

(I have two because Goodsmiths does not currently have an Andoird Swipe and Square does. However I have an Itouch and am going to test out if I can use the Swipe on the Itouch and that might alleviate some things)

then I have a Fashion Question Form for them to order Custom (but yet even that form is still unclear)

However people aren’t getting it…which leads to step two

Step Two…

Clean out old inventory if it did not sell.

Post pictures of current inventory ON my website and lead /drive them to the online channels

Have the picture DIRECT link to the BUY page of that item (why didn’t I think of that!!!?)

Step Three:

Take time to focus on my Residual Income idea now that I have the time because the third challenge is gonna be the hardest for me as a designer…

DON’T CREATE/MAKE ANYTHING ELSE

I whined…

so he said “Okay, don’t make anything new until something old is sold”

I can do that. 🙂

Now driving business to the page..and I learned it should be one page. This again, was a nice reinforcement as I somewhat already knew this. I used to have a apge for one thing, and then another page for another type and I had one prifle for one thing and one profile for another and so on. When I noticed Danielle La Porte and Susan Barconi Moe and many others were consolidating and turning everything to ONE palce to find it all, that’s when I started adopting this. I may have a few FB pages, but they all lead back to me.

My website it the same. I know (and listen up if you are not following this rule) that all your products should be able to be handled and found on ONE page. It is not good to have a page for one type of product and one page for another type. You WANT people to get to know YOU, your BRAND, who YOU are and to TRUST that brand. If you throw something new it, add it to your current brand under a different line. If your current brand or website does not embody that, then perhaps it is time for a change and time to rebirth your brand. Make your Business name or Brand so unique but simple no matter what you do could be under that brand. Thus why I am Trisha Trixie. Everything that I am falls under that. PinUp. Model. Fashionista. Blogger. Designer.

To some degree I am doing this, but since my shop sites are separate this has been where most of the confusion lies and why it has been an issue.

This has been a struggle for me which is why I was thinking oh I need a merchant account site or I need to pay and so on. How many of us in businesses like this think that way. But in the long run, I knwo there are workarounds and since WordPress.com offers FREE hosting, I have not wanted to go that route. I stare at pages like Shopify and groan thinking “but I like my site. Others like my site. Can’t I just make it better?”

Hopefully, with these changes and updates, I can.

So back to driving business to my ONE page. www.trishatrixie.com

Driving business I think is easier now that we have Social Media outlets like these…

I have seen a vast amount of upscale in sales since I have been using Twitter. But I do not have measureable goals and stats to prove that.

So that is Step Four:

Start Measuring.

Look at stats.

See what is working and what is not. Remove what is not. Make what is working better.

Hopefully, with all of this I will be able to proceed to the next level of sales. Also in cutting down what I am making perhaps it will allow me more time to work on the website idea I am doing, blog to drive more traffic, have time to write articles for magazines and start generating a different drive essentially thus again upping my sales.

Lastly,

as I said in the beginning. If you are fine with the way it is. Then that’s great. I enjoy designing, making creating,  but I want more. Or, at least I think I do. With these tips we will see if I can do things this way. I think this will also answer my questions on Passion or Business?

I realize this means not as much creating and that is the positive sacrifice I am willing to take right now.

My desire (#CDF) in the end is to be #Profitable (ned to add) and these others listed here…

I am for the path that takes me there…

My yellow brick road is mine to color, create, sparkle and lead me to however I desire to go. It is up to me to lay each brick down the right way. Otherwise I could end up in some crazy tree land with poppies that steeer me off my path.

I will find my Oz.

One way…or another…I’m gonna find it…

Xoxo Trisha Trixie

One little tidbit I found for ya as I was looking for imags to add to this. Ways to Make Gobs of Money. Check it out.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/9-ways-gobs-money-seriously-123000074.html

July 30, 2014 by TrishaTrixie™ Categories: Lessons Learned, Trisha TrixieTags: Amazing Biz Life Academy, Big Fry, Burlesque, Business, Business Model, BusinessModel, Channels, Clients, Consignment, consumers, Consumption, Consveration, Creation, Customer Relations, Customer Segments, Customers, Desires, Digital Marketing, Distibutors, Distribution, Drive, Driving Business, Etsy, Fashion, Goods, Goodsmiths, Green Goods for the Home, Inspired Locally, Inventory, Key Activities, Key Partners, Key Resources, Leonie Dawson, Lori Greiner, Manufacturers, marketing, Measuring, Modcloth, Offers, outlets, Passion, Pin-Up, PinUp, product, Production, Products, QVC, REbel Circus, Retail, Retailers, Right Brain Business Plan, Shark Tank, Shark Tank Modcloth, Shopify, Small fry, Social Media, Square, Statistics, Trisha Trixie, TrishaTrixie, Wholesale

Bootstrapping

I never knew until recently what that word meant. I did not realize it applied to how I run my business. Most people know Bootstrapping to be

“By the sweat of my brow” or “By the seat of my pants” type of financially funding for their business.

I was at a network luncheon and overheard the term and when explained I realized, oh, that’s me, that’s what I do. OR at least what I have tried to do. Even that I feel at times is failing. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with failing. IT helps you see what not to do, it helps you see things in true colors and also helps you learn how to manage things and what works and doesn’t for you financially and profitably.

Here are a few places I found some information on “Bootstrapping”

Bootstrapping, getting a lot done on very little cash

http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/bootstrapping

“It’s never easy, and it’s not always glamorous, but bootstrapping will force you to become a better, stronger entrepreneur with a more vibrant business. “

http://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2013/02/06/8-ways-bootstrapping-makes-you-a-better-entrepreneur/

Entrepreneurs who bootstrap have a major advantage: They can operate in relative secrecy for a period of time, staying off the radar as they fund their own operations. And that can make all the difference in maneuvering around competitors and building a great product

For most start-ups, bootstrapping is an essential first stage because it:

• Demonstrates the entrepreneur’s commitment and determination.
• Keeps the company focused.
• Allows the business concept to mature more into a product or service.
• Gives the concept a chance to be vetted by the market.
• Allows some milestones to be achieved.

Relatively early in the process, before you get deeply in debt, decide how far you want to go on personal financial risk (such as by depleting your savings, selling off your stock portfolio, liquidating your 401(k), taking equity out of your home, running up your credit cards, or pledging personal guarantees). This will help you know when to move beyond bootstrapping to finance the business.

Primary sources of the cash necessary for bootstrapping are from the start-up entrepreneur. These include:

• Cash from savings.
• Borrowing against assets, such as your home.
• The careful use of selected credit cards.
• Keeping your day job, while starting the business in off-hours.
• Living off your spouse’s wages while starting the company.
• Doing consulting work to provide start-up cash for the business and for living expenses.
• Rushing an early product to market to provide for early revenues and earnings.
• Running extremely frugal operations, allowing the company to grow on internally generated cash earned on the sales of products.

These are some tactics to stretch your bootstrapped cash runway:

• Lease or borrow the equipment you need to acquire new, such as computers.
• Buy fixed assets such as furniture used or from “fire sales.”
• Go as long as humanly possible without paying yourself.
• Compensate advisers and consultants with equity, good will, and in-kind services. Salaries end up being the largest part of expenses and once you start paying, you can’t cut them off. You will also end up paying FICA and other related expenses which drive up actual cash expenses significantly.
• Call in past favors and rely on personal relationships to get things done for free.
• Use lawyers and accountants to help you with judgment issues, not basic education issues. Negotiate the delay of payments for services until the company is funded. Use public sources to learn the basic parameters before starting the fee clock.
• Be frugal everywhere-drive instead of flying, choose cheap hotels, and use your personal computer and printer.
• Find out the real, unmet need versus shotgun marketing to drum up unqualified sales leads. Spend money on marketing only if you must.
• Post job openings and see who applies. Many will be unemployed people that will work for deferred compensation or equity with the hope of someday getting cash payment.
• Network everywhere to leverage connections and personal introductions by others.
• Get to know the people from whom you hope to get money before you desperately need it.
• Keep records of all out-of-pocket expenses. Once you raise money, you may be able to reimburse yourself first before taking a salary to lessen tax issues.

Continue bootstrapping as long as possible, but know when it’s time to seek investors. Postponing fund-raising to the extreme can cripple the company, especially when the window of opportunity is short (as is often the case in technology start-up companies). Potential investors will recognize and value your bootstrapping resourcefulness in starting your company.

http://www.entrepreneurship.org/resource-center/bootstrapping.aspx

Cohesive to this term is “entrepreneurship”

the process of identifying and starting a new business venture, sourcing and organizing the required resources, while taking both the risks and rewards associated with the venture.”

I have been an entrepreneur for a few businesses now. I would have to say the fashion business I am in for the past year and a half has been the most rewarding as well a the most challenging and daunting.

My definition…

Entrepreneurship=Bravery to try it all out in the first place, Courage to try new things, Determination to keep going when those things fail (and they will), Drive to succeed- no matter what, preparation to change that definition of success, the willingness to fail, the strength to get back up again, the thick skin to be tough what other say against your business AND you, gratitude for every aspect of what it takes to run a business, late nights, early mornings, and most of all the passion to smile through it all because it means something to you.

Until next time,

Xoxo Trisha Trixie

June 3, 2014 by TrishaTrixie™ Categories: Fashion FabulousTags: Bootstrapping, Bravery, Business, Captial, committment, Courage, determination, Drive, entrepreneur, Entrepreuner, Financial, financial risk, focused, fund raising, Funding, Manage, milestones, Newtworking, Paying yourself, Profit, rewards, risks, secrecy, vetting, vibrant

More Vendor Planning Lessons Learned

When I did Vendor Planning years ago the market was such a different market. For one we did not have Facebook that people would expect to message you on and reach out to you. Honestly I wish I could turn off FB Messenger just for that reason. It is not a viable way or means of reaching out to someone as not everyone uses it and some people never look at it.

Also, back then everything was handwritten contracts and checks. Now I am happy that the internet allows us to use Paypal and Square to make that more seamless as I can’t even tell you how many bounced checks I would get or how many people would show up saying they would pay me on that day and then never would.

But still, even with those issues, I would rather be back in that time of Event Planning. I used to plan Weddings, Birthday Parties, Office Parties, Launch Parties and Vendor Parties. It was so different then. The people were different, the expectations we different, and for vendor events, the vendors were different.

Nowadays we have the younger generation of vendors who have entitlement issues expecting that they just show up, paly on the phone and people should WANT to stop by their booth and buy from them. This is not the case. You need to be proactive. Just showing up does nothing. Stand up. Greet your customer. Look ready to do business with them. If you are playing on your phone you are not prepared to meet or greet them and they often will just walk by you. The person next to you who IS engaged and proactive will end up then getting that business. That is not the vendor next to you’s fault that you don’t know how to get a customer or a sale.

Every vendor show I have recently done has allowed me to learn a new set of rules, ideas and thoughts abotu teh shows tht I want to share with you because I feel honestly, maybe people just don’t know these things.

None of these are a personal attack on anyone, it is merely lessons I learned and things for you to take note on.

Vendor Kids and Babies:

Having your child stop by, having them sit with you for the first hour, or the last, this I understand.  Vendor kidlets need to stay home otherwise. If your child is old enough to have their own mini booth or help you do sales, that is a different issue. I used to go to the Swap Meet at 8 years old and help my grandpops. Children get ancy,  babies cry, these are all human nature for their age. I understand about them being children.  However, a vendor show is not the right venue to bring them because it stifles that child in them. Even a 4 hour show is a LONG time for a child to have to try and be quiet, most especially a baby.

I understand there are issues and reasons why you can’t, but professional courtesy is to tell the planner your situation if you really have no one else or if the husband is away. It makes it easier for the planner to combat off remarks from guests or vendors.

Replacement Vendors: Even if you have everything covered with the planner, it is up to each new vendor to reach out and connect. Not only is it professional it assures you and the planner that you and they have everything ready for you and there are no surprises with tables  not being there for you. Another planner I spoke with this week said she doesn’t even allow replacements. I think this rule is something I need to adopt as well. This last show I had THREE replacements and one didn’t even tell me it was going to be someone else until they showed up.  As a planner, make it clear what you allow because this can get sticky. Believe me, I know.  I have had to deal with the aftermath of this situation since this last show because of it.

Toil Trouble or should I say Toilet: If you are at an event, don’t use wads of TP. Also, don’t use a vendors toilet for your Teet from the Seat time or (sorry to be so blunt) use it to take the dump of a lifetime. And if you clog it up, be mature enough to say so. A floor full of water and an out of order toilet doesn’t help the rest of the vendors, or the guests who are trying to enjoy the show. Guests have to go home to or someone else to facilitiate themselves, they walk out with the business they were going to give you. 😦

Be Prepared: Not every vendor or craft show has tables and chairs. It is up to you to have those items for yourself. Always bring them with you EVEN IF the vendor says they have one for you. Then in case there is a mishap, one doesn’t get held for you, or there is a miscommunication,  you are covered. Also make sure you have your tablecloths, swipe card and a back up if wifi isn’t working or if they don’t have it. Have receipt books, or use the new Offline Mode. It is up to YOU to make sure you have all the things you need for business.

Vendor Space: Abide to your vendor space. If you pay for one spot, don’t bring a load of stuff and push your way into another space. If you need to bring a drill and two men to set it up for you, then you might have too large a space for a small event. That style of setup is more geared for an EXPO not a small Craft or Vendor Show. Also, if you have to move things around so you can fit, please be respectful and put things back they way you found or at least let the vendor planner know. I spent a lot of extra time putting things back because vendors moved them around. Your booth should be able to set up and take down in one hour. Planners often have to pay for the extra time for set up and tear down and often that cost is nto relayed to you. If it was your $25 booth would have been, $50 or $100. Please be respectful of their time and respectufl of other vendors space as well.

Spot Reservations Special Needs or Issues: If you have a tall banner, a tall back drop, are allergic to scents, or need or desire any special access, please make sure to tell the planner of that ahead of time. Showing up the day of and asking to be moved creates hardships. It is better to know beforehand.

Not happy with your surroundings? If you say nothing then you are not allowing the planner to help alleviate the problem. Please be open with the planner and talk to them about your issues. If you feel like you are not being heard, SAY SO! Say “I feel like I am not being heard” Then we or I would at least say ” What may I do to help you feel you ARE being heard?” and then we can try to alleviate it. Please don’t drone on complaining. Complaining for the sake of complaining gets no resolution accomplished. No one ends up learning anything and then both parties feel frustrated and harsh words can be said on either side.

Also, please go directly to the person you have an issue with. do not go to your upline and complain. Go to the planner. If you are mature enough to have a booth and sell at a show, you should be mature enough to handle the situation on your own. If not, do me a favor, don’t come to my shows. Seriously. I expect vendors to be mature and respectful. I expect them to be able to handle their own battles. I expect them to get their own sales. It is not my job to sell their product for them. That is on them.

Lessons, Classes, Training: I realize some people don’t know how to sell, are just starting out, don’t know things like standing up at your booth looks better than sitting down, I get it. You may be uneducated when it come to how to run a great booth. I will try and have some suggestions and such on my blog, but also consider there are MANY resources at our disposal now and MANY for free. Google things, research, take E-Courses, learn from Kat Rocketship at Make/Break classes, or look on You Tube. go to networking or local seminars where they teach you those things. It will make a difference in not only how you present yourself, the brand you are representing or your own brand, but it will also change the amount and value of your sales.

I apologize if this post in any way seems snarky. I have tried to re-edit it as many times as possible. This last show wore on me so much that I seriously am thinking about getting out of the Vendor Market after my next upcoming show. The positive I got out it was the lessons I learned that I am trying to share with you. Perhaps I am not coming across the best in this post because it was quite frustrating to me. I am not trying to offend anyone or hurt anyone’s feelings. I feel these things need to be relayed and said so others can learn from them too.

I wish you all well and hope these things are helpful to you in any way possible.

Until Next Time,

XoXo Trisha Trixie

 

April 29, 2014 by TrishaTrixie™ Categories: Fashion FabulousTags: Allerigic, Apologize, Babies, Babysitter, Be Mature, Be Prepared, Birthday, Booth, Brand, Business, Classes, Contracts, Daycare, entitlement, event, Expectations, FB, generation gap, Handle own battles, Happy, Ideas, Issues, Kat Rocketship, Kids, Launch, Learned, Lessons, Make/Break, Market, Messaging, Office, Parties, Paypal, planner, proactive, Promoter, Replacement, Reservations, Rules, Set Up, Setup, Snarky, Space, Special Needs, Square, Tear Down, Toil, Training, vendor, WEddings 1 Comment