Every now and then I sit down with my laptop and brainstorm on the next blog topics, designs, inspirations. But lately, my mind is all over the place, topics about market strategies, pricing products and professionalizing your crafting business. What do I want with Florine Leather and Style? I like to read and learn more about how to professionalize it but do I actually want to do that as well? Today you will read a few thoughts you might have had as well. I will ask you the same questions I asked myself lately about my hobby, leathercraft… it might be interesting to try and answer them all.
At the moment it is (almost) impossible for me to turn my hobby into a real full-time business for Florine Leather & Style since I want to finish my masters degree. But I do like to fantasize about my own little workshop, people coming by, designing together and creating little masterpieces. Though if I want to realize this dream, I have to get my head around a few of these matters.
Time
- Do I need or want to quit everything else, like your job, education etc.?
- Or do I want to do this hobby of mine in the evenings and weekends?
- Will I have enough time to finish the projects?
- Will I also be able to live a little, like Spending also time with friends, family, lovers and just some alone time every now and then?
These are all questions you might have asked yourself when you started your own business or your hobby. Well, you are the only one who can answer these questions. For me at the moment is no I don’t want to quit my education, so hobbying on weekends and evenings it is. I make time to spend with my beloved ones and schedule also some hobby or craft time if I have a new order/project. Since it is at the moment still my “relax” time I don’t feel it as a burden.
Inspiration
- Will I always be able to come up with new designs and projects?
Well, not only did I ask myself this question in relation to my leathercraft hobby but also for this blog. Would I be able to come up with ideas and topics (and time) to write two blog posts a week? To answer it… up to now still not a problem!! I love what I do and since I don’t have that much time to actually craft the bags and accessories I just love to daydream about it. Make new designs in my head while traveling on the train, on the bike or just before I go to sleep. New fashion trends, different seasons and my mood will determine new designs and topics for the blog continuously. So, for now, I’m fine ;)! If you have trouble with a lack of inspiration, check out my whole post about inspiration… maybe it might help you.
Repetition
- Would I also like it if I made the same bag for the tenth or hundredth time?
- Won’t I get bored?
- Or will my product have the same value if there are so many out there?
This is one of my main-focus questions lately. I love all the enthusiastic reactions to my bags and people asking prices and about the options for their bags. I had never imagined that there are people who would like to buy a bag I made… But what do I want…? Do I want to make unique/one of a kind bags or should I also consider making larger amounts of the same bag? Or a bit of both? I don’t know the answer to these questions yet. Did you ever think about this and what was your answer? I would love to know!
What if I fail…?
- If you would eventually take a leap of faith… quit everything, start over and it just doesn’t come around. What then…?
- What if…?
There is always this risk in life. Sometimes you have to take this risk to succeed but are you okay with it if it fails? Do you have a backup plan? And are you money wise okay with the possible losses? These are the serious questions… if you can answer these with YEAH! Then it might be time for you to take this risk, if not what do you need to make your answer a YEAH!?
You know what they say, you don’t have to work a day in your life if you love what you do. But is this wishful thinking or is it actually possible to create such a work-environment for yourself? What do you think, do you want to turn your hobby into your profession?
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