Archive for Life

Rabihah | December 26, 2011
No comments

RAMJewels: My 2011 Retrospective

This is about the time when we all make New Year’s resolutions — whether we keep them to ourselves or declare them to the world. As I reflect on 2011, I am extremely grateful for my many blessings. Though my sales didn’t reach the level I had planned, I learned a lot through research, trial and error — and I’m continuing to learn. Here are some of my major takeways of 2011:

  1. Success takes time. What we usually perceive as the “instant success” of others is usually the culmination of hard work and time that we have not been privy to.

    2. I can’t measure my “success,” nor the time it may take me to reach it, by others’ standards.

  2. Know when to ask for help. As I struggle with the challenges of single-handedly running a creative business, I realize that I can’t do it all (design and produce handcrafted jewelry, photograph and optimize it for the Web, conduct marketing campaigns, including social marketing, take care of packaging and advertising, etc.) by myself and do it effectively. Knowing when and how to utilize external assistance will be key to improved productivity.
  3. Seeking advice from so-called “experts” is important but it is equally as important for me to follow my inner guide, my “gut,” that ultimately serves as my compass.
  4. Regardless of the challenges I’m confronted with, it’s imperative to maintain contact with, and solicit feedback from, my clients. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and hence not make time to communicate with those I’m trying to provide services to; the key here is making communication a priority.
  5. As is true of many things, less is oftentimes more. In an attempt to maximize my social network, I became a member of a number of craft directories and third-party Web sites, often duplicative in nature. But too much of a good thing is not good — particularly if it diffuses my energies. During 2012 my focus will be on minimizing the number of sites that I sell on, while optimizing my own social marketing networks.

I’d love to hear what you’ve learned over the past year and how you plan to apply what you’ve learned to your business in the coming year. Please feel free to share your comments.

Here’s wishing you all much success, peace and blessings for the coming year.

Rabihah

Category: arts and crafts, Beaded Jewelry, Etsy, Handmade, holidays, Inspiration, Life |
Rabihah | November 24, 2011
4 comments

A Thanksgiving Wish

I awoke this morning in Bamako, Mali — a country with a rich culture and a long and proud history. It is also one of the poorest countries in the world. There are so many paradoxes in life. If I’ve learned anything thus far it is that things are not as neat and straightforward as I would like, as we would like. I live in the U.S. — the richest country in the world. Yet 30 Million of our citizens experience hunger on a daily basis or are at risk of going hungry.

Undoubtedly most of us give thanks every day; we don’t wait until the last Thursday in November to do so. But Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to gather with family and friends in the ceremonial practice of giving thanks. We do so with food galore, surrounded by loved ones — or at least those we like.

On this day in a country that doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving in the way that we know it, but whose citizens give thanks for all that they have, regardless of how little, I wish that:

  • people don’t have to decide between whether to put food on the table or buy needed medicines or other basic necessities — whether here in Mali or at home in the U.S.
  • the citizen revolt that has made its way throughout the world continues to gain momentum
  • the 99% take the example from history of those whose shoulders we stand on and reclaim what is due “we the people”
  • we can move past the current political system that paralyzes us at every turn from doing what is in our best interest, even from agreeing on a budget
  • we would put people first and profits after, way after

Most of all, I wish us peace — internally and among ourselves.

Happy Thanksgiving and Peace to all.

Category: alternative giving, Development, Gratitude, holidays, Inspiration, Life |
 
Social Buttons by Linksku