Paychecks & Epiphanies

I haven’t written another update about my financial situation in a while, mainly because I have had a major setback – my computer is in the process of dying, so to speak, and each week, it seems that there’s something new that breaks. In the past two months, it has stopped allowing me to open certain programs, no matter what I do (and reformatting it is not a possibility – long story) and guess what’s included on the “I won’t open this program” list? You Need a Budget.

I bought the software earlier this year and quickly became completely dependent upon it. It is amazing and helped me so much to get a true picture of my financial reality. I can’t recommend it enough. However…I’ve had to make my way without it now for the past two months, which has been incredibly frustrating.

I was doing all right for a while, though, plugging ahead, doing the best I could. I’ve been holding my breath for April, when my paychecks would finally reflect a decent number, after the hours and hours I have put in at my three jobs. When I say I’ve been holding my breath, I mean that quite literally – each month has been such a challenge, and because of the lag between submitting timesheets and receiving our paychecks, I had to wait over 6 weeks to start seeing any pay from my morning job.

That first check was good – not great, but good. I had put in a lot of hours in the beginning of the program to get it started, so I knew it would be an inflated check. But I figured it wouldn’t drop more than a hundred or two in the following paychecks, since I was putting in regular hours every month on all three jobs.

And then…my paycheck arrived at the end of April. And it was for $900. And I cried. A lot.

I suddenly realized that I have been operating all year on a very strong belief that if I just work harder and longer, I will be rewarded. That was the plan. And suddenly, upon opening that paycheck, I realized that that belief was totally erroneous.

I’m not sure how anyone will react to that number – but if you aren’t sure what’s going on here, let me assure you that I regularly put in at least 36 hours a week of work (sometimes a full 40, sometimes, a little more). I work 11-hour days on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I put in tons of time every night preparing work for my students – unpaid, and without an expectation of getting paid for that. No benefits and two of my jobs don’t have paid sick days. And for all of that…I get $900 a month. That covers my share of the rent, my student loan payment and a week’s worth of groceries.

So now that I’m here, at the end of the school year, wondering how I’m going to make ends meet next year, I’m really conscious about the expectations I’ve put on myself in these past few months – behavioral expectations that came with an assumed corresponding outcome. And it didn’t work.

What’s really cool is that I’ve realized something amazing: that I’m free from the a+b=c economic model. It doesn’t exist anymore. You may put in a full workweek, but in this day and age, you may or may not be fairly compensated. End of story. It’s not good, it’s not bad, it’s not wrong, it’s not right – it just is.

I have read all those financial books and done all those mental exercises about digging into our beliefs about money. I’ve done that a million times, but I don’t think it ever hit home for me the way it has now. Apparently, I can work so hard that I only have a few hours of free time each week and still not come even close to a livable wage. And odd as it sounds, that’s so freeing to know!

Now the whole world is open to me. I feel like I can finally start making choices based on my personal desires, rather than just my needs and a sense of responsibility. I can start exploring what it will look like to work smarter, not harder (and/or longer). I can let go of this very limiting belief that I have to submit to a traditional position and work myself into the ground to be a valuable member of society – cuz it doesn’t work!

I’m excited to see what comes of this. I see big changes for myself in the next three months.

And what about you, dear readers? Did you ever have a financial epiphany come from a paycheck (or a lack of one)?

(And speaking of finances, I’m exploring the option of crowdfunding to help me raise enough money to finish my e-book. Please give me a hand and spread the word! Thank you!)

The truth about underachieving

I recently read this amazing blog post: 9 Traits of Underearners. I recognized myself in all but one of the characteristics. Yikes. But not a surprise.

I’ve always considered myself an underachiever. And yet, if you ask people I work with, they would describe me as an overachiever. In fact, I was regularly called Overachiever in grad school – and not always in a nice way.

But here’s what my former grad school classmates didn’t know about me: I overachieve in areas where I know I can do well in order to compensate for my underachieving in just about every other area of life. Hey, look how smart and organized and poised I am over here in this one little corner and hopefully you’ll be so wowed, you won’t notice that I don’t try very hard in any other area!

I think underachievers (a category into which underearners fall) are living with a secret shame. We’re terrified of letting anyone else see how incompetent we are. And we assume that it’s incompetence that’s at the root of the problem. Most of us don’t even realize that there’s no incompetence there, at all! It’s just fear. The fear is so big that we can’t bring ourselves to try. And god knows, we don’t believe in ourselves enough to face those fears – or even to acknowledge them. Because if we did acknowledge the fear, we’d have to do something about it.

We cannot tackle this issue by trying harder, negotiating more, looking for better jobs, dating more, etc. There is no “doing” that will heal this. There is only being and believing in our worth.

As Iyanla Vanzant says (and this will give you chills):

Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth.

Seriously. I’m going to put that on a pillow. And a poster. And tattoo it on my arm so I can look at it every single day.

So, dear fellow Underachievers: Let’s make a pact right now. No more overachieving to cover up our underachieving. And no more underachieving. Period. Let’s look at ourselves as our own mother, in every situation. Would we want our daughter to be with a man who doesn’t respect her? Would we want our daughter to take a job in which she is not properly compensated? Would we want our daughter to accept something that is less than she deserves just because it’s available?

Where are you currently underachieving and what step will you take this week to recognize your worth?

Feminism and the Perfect Li(f)e: Your Thoughts

Last week, I wrote about social media and how we often let it undermine our confidence and joy. I decided to attach it to feminism because we women are the ones who primarily use social networking, and we are also the ones most prone to comparing ourselves and coming up short. So if we consider ourselves feminists…what can we do to remedy this situation?

My own thoughts about it run the gamut. The best place to start is, no doubt, rooting through the nonsense and getting to the heart of what is going on – our own sense of insecurity, our own fears, our own lack of self-worth. That is something probably all of us could and should work on every day.

Beyond that, I think we need to ask ourselves some serious questions:

1. Is it empowering to women for me to feel like less of a success because of pictures or posts I see on social media sites?

2. Is it empowering to women for me to resent my sisters for all the perfection that they *appear* to have (based on pictures and posts on social media sites)?

3. Is it empowering to women for me to silently (or not) shame, dislike, disregard or tear down my social media sisters?

4. Is it empowering to women (including myself) to post this update/photo/whatever? Am I doing it to share with others or am I looking for approval/likes/retweets/comments?

Here are some interesting comments from you readers:

EcoGrrl says: I think it’s not only about strengthening the sisterhood, but strengthening our brothers as well, the real men. They need to be speaking up to their fellow male friends, coworkers, family members, etc. I posted a TGP column a few weeks back in response to the amazing “Where are Men’s Roar?” TEDtalk that is a beautiful example of a man being, well, a real man.

Maurie commented: I think that if these are the reactions we have as we see the happy stories of others then we need to go inside and work on our own sense of self-worth, self-acceptance and self-love… I for one want to share the things that are beautiful and inspiring in my life or the things I am passionate about. There is so much pain and suffering, complaining and whining and just plain nasty self and other talk out there. I don’t want to add to that. Sure, I’ll share a struggle from time to time, but for me personally, I just want to share the beauty more. That’s what I want to focus on.

Thank you, ladies! Anyone else have some thoughts?

Happy Friday!

Business & Boyfriends: A Surprising Correlation

Recognizing our worthiness is, I believe, an endless process. This challenge comes up in every area of our lives. As I’ve been struggling to step up and believe in myself and my business, I’ve noticed some interesting correlations between business and boyfriends (or husbands, significant others, partners, or whatever other incarnation of the romantic relationship you have). Take a look:

If you stick with your handsome, commitment-phobic boyfriend when you know you want to get married…

…then you probably have trouble emotionally investing in your business, setting long-term goals, making future plans or envisioning genuine success.

If you have a boyfriend who interrupts you a lot and disregards your ideas…

…then you probably don’t believe in your own ideas, either, and do not allow them to mature and come to fruition. Perhaps you don’t bring them into manifestation, at all.

If you have a hard time expressing and upholding your boundaries with your boyfriend…

…then you might be struggling with upholding your business policies and/or saying no to commitments or clients that aren’t a good match for you. If you have employees, this might extend even further in the form of allowing behavior that is not in line with your expectations and needs.

If you feel like you have to do endless favors for your boyfriend in order to hold his interest…

…then you might be overly accommodating with customers. Are you giving excessive free gifts or services? Are you offering exchanges or refunds without asking for the return of the product in question? Are you offering free shipping that destroys your profit margin?

If you are always looking for the latest look to stoke your boyfriend’s fire and distinguish yourself from all the other hot young ladies…

…then you probably waste way too much time trying to craft your image instead of just being the best you and the best business you can be.

If you need your boyfriend’s approval in order to feel good about yourself…

…then you probably place far too much value on what others think of you – how many likes, hits, retweets and orders you get – rather than being secure in the recognition of your worthiness.

If you feel that you have to have a relationship – or a relationship that “looks” a certain way – in order to be considered successful…

…then you probably have a very limited definition of what success looks like for an entrepreneur, and a limited ability to think outside the box.

If you don’t feel good enough to be in a relationship…

…then you likely under-price your products and services, and are filled with doubt about their value.

If you don’t value yourself, commit to your own success and love yourself unconditionally, you’re likely to falter both in love and in business.

Have you ever experienced any of these situations?

Setting boundaries instead of begging for business

As a female small business owner, I have noticed a disturbing trend amongst my same-sex colleagues: begging. We don’t do it with words. We don’t get down on our knees and fold our hands together. But we might as well. There are a few ways we beg for business:

::Apologizing for our prices – either literally or figuratively

Some of us fall all over ourselves trying to explain our prices, sometimes flat-out saying, “I’m sorry it’s so expensive, but organic cotton is very pricey.” Others apologize more indirectly – by sending customers a lot of free stuff with an order. It’s as if we’re saying: “I’m afraid you won’t find any value in my product, so I’m going to send you extra stuff to keep you happy.”

::Allowing ourselves to be treated unprofessionally by other business owners

This has happened to me a lot, regarding consignment accounts. I have made appointments with shop owners dozens of times, only to have them not show up for the appointment. In fact, in my three years doing business, I can say that this has happened to me every single time I’ve made an appointment involving a consignment account except for maybe 2 or 3 times. Or perhaps you are putting up with consignment deals in which you are supposed to be paid once a month, but the shop owner postpones the payments for an extra month…then one more…and so on, until you have to demand the money owed to you?

::Agreeing to transactions that are not worth the time, money and energy we put into them

How many custom orders have you agreed to fulfill in which the price was so low that you knew you wouldn’t make a profit – all because you were scared you’d lose the sale if you asked for what you deserved?

::Failing to uphold one’s return and exchange policies

I see many female small business owners who are terrified of bad reviews and unsatisfied customers. A dissatisfied customer often ends up with a full refund, even when the R&E policy clearly states that there are no refunds. Or perhaps exchanges cost a small fee and even when you offer to let the customer keep the original product, the customer complains about the extra fee…and so you waive it.

Just a little boundary humor…

As a business owner, I’ve dealt with all of these issues, and have heard similar stories from colleagues. But here’s something we all need to remember:

We don’t owe anyone anything for doing business with us, outside of knock-your-socks-off customer service and the amazing product that was purchased.

Your customers deserve a high-quality product, phenomenal customer service and a hearty, full-bodied “Thank you for your business.” However, their patronage does not mean you owe them:

1. a gesture of gratitude in the form of extra products (unless it’s samples, or unless free gifts are part of your marketing package)

2. the ability to ask for nullification or alteration (in any form) of your R&E policies

3. custom orders, projects or services that are under-priced for the time and energy you will be putting in to them

You do not need business badly enough to be treated poorly (by customers, fellow business owners, or even yourself). Even if, currently, your only business is coming to you in this form – you’d still be better off without it. In the end, you’ll most likely end up with a lot of stress and bitterness and no profit to show for it.

It’s time to change our attitudes. We aren’t “lucky” to have any business at all (that we should feel obligated to take, lest we lose future sales). Nope. Try this on for size:

::We are blessing the world with our products and services.

::We are here to interact with our customers and business partners in a powerful, positive manner.

::We’re here to uplift them, to bring something of value into their lives and to do it with love and connection.

::We can only respect our customers and colleagues when we respect ourselves.

I’ll write more about connecting with customers in the near future (because our customers are awesome and we need to value them), but for today, let’s focus on setting and maintaining boundaries. No more begging. No more feeling lucky to have any sale at all, no matter how little we get out of it. We must treat ourselves as well as we treat our customers.

What boundaries can you set for your business (or your life) today?

Thanks to Silver by Keri for helping inspire this post!

Value & Affordability

All right, fellow business owners. Have you started raising your prices? Have you taken a leap of faith and declared your value?

When I started this series on pricing, I featured several items from small businesses, listing their actual cost as well as their unseen value. The unseen value is actually a huge component of pricing and it’s something we need to educate consumers about. People are used to mass-produced, cheap crap. Further, corporations use this as a marketing technique. Have you seen the latest commercials for Marshall’s? “Never pay full price for fabulous.” They use words like “savvy,” and “chic,” and by the end of the commercial, your brain has connected some dots that don’t necessarily connect in real life: that smart, beautiful, popular women only patronize shops that can give them more items for less money.

There are two major myths here:

1. What and how you spend defines your intelligence, beauty and likeability.

2. Good value means getting more for less.

I’m going to go ahead and skip Myth #1 and head straight on to Myth #2. First of all, when we really think about it, we know that getting more for less is not necessarily value. As I mentioned, we’ve been trained to believe that, thanks to all the big corporations spitting tons of assembly-line crap into the market. But in the end, more for less does not necessarily equate to value. We’ve all made purchases that seemed like a fantastic deal at the time, only to find that the item in question lasted for about 2 months before breaking or wearing out. Is that really value? And what about the fact that in most cases, these items were made in another country, by workers who probably are not receiving a living wage. Is that good value? And what is it made of? Petroleum products that will outlive all of us? Is that value?

But let’s face it: Each person may have a different answer to those questions. The truth is, value can’t be defined by a one-size-fits-all standard. We all have different financial and emotional priorities, and those shape and define our perception of value. Personally, I find value in products that will last a long time, that are made from sustainable materials and that are created by people who are receiving appropriate compensation. However, like most people, I also have certain financial restrictions that force me to make choices about how I want to spend my money. Sometimes, I need something bad enough that I’ll get it from Wal-Mart.

As business owners, we understand the financial strain that so many people are under. We know we are competing with corporations who can afford to sell skirts for $12 and lip balm for $2. In our fear (and lack of confidence) we fall into the Affordability Trap. We under-price our items in an effort to reach everyone. After all, if something’s affordable, we don’t need to worry about our target market, right? We’ll hit everyone! Wrong.

As business guru Tara Gentile says, affordability is “…not actually related to price; it’s related to value! …An affordable product must deliver considerably more value to the customer than the value she exchanges for it.” [Italics added.] That’s why it is important to realize that value is subjective. It’s also the reason why you shouldn’t worry about your prices being too high. You will never be able to find a price point that is perceived as “affordable” by the entire general public. So stick to your guns and find your target market! (We’ll get to that, later.)

This photo touches on some value-based information that your customers deserve to have. What is so special about what you do? What value can it add to your customers’ lives?

The bottom line is this: It’s your responsibility to convey the value of your products to your potential customers. Most people do not know what goes into the creation of handmade items, nor do they understand the work involved with running a small business. Obviously, it’s not your job to explain all the business-related details of your daily life, nor should you turn this into a rationalization of your prices. The most powerful way you can convey your value is to keep in contact with your customers and take every opportunity to show off your creative process.

::Use pictures and videos to promote your creative process as often as you can. You can feature these on your blog, Facebook and Twitter pages, and also display photos at any public events you attend. Show people what you do and how you do it – not just the finished product. Let them see the work and the love you put into every item you create.

::Advertise your products’ hidden value at every opportunity. Handmade. Made in the USA (or Canada…or…). Made with sustainable materials (go into detail on that one). Etc. Don’t just state it – make it real. Show a picture. Explain the process. Connect the dots. Remember that in today’s world, even the most educated of us are used to a market system that provides assembly-line goods at a low cost, bought through a third party venue. We all need to be retrained to recognize the value of creator-to-buyer transactions of handmade goods.

::Set your value with pride. The people who share your value system will find you. Those who do not appreciate your value are not your customers.

And remember that every time you stand up for your value as a creator of handmade goods, you are supporting other artists and creators, as well. Your choices contribute to the creation of the environment of handmade goods. Stand up for yourself and your peers.

If any of you have recently dared to raise your prices or have stood proud in the face of pricing shame, please leave a comment below!

Pricing and Shame

There are a couple of things I wanted to talk about as a follow-up to last week’s pricing post. The first one is shame, and how that negative emotion can influence our prices.

I recently received a comment on the blog from accessory designer Josee of Cul de Sac, who said:

“…got some people (really just a few) that said while [I was] doing a craft fair that they could buy small handbags at Walmart for less…”

I have heard this before. I’ve heard things like, “Such-and-such a company makes better products,” or “Wow, this is super expensive!” or just the same as what Josee mentioned: “I can get this cheaper at Walmart/Kmart/Target.”

The first thing I want to say about this is that it is the height of disrespect. It is the same as someone looking at a Jackson Pollack painting and saying, “I could do something better than that and it wouldn’t cost as much to buy!” It is ruder than rude, is a power play on the critic’s part and it is specifically designed to make you feel shame for what you are doing.

This is, in my opinion, just plain bad behavior (no matter how innocuously it is spoken) and should not be tolerated! Unfortunately, it’s in equally poor taste (and completely unprofessional) to tell the person to go jump in a lake, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with a simple, self-affirming response. Josee said she told the people to “go ahead and buy there.” That’s an awesome response. A few others might include:

“I’m proud of my prices and even prouder of my products.”

“I am 100% confident that my prices reflect the value and quality of my work.”

“The price you pay for my products supports American [or wherever] businesses.”

And the crème de la crème:

“My prices allow my customers to exercise their worthiness.” (I got this gem from Tara Gentile. Seriously, it gives me chills.)

Or you could just smile and not say anything, at all. The last thing you want is to get into a debate in which you feel you have to rationalize your prices. You don’t! Stand tall and be confident. The bottom line is: That person is not your customer. Let them go.

The majority of the time, you can be sure that your prices are not high enough, no matter how many nasty comments you might get to the contrary. You must stand strong in the value of your products and/or services and remember that you cannot create a sustainable business without asking for what you need and deserve.

Never let yourself linger in shame over your business or your products. Dr. Brene Brown says that shame can literally destroy our lives, no matter where it appears. If you really get stuck, remember this: How many of those public critics have opened their own businesses and put themselves out there, interacting with the public? What a leap of faith! What an amazing thing to do! And how many of them have actually done the same? Very few. So as Dr. Brown says, if they aren’t in the arena, we aren’t interested in what they have to say!

Stand tall in your worth and the worth of what you create. Ask for the prices you truly believe you deserve (and maybe a little more than that, knowing that we women tend to consistently undervalue ourselves and what we do/make) and stick to your guns. You are talented, you are amazing. You are worth it!

Pricing: Too high or too low?

All right, dear readers. If you read last Monday’s post, you’ll know I need your help for this one. I’ve chosen a handful of items here from some of my favorite small businesses. I would love for you to take a look at these items and the “value list” I have included with each one. Then, in the comments section, leave an answer to this question: What would you be willing to pay for these items?

Sellwood Soaps: Portland Oregon

Shampoo Bars – $8

I met Rachael, owner of Sellwood Soaps, last summer, in Portland, when we both had a consignment account at the same shop. I immediately loved her products and sustainable business practices, and upon trying her shampoo bars, I was hooked! They make my hair so shiny and smooth. Amazing! Being in the bath & body business, I know how much good quality supplies cost and how much time it takes to make just one small batch of products. I don’t think most people realize that and are reluctant to pay more than $5 for a small product. However, what is more important that what you put on your skin and hair every day? To me, these shampoo bars are worth every penny – I’d even pay $9/bar for them. In fact, I wouldn’t argue a $10 price tag, though I realize that makes it harder for the average customer to afford. Just one of those pricing dilemmas we small businesses face every day!

::packaged in paper, not plastic

::handmade in the USA (Oregon!)

::contain no palm oil

::travel friendly

::nourishing to the hair and scalp (containing oils rather than liquid shampoos that are mostly detergents and preservatives)

::much  better for the environment (non-polluting when they wash down the drain!)

::long-lasting

Gaia Conceptions: Greensboro, North Carolina

Below Knee Anoki Skirt – $85

I love Gaia Conceptions. It’s one of my favorite handmade clothing lines. (Soul Role is the other.) These clothes are top-notch, beautiful, versatile and eco-friendly. I own this skirt in blue (I’m wearing it in the “welcome” picture here on my blog) and I absolutely adore it and yes, I would pay up to $10 more for this skirt. I feel GC clothing has extremely high value and I want to support businesses that are as conscientious about sustainability as this one is.

::handmade (to your specific measurements!) in the USA

::dyed with plant or low-impact dyes

::made with hemp (or NC organic cotton or other sustainable fabrics)

::items come wrapped in tissue and tied with twine and twigs (and mine came with a Gaia Conceptions reusable shopping bag, as well) – it’s literally like getting a present in the mail!

Andrea, owner and designer, also had this to say about what factors go into pricing:

- rent or mortgage for a healthy and satisfying work environment for employees.
– paying everyone from seed to finished garment a living wage – by living wage I mean $15- $25 and hr not minimum wage.
– using ethical materials – not just fabric but paper, packaging, shipping supplies, etc.
– the cost of building sustainable production systems such as green energy and water catchment systems

Marci Ann Designs: Naples, Florida

Paris L’Amour de la Vie Mouse Pad – $9

Yep, I own this one, too! I love this mouse pad. The design is beautiful, but best of all, it is withstanding the test of time far more than I would’ve expected. I’ve had it for almost a year, and you would never know that it wasn’t brand new. The white fabric isn’t getting as dirty as expected, and best of all, the edges haven’t curled up even a little bit. This was very well made and it just makes me smile! I would pay up to $12 for this, knowing how durable it is.

::handmade in the USA

::durable, long-lasting

Marcia, the owner, even makes some of these out of old vintage clothing, upcycling the fabric!

Cul de Sac: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Laura, eco-friendly retro doll – $42

I have to admit, I don’t own this item, nor have I ever seen it in person. But I’ve been a fan of Josee’s creations for a long while now. This is one of my favorite products of hers. Here’s the conundrum: I see huge value in handmade dolls like these. But knowing we are giving them to a child to play with and they may end up in a mud puddle… I can see the problem there. However, handmade dolls have been around for a very long time and there’s always been a market for them. I mean, look at Jess Brown, who charges $180+ for her handmade rag dolls. So honestly, I could say that I’d pay up to $55 for this doll (maybe more if I was a doll collector). Here’s some more value that you may not notice just by looking at it:

::handmade in Canada, using Josee’s twist on a Retro Mama design

::made from upcycled fabrics bought from secondhand shops (Josee buys the items that are too damaged to be resold in their original form and turns them into items like this!)

::prewashed in biodegradable soap

::t-shirt remnants are used for the hair and shoes, for their softness, rather than buying brand-new felt fabric

::19 1/2″ tall – this is a big doll!

::double-sewn seams for durability

::hand embroidered details

Silver by Keri: Hood River, Oregon

Personalized silver disc charms – $7.50

I don’t own any of Keri’s line (yet), as I just *met* her via my shop a few weeks ago. But you know I love to support my fellow Oregonians, so I asked her if I could include her shop at the last minute. She gave me quite the run-down on how her jewelry is made. I had no idea how time- and labor-intensive the process is! And some of her products, like the ones pictured, sell for a mere $7.50. That’s a lot of time and work for $7.50! I appreciate the competitive pricing, but I would not balk at a $9 or $10 price tag for these little charms.

::handmade in the USA (go, Oregon!)

::personalized

::lots of time and energy go into these charms! (see the complicated process here)

::durable – well-made jewelry withstands the test of time

::silver is from recycled sources whenever possible

::silver scraps are collected and recycled

::orders are mailed in paper, not plastic and do not include wasteful paper receipts

::expensive fine silver is fused over sterling silver to reduce the number of chemicals used in the jewelry-making process

Thank you, dear readers, for taking the time to look through this very long post! If you have a moment, please leave a comment here about the product that caught your attention. Do you think the price is too high? Too low? What value do you see?

What are you worth?

Ladies, let me ask you something: How much are you worth? You, not your products. You may be tempted to look at only your products or services when answering that question, but aren’t the two inextricably linked? Your products represent your values, your skills, your personality, your time, your money and your energy. That said, aren’t you leaving something out when you ask yourself what your products are worth?

A couple months ago, while vending at a gift show, two women approached my booth. One stopped to look at the items, but the other pulled her away and said (loudly enough for me to hear), “Burt’s Bees is the best if you want natural products.” I didn’t feel bad or ashamed – on the contrary, I was a bit sad for that woman. Why? She’s been bamboozled by marketing. Burt’s Bees is a huge company – it’s everywhere, lending it an air of authenticity and quality. Further, their clever marketing techniques have us believing it’s still being run by a sweet old dude out in the Northeast, with goats and beehives in his backyard. Well, honey, Burt is gone. You know who owns Burt’s Bees now? Fortune 500 company Clorox. Yeah, as in bleach.

So yes, I felt sorry for her. She thinks Burt’s Bees is better – a company owned by Clorox, mass-produced, non-organic, not actually natural (check out the parfum/fragrance in many of the products, among other sketchy chemicals), most of it packaged in plastic. Compare that to a delightful little bath and body business owned by one woman, who thoughtfully creates each and every product by hand, using 100% all natural, organic, fair trade ingredients (which are super expensive, I might add), designs each label by herself, goes to great lengths to use eco-friendly packaging, photographs each product, writes all her own copy, and delivers orders to the post office on her bicycle. I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but if it was my choice, I’d choose me over Burt’s Bees any day!

But here’s the deal. My products are comparable in price to Burt’s Bees products. I’ve tried to remain competitive, but when prices for my organic ingredients keep going up, should I even be worrying about that? I believe the traditional notions of pricing and competition are outdated.  (Although, that’s another post for another time.) So when we get right down to it, how much should we small business owners be charging for our goods?

Next Monday, I’ll be featuring several of my favorite small businesses, highlighting favorite products of mine. I’ll include the price as well as the “unseen value.” That’s where you come in – I can’t wait to hear your opinions. Are the prices too high? Too low? You tell us!

Until then…

What’s not working for you?

When you own your own business, one of the great pleasures (and frustrations) is that you will try out a million ideas – so many of which will not work out the way you wanted. The thrill is honing and shaping those ideas to make them work, while the frustration comes when those changes and brainstorms don’t seem to help. Sometimes, ideas just don’t work out no matter how much you play with them.

The classic square peg in the round hole. If it doesn’t fit…let it go!

I’ve noticed something interesting about this over the years. Often, when we female entrepreneurs find that ideas aren’t working, we just keep going anyway. It doesn’t matter if we are wasting time or money or energy – for some reason, we justify sticking with it.

But isn’t there value in your time, energy and money? Ummm….YES! You will never recover the time you lose in this life, your energy allows you to enjoy your life and your money is the compensation you receive for both (your time and energy).

My challenge to you now is this: If you have something in your business that is not working and you have tweaked it, shaped it, molded it, changed it, turned it on its head and it’s still not working – let it go. Letting go of something that isn’t working doesn’t signify failure – on the contrary, you are demonstrating your commitment to success.

I am currently dealing with an issue that has not been working for over two years now, involving a consignment account with a nearby nonprofit organization that promotes community involvement and local business. It stands for everything I believe in, as a business and organization, and as such, I have been committed to being a part of it.

However, I’ve had nothing but problems from the beginning. While I say it is nearby, I simply mean nearby in the sense that it serves people within my county, as opposed to my online shop, which serves people around the world. But it is based in a shop 15 miles away from me which is a big deal for a bicycle commuter with three day jobs. And when I get orders, it is usually for one small item, like a $4 lip balm. What happens on delivery day? In the past, I would have to drive 30 miles to drop off a $4 item. And today, since I no longer have time to do that, I pay a delivery service to pick it up from my house and deliver it for me – for a five dollar fee. Do the math and you’ll see my problem. I’m not only not making a profit, I’m not even breaking even. I’m losing money almost every delivery cycle.

Why have I stuck with it? Because I want to be a go-to bath and body presence within my community, and I want to participate in an organization that shares my values. But it’s been over two years now and nothing has changed. It’s entirely possible that I haven’t tried hard enough. Or maybe I’m just being buried by the competition. (There are three other herbal bath and body shops that sell through this venue, all of whom are more well-known than I am.) But the bottom line is: I’ve tried as much as I can/want to. I did the best I could. Now it’s time to decide whether to pull out entirely or cut back to selling only in their brick and mortar shop that recently opened.

There are many others I need to face: leaving or staying on Etsy, trying consignment in other shops, cutting back on my product line, evolving my business, etc. Lots and lots of things that aren’t really working so well that need to be addressed.

I’m almost afraid to say this, in case I catch hell for it, but I’m going to go for it: Most male business owners I know don’t waffle like this. If something isn’t making a profit, they cut it. If something isn’t working, they change it. There’s no guilt, no indecision, no (apparent) doubt. I’m glad to say I know a lot of women like this, too. But I know even more women like me – stuck in the hamster wheel. Treading water. Pushing that boulder up the hill again.

And hey, this applies to life, too! You don’t have to be a business owner to experience this issue.

So tell me (whether you own a business or run a family, or anything in between): What is not working for you that you haven’t been willing to let go?