Like millions of Americans, my travel experience was set during the worst recession since the Great Depression. As the hometown airline merged with an Atlanta-based airline, many other travel jobs were also lost, so competition for jobs in this field was fierce.
What kept me sane, in this most urgent time, was the evening life gathered at the local center. Soon I was creating beautiful bowls, dishes and ornaments. I gave a number of glass bowls arranged for a friend’s arrangement, for a charity auction, and he reported that he would bid for these items. My glass creations brought in the most money of the evening! I soon returned to the studio to make more and more glass vases and glass necklaces.
As part of my job search, I took classes at the local unemployment office, in the category of self-employment. I considered self employment as a viable option and started reading about that option. To read more about self-employment, I flipped over to Relaxation Making a Living Without a Job by Barbara Winter.
Years ago I had taken several self-study classes from Barbara Winter, so much of this material was familiar to me. Unlike before the time I read this book, I didn’t have a job that I had the option of leaving. But I was looking for a way to create my own work. I decided to start using the tips to try it live.
When a friend decided to sell some of his vintage items on the flea market, I joined him by bringing some glass items with him, as well as a mosaic table and a mosaic birdbath, which I had as a maid. In this sale I sold the birds bath, but I also threw away my low table and the fused glass necklaces. I quickly realized that this was not the best place to sell my products.
Despite this defeat, and after much urging from friends, I finally set up an etsy site, deciding to feelings to sell online a> . What’s great about etsy is that the site is easy to set up and found etsy has many online tools to help artists create and sell vintage successful online business.
It took me less than an hour to set up my site and after going through some of the setup procedures, I learned a bit about photography and taking pictures of my hanging posts. After all, everyone knows that I had these sale items and asked friends and family through my business. information I also posted my pictures on my Facebook and Twitter web pages.
I quickly realized that my jewelry business would take some time to take off. I went to my books for guidance, especially Living Without a Job. There I read about the concept of Multiple Profit Centers, as well as 100 Dollar Hour. The 100 Dollar Hour Exercise is to find ways to make or save $100. Multiple Profit Centers, or MPCs, are how people float their business. Instead of relying on just one place to check, as in my case, the etsy site, Winter suggests that we create many other ways to earn money. I spent the afternoon writing down all the ways I could add income and places I could cut expenses. I was a fast typist, I had excellent telephone skills, I had many service customer experience and results. flexible It didn’t take me long to find solutions.
The next day I signed with two temp agencies, as well as found a contract. I started working as a beer sampler on Fridays and Saturdays. Since I was happy to get out a few hours a week and do something more social than solitary glass work, I found other events through Craigslist. I’ve tasted dip, passed backpacks at college games, served coffee at conventions and played games with children. -all for a great hourly rate. I loved tentative jobs, as I was able to pick up last minute, short term jobs. I started at Freelance Write. Getting published has always been my dream, and I was living my dream! Soon, the Arts Organization invited me to teach Glass Fusing and I added this to my mixing work.
I kept track of all my hours in a pocket-sized journal and it quickly began to add up. I was in control of my life! Not only did this pay for gas, grocery and personal needs, but I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I no longer had to rely on the stability of one company for my livelihood. I am now successfully using the auto.
Now, I only temporary work when things seem interesting, or I want a little extra cash flow. I added my travel business, Traveldevas, to the mix. I organize smaller events and events meetings. I like to have a nice mix of working with people and working with art. I have plans to sell specially designed t-shirts, as well as lead hockey and art tours. Over the past few years I have found that the key to my success has always been around flexibility and being open to new ideas. The best thing is that I feel happier and smile again. Leaving my business was the best thing I could have ever done for myself!
