1 00:00:04,530 --> 00:00:05,080 Hi there. 2 00:00:05,350 --> 00:00:08,400 It's Sue and thanks for joining me for Tips and Talk 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,880 Day. These are bite-sized topics that I pull from community questions 4 00:00:13,060 --> 00:00:16,200 and things that I'm observing in the world of handmade small 5 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,600 business. If you'd like to submit a topic, 6 00:00:19,290 --> 00:00:22,800 DM e over on Instagram at Gift Biz Unwrapped. 7 00:00:23,650 --> 00:00:28,330 We've covered so many facets of a handmade product business over 8 00:00:28,330 --> 00:00:31,250 the course of the years and today is no exception. 9 00:00:31,890 --> 00:00:35,730 We've talked about how to start and grow your business stories 10 00:00:35,730 --> 00:00:37,730 from many of you who have done just that. 11 00:00:38,390 --> 00:00:41,690 How to choose and use social media sites, 12 00:00:42,050 --> 00:00:43,330 build your website. 13 00:00:43,860 --> 00:00:44,530 Oh my gosh, 14 00:00:44,850 --> 00:00:48,090 there is just so much information here for you, 15 00:00:48,470 --> 00:00:51,410 but not necessarily at your fingertips. 16 00:00:52,340 --> 00:00:56,410 So I've made a tool for you that categorizes by topic 17 00:00:56,550 --> 00:00:58,170 the episodes of this podcast, 18 00:00:58,950 --> 00:01:03,130 but only the ones that stay relevant over time because yes, 19 00:01:03,210 --> 00:01:04,170 let's face it, 20 00:01:04,170 --> 00:01:07,810 there are past shows that just don't work anymore for us 21 00:01:07,810 --> 00:01:10,610 today. The world is changing so fast, 22 00:01:10,610 --> 00:01:14,970 right? You can use this tool to zero in on whatever 23 00:01:14,970 --> 00:01:16,490 topic you need at the moment. 24 00:01:17,260 --> 00:01:20,410 Do you wanna hear from others in your specific industry? 25 00:01:21,350 --> 00:01:25,210 How about details on Pinterest or setting up an email strategy? 26 00:01:26,070 --> 00:01:30,010 You can now easily find the right episodes and create your 27 00:01:30,370 --> 00:01:31,490 priority listening roster. 28 00:01:32,610 --> 00:01:35,530 Consider this your Gift Biz resource center at a glance. 29 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,570 It's a Google Sheet best viewable on your computer versus your 30 00:01:39,570 --> 00:01:42,850 phone. Make sure to look on the bottom where there are 31 00:01:42,850 --> 00:01:45,850 five separate sections for easy topic reference, 32 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,210 kind of like chapters of a book. 33 00:01:48,540 --> 00:01:51,410 It makes finding the shows to help you with what you're 34 00:01:51,410 --> 00:01:52,410 working on right now. 35 00:01:52,860 --> 00:01:56,290 So much easier to access this free resource, 36 00:01:56,740 --> 00:02:01,130 go to gift biz unwrapped.com/topics. 37 00:02:03,500 --> 00:02:07,890 Is it possible that you underestimate the value of confidence and 38 00:02:07,890 --> 00:02:13,080 enthusiasm? I realize these are two entirely separate things, 39 00:02:13,500 --> 00:02:16,440 but they do go hand in hand in your business and 40 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,920 can seriously impact your progress and the success you'll see in 41 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:21,600 the long run. 42 00:02:22,690 --> 00:02:26,050 Let's define each of these first so we're on the same 43 00:02:26,050 --> 00:02:27,970 page in terms of what I'm talking about. 44 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,970 Then I'll go into how they affect your business and what 45 00:02:31,970 --> 00:02:36,130 you can do to leverage each characteristic to your benefit. 46 00:02:36,950 --> 00:02:38,390 Let's start with confidence. 47 00:02:39,060 --> 00:02:43,030 Confidence means feeling sure of yourself and your abilities, 48 00:02:43,810 --> 00:02:45,550 not in an arrogant way, 49 00:02:45,770 --> 00:02:47,150 but in a realistic, 50 00:02:47,340 --> 00:02:48,310 secure way. 51 00:02:48,860 --> 00:02:51,550 It's not about feeling superior to others. 52 00:02:52,180 --> 00:02:53,830 Rather, it's a solid, 53 00:02:54,590 --> 00:02:58,670 peaceful, inner knowledge and understanding of who you are and what 54 00:02:58,670 --> 00:02:59,720 you're capable of. 55 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,610 When we move over to enthusiasm, 56 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:05,890 this revolves around two words, 57 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:08,250 excitement and interest. 58 00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:12,760 The level of enthusiasm one has is based on how they 59 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:19,460 portray these characteristics and to what degree having strong but appropriate 60 00:03:19,460 --> 00:03:24,060 levels of confidence and enthusiasm play a part in many areas 61 00:03:24,060 --> 00:03:24,740 of your business. 62 00:03:25,630 --> 00:03:29,880 Really, they affect all aspects in one way or another, 63 00:03:30,580 --> 00:03:34,480 but showing confidence and enthusiasm can make you feel vulnerable. 64 00:03:35,070 --> 00:03:37,920 What if people don't see your vision the same way as 65 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:38,280 you do? 66 00:03:38,910 --> 00:03:40,400 What if they don't agree? 67 00:03:41,170 --> 00:03:44,380 What if they already judge you and don't think you can 68 00:03:44,380 --> 00:03:46,140 accomplish what you've set out to do? 69 00:03:46,890 --> 00:03:50,780 It's questions like this that we ask ourself that make us 70 00:03:50,780 --> 00:03:51,580 play small. 71 00:03:52,170 --> 00:03:55,860 They bring down the level of confidence or enthusiasm that we 72 00:03:55,860 --> 00:03:59,500 really feel and are willing to show the world and they 73 00:04:00,050 --> 00:04:05,380 like a self-fulfilling prophecy can walk us right into that result, 74 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,020 not achieving what we set out to do. 75 00:04:09,190 --> 00:04:11,800 I see this play out a lot in the handmade product 76 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,360 industry, and my hope here is by identifying and acknowledging it, 77 00:04:16,570 --> 00:04:19,320 we can turn the dial up on these two traits, 78 00:04:19,420 --> 00:04:20,640 and in turn, 79 00:04:20,980 --> 00:04:23,800 you can see things move forward in your business. 80 00:04:24,650 --> 00:04:27,600 If you already rank high on confidence and enthusiasm, 81 00:04:28,110 --> 00:04:31,160 it's okay to stop this episode right here and move on 82 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,000 to another one of interest that will serve you more. 83 00:04:34,740 --> 00:04:38,280 But if you recognize in yourself just by the little bit 84 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:41,920 that I've already said up to this point that your confidence 85 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,720 or enthusiasm could use a boost, 86 00:04:44,070 --> 00:04:47,120 listen on when considering confidence, 87 00:04:47,430 --> 00:04:50,880 I see makers highly confident in product creation. 88 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:52,160 After all, 89 00:04:52,310 --> 00:04:55,880 you've identified the materials that are the quality you desire. 90 00:04:56,380 --> 00:05:00,520 You have the actual art of making meaning the creativity and 91 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,760 skills or have acquired the necessary training. 92 00:05:04,390 --> 00:05:06,600 You've perfected your production methods, 93 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:07,920 including equipment, 94 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:09,560 proportions, timing, 95 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:14,040 and any special touches that make your products uniquely yours. 96 00:05:14,750 --> 00:05:20,200 This is not a problem where confidence lags comes in two 97 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:21,080 other places. 98 00:05:22,750 --> 00:05:24,990 First, the business side of things. 99 00:05:25,830 --> 00:05:29,230 Until you decided to turn your making into a business, 100 00:05:29,330 --> 00:05:31,230 you never had to consider it before. 101 00:05:31,870 --> 00:05:35,980 Perhaps you've never had business experience or are thinking you should 102 00:05:35,980 --> 00:05:38,980 have paid more attention in some of your classes at school, 103 00:05:39,630 --> 00:05:43,340 so you're confident in knowing what to do is lower. 104 00:05:44,350 --> 00:05:45,880 I have great news for you here. 105 00:05:46,590 --> 00:05:51,480 Many, and I mean many a maker started their business feeling 106 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:52,440 the same way. 107 00:05:53,090 --> 00:05:55,400 If you've been listening to the podcast for a while, 108 00:05:55,470 --> 00:05:58,800 you've heard lots of business business owners who admit they didn't 109 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:04,360 know about certain things or did things wrong in the beginning, 110 00:06:04,980 --> 00:06:06,200 but they did it anyway. 111 00:06:06,510 --> 00:06:10,680 They started with what they knew and went from there to 112 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:11,720 learn and adjust, 113 00:06:11,740 --> 00:06:14,240 and today have very successful businesses. 114 00:06:14,910 --> 00:06:19,120 What they didn't do is let their lack of confidence in 115 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:21,640 business knowledge stop them from trying, 116 00:06:22,420 --> 00:06:25,880 and today with all the information and resources available, 117 00:06:26,390 --> 00:06:28,720 help is immediately at your fingertips. 118 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,520 Reach out and take it if there's a part of your 119 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,360 business that you think can be improved, 120 00:06:33,700 --> 00:06:35,000 and by all means, 121 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:40,520 don't let a lower confidence level here prevent you from pursuing 122 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:41,000 your dream. 123 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,860 The second place low confidence can affect your business is in 124 00:06:45,860 --> 00:06:48,260 the marketing and selling of your products. 125 00:06:48,850 --> 00:06:51,460 When you first started making your product as a hobby, 126 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,700 you created for your own satisfaction and fulfillment. 127 00:06:55,330 --> 00:06:57,540 Even when you give things as gifts, 128 00:06:57,540 --> 00:06:59,540 there's no judgment from the recipient. 129 00:07:00,390 --> 00:07:04,370 You most likely receive a thank you and probably also praise 130 00:07:04,370 --> 00:07:07,730 for your gift comments about how talented you are, 131 00:07:07,950 --> 00:07:09,850 the quality of your creations, 132 00:07:10,150 --> 00:07:11,090 and on and on. 133 00:07:12,290 --> 00:07:16,510 All that changes when you start promoting your products and hoping 134 00:07:16,510 --> 00:07:17,070 for sales. 135 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,630 By nature of a buyer seller relationship, 136 00:07:20,810 --> 00:07:24,430 you present your products and the other person decides whether they 137 00:07:24,430 --> 00:07:25,110 want it or not. 138 00:07:25,740 --> 00:07:28,750 That's enough to make anyone second guess themselves. 139 00:07:29,230 --> 00:07:30,030 We're human. 140 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:31,670 We don't like rejection, 141 00:07:32,330 --> 00:07:35,350 but it's part of what you accept when you're in business, 142 00:07:35,730 --> 00:07:36,550 and honestly, 143 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:38,750 if you think of your own behavior, 144 00:07:39,140 --> 00:07:42,230 you'll recognize that you do this to others too. 145 00:07:42,970 --> 00:07:48,190 You choose one jewelry style over another or certain lotions over 146 00:07:48,190 --> 00:07:49,950 others due to their ingredients. 147 00:07:50,620 --> 00:07:53,470 It's not that the ones that you don't buy are inferior, 148 00:07:54,180 --> 00:07:55,790 it's just that they're not your choice. 149 00:07:56,900 --> 00:07:57,850 As business owners, 150 00:07:57,980 --> 00:08:01,450 we must always keep in mind that there's a portion of 151 00:08:01,450 --> 00:08:03,850 the population who want our products. 152 00:08:04,310 --> 00:08:05,530 Not everybody. 153 00:08:06,210 --> 00:08:08,090 These are your ideal customers, 154 00:08:08,090 --> 00:08:12,750 right? Our lack of confidence comes into play when we start 155 00:08:12,750 --> 00:08:15,590 thinking that nobody will want our products, 156 00:08:15,970 --> 00:08:17,470 and if you let this get to you, 157 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:21,310 it affects every aspect of how you run your business. 158 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:23,990 In my start with Confidence program, 159 00:08:24,250 --> 00:08:27,590 the whole goal is to validate that you have a product 160 00:08:27,590 --> 00:08:29,230 that people will want to buy. 161 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:30,710 In some cases, 162 00:08:30,820 --> 00:08:33,150 tweaks need to be made to get it to the point 163 00:08:33,150 --> 00:08:34,630 where it's ready for the market, 164 00:08:35,090 --> 00:08:36,830 but once you've done your validation, 165 00:08:37,140 --> 00:08:39,670 that means there is a market out there for you. 166 00:08:40,740 --> 00:08:43,630 It's then up to you to find that market and show 167 00:08:43,630 --> 00:08:48,670 up consistently with good messaging that leads your perfect customer to 168 00:08:48,670 --> 00:08:49,190 the sale. 169 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:51,310 Without confidence, 170 00:08:51,410 --> 00:08:54,710 you may shy away from trying new things to get you 171 00:08:54,710 --> 00:08:58,240 the visibility that you need to bring in those sales you 172 00:08:58,240 --> 00:08:59,200 desperately want, 173 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,740 and that's a perfect segue into enthusiasm. 174 00:09:03,890 --> 00:09:08,380 I mentioned earlier that enthusiasm is gauged by excitement and interest. 175 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:13,340 You display this to a high or low degree every time 176 00:09:13,340 --> 00:09:14,820 you talk about your business, 177 00:09:15,130 --> 00:09:18,420 attend a networking meeting or exhibit at a show. 178 00:09:19,150 --> 00:09:21,460 If you describe your business in a timid, 179 00:09:21,730 --> 00:09:23,620 almost apologetic way, 180 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,420 how interested do you think someone is to want to know 181 00:09:27,420 --> 00:09:29,340 more, much less to buy? 182 00:09:30,290 --> 00:09:31,540 Test yourself right now. 183 00:09:32,190 --> 00:09:34,580 If I met you and asked you about your business, 184 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:35,980 how would you respond? 185 00:09:36,820 --> 00:09:40,140 Would you proudly speak about what you do and how your 186 00:09:40,140 --> 00:09:41,820 products benefit your customers? 187 00:09:42,590 --> 00:09:45,460 Or would you stumble over your words and in a soft 188 00:09:45,460 --> 00:09:49,300 voice, kind of get out a string of words about what 189 00:09:49,300 --> 00:09:49,660 you do? 190 00:09:50,620 --> 00:09:53,130 If this last response rings true for you? 191 00:09:53,340 --> 00:09:55,530 There's immediate work to do. 192 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,130 This is your assignment for today. 193 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,330 Script out the exact words you'll use. 194 00:10:01,620 --> 00:10:05,170 Anytime you're in a situation where people ask you what you 195 00:10:05,170 --> 00:10:09,370 do, then practice it over and over again until it becomes 196 00:10:09,370 --> 00:10:09,970 second nature. 197 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:13,870 If you want help with this and a specific model to 198 00:10:13,870 --> 00:10:17,910 follow, you can find that in my Network Ninja program. 199 00:10:18,580 --> 00:10:20,630 I'll put links to both of these programs. 200 00:10:20,630 --> 00:10:25,110 Start with confidence and network ninja that I've referenced here in 201 00:10:25,110 --> 00:10:25,670 the show notes, 202 00:10:25,850 --> 00:10:27,750 and you can also find them on the website, 203 00:10:27,750 --> 00:10:28,190 of course, 204 00:10:29,790 --> 00:10:30,860 at a craft show. 205 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,820 Not only should you excitedly talk with your booth customers, 206 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,940 you also want to show interest in them. 207 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:39,420 And when I say this, 208 00:10:39,420 --> 00:10:40,860 there are limits too, 209 00:10:40,860 --> 00:10:44,860 right? There is such a thing as going too far with 210 00:10:44,860 --> 00:10:48,180 enthusiasm and becoming overwhelming or overbearing, 211 00:10:48,260 --> 00:10:50,420 which makes people run the other way, 212 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,860 but you also do the same thing if you don't show 213 00:10:53,860 --> 00:10:56,700 any interest in helping people as they look at your products. 214 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,540 You need to use your intuition to find the right balance 215 00:11:02,230 --> 00:11:06,420 overall. You have a unique opportunity as a maker to bond 216 00:11:06,420 --> 00:11:10,820 with your customers every time you interact with them on the 217 00:11:10,820 --> 00:11:12,220 phone, in social media, 218 00:11:12,590 --> 00:11:13,900 at personal events, 219 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:18,620 and the very best at craft shows and farmer's markets. 220 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:24,340 How you confidently present yourself and how enthusiastically you talk with 221 00:11:24,340 --> 00:11:26,860 them means everything. 222 00:11:29,370 --> 00:11:30,340 That's a wrap. 223 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:32,500 I'm a get to the point kind of girl, 224 00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:35,460 and this is what you can expect from these quick midweek 225 00:11:35,460 --> 00:11:38,100 sessions. Now it's your turn. 226 00:11:38,790 --> 00:11:41,260 Go out and fulfill that dream of yours. 227 00:11:41,580 --> 00:11:43,700 Share your handmade products with us. 228 00:11:44,110 --> 00:11:44,980 We want them, 229 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,980 and they bring us both so much happiness.