When I decided to finally buy a tent and table for my first market, this is the thought that was constantly running through my head. I was worried about the financial cost of starting my crochet business (which wasn’t terrible compared to what you could spend starting a business). I was worried about the time I had spent “building up my inventory” and the time I would lose if my stuff didn’t sell. But I think even more than those things, I was worried about the emotional cost.
There was actually a lot riding on this. I had been hoping that I could find a way to make it work as a stay-at-home-mom. I love my babies and I loved spending all day with them; I’m a weirdo who loves cooking and cleaning and being emotionally available for her husband when he comes home from work. I knew that if I went back to work, something would have to give. And I would sorely regret those short years before my kids started kindergarten. I knew it would fly by, and then it would be gone.
But there was still something missing. I had been such a career person before having kids, and I began to CRAVE intellectual stimulation. I also needed to spend more time with adults; I felt lonely a lot of the time. And I needed to be a part of a community again. I knew I needed this side hustle to give me the things I was missing being a SAHM if the arrangement was going to be sustainable for the next few years. (And selling my products on Etsy had unfortunately been fruitless so far.)
As I stocked up on my goods that I thought were competitive, I got excited. “Gosh, I hope I have enough of each color! I would hate to run out.” My husband, Matt, who is truly insanely supportive of me and also protective of my feelings, gently said, “I think you should also be prepared to not sell anything.”
UGH. I knew he was right. That thought had been gnawing at me the whole time. What if this just turned out to be a huge waste of time and yarn?
I didn’t know how my first market was going to go, but I remembered what Brené said: “I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both.” That gave me the courage to just try it anyway. I was going to be okay.
Looking back, I am SO proud of young Jennifer. She took an emotional risk putting herself out there and starting her business, knowing it wasn’t even close to perfect.
“God, I hope this works.”
Have you been saying this to yourself, too?
This will work. You do have what it takes. You can make beautiful things with your hands, and you can sell those things to people who value them.
Because, you know what? If you make the wrong stuff and none of it sells, you can try again with different items. And you can keep trying, until you find the right products for your town, your customers, and for you. You get to keep trying until you have the business that you love.
(If you want a shortcut to success, check out my Crochet Market Cheat Sheet!)