The truth is that I have more ideas than time when it comes to inspiration, but motivation is something different. How do I go from concept to fruition? I am, I confess a natural loafer. I must take after my grandfather because I remember after he retired from a career he seemed to love, he said, "I have done a lot of things in my life... but I am best at doing nothing at all." I was probably 10 years old and I thought, "Yeah, I get it." I really enjoy being creative and busy- I do, but I also tend to get lost along the way. I am the queen of procrastination as well. The loafer and the procrastinator in me can find lots of excuses to do nothing. However, there are those moments when there is a proverbial fire lit under my butt that I find exhilarating and productive. So how do I keep the fire burning? What is the kindling? I find that if I tell someone I'm going to do something, their expectation gives me accountability, and I get up and go.
My customers have expectations and deadlines for me - that's helpful. They call me, they email me, they sometimes text me. I love that they want to buy jewelry that I make. I have a couple of friends who sing me the jingle to a major commercial jewelry franchise, "Your personal jeweler..." They enjoy having a personal jeweler. So I am motivated by my clients. Being a business owner is motivating!
I also really find being involved with the group that this blog carnival is sponsored by. EtsyMetal has a number of challenges going on all the time. The challenges have deadlines, and yes, I procrastinate and I'm sometimes late, but I really want to be a part of them. I was recently given the job of team leader for the challenges, and I thought I should join the blog carnival as part of those duties. So, here I am - motivated to write on my blog, which I've neglected lately. But I am going to find my way back to it and this blog carnival and some of the other challenges I'm working on gets me going!
My Family is a great motivator. They give me encouragement and support. I do NOT want to be a person whose spouse comes home and wonders what I've done all day. My jewelry studio is at home and there can be the temptation to nap instead of work, but I feel a responsibility to my family. My business makes money that contributes to our family's income. Since both of my kids are in school during the day, I have to do something besides housework while they are at school to justify my not having a traditional career. I like being a WAHM (work at home mom) - it gives me the freedom to drive on the kids' field trips, teach their art classes, and be there for them in a way that moms and dads who work traditional jobs struggle to do. Gone is the time of a single family income. It takes two working adults to make it. I know very few housewives who don't contribute to the family economically.
Success helps get me moving too. Presenting something really great is a goal. I know that I shouldn't need the validation of others to feel successful, but I do love it when I wow my clients and my fellow jewelers. They're encouragement and my own internal drive are fantastic motivators.
I love what I do. I've got tons of inspiration. I like the process of going from A to Z with a piece that I'm working on and I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to do it. I owe it to myself to keep it up! I give myself breaks, and try to pace myself so as not to burn out - that's important! Being at home with the studio and a stack of orders comes with a sense of responsibility to not quit - work all the time - but I also have to relax and enjoy it too.
Here's what some other people are saying on the topic of motivation:
This is Ozzy. He's a betta fish that my youngest son brought home from a birthday party last year. He is named Ozzy for Mr. Osbourne by the small boy who loves loud music. In our family we have a little bit of history forgetting to feed animals who don't bark or meow for their food, so I have him on the counter in front of my bench. If I look up, I see him and remember to drop the small pellets of food into his vase, which he eats audibly. Yes, he lives in a vase because when you get a fish for a birthday party favor, you don't get a fish bowl, and I couldn't find anything better to put him in. He never complains. In fact, Ozzy is quite animated. If you look at him, he reacts by swishing around - it kind of looks like he's talking. Over the past few months I have begun to show him pieces I'm working on and asking for an opinion. Ozzy is always positive. I've grown fond of the little fish that I groaned over when he first came in the door. Our dog makes a mess and doesn't care for anything I'm working on or doing unless it has to do with tennis balls or food. The cats are mad at me because of the dog and they only come by the house to see what's for dinner and beg for some cat nip. Ozzy doesn't roam or make too big a mess, so I'm pleased to give him the title, Mascot. He's hard to photograph, though. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.
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