I Started My Business for the Wrong Reason - Part 2

[Thanks for stopping by! To read Part One of this post, click here.]

Recap.

I started my business for the wrong reason. I have the great privilege of being able to stay at home with my son, which means my hubby was the only one working. I was afraid that we wouldn't be able to maintain the budget we made and started the sewing business as a way to "free" myself from the fear of not having enough.

What's wrong?

On the surface, earning extra money is not a bad motivation to start a business. In fact, I don't know of any businesses that weren't started in hopes of bringing in cash. 

What was wrong in my situation was where my heart was. And how this mindset affected the way I ran my business. 

Have you ever faced that sinking feeling when you realized your monthly expenses outweighed your monthly income? A lot of you know exactly what I'm talking about. That feeling has a purpose: it is meant to bring us to dependence on God. It is meant to open our eyes to the ways that he has already provided all our needs and that he will continue to do so in the future.

I don't think it was a mistake to start my business. In fact, I love doing it! I was wrong to think that I alone could be responsible for helping my family. I was wrong to think money was the answer to our struggles. I was definitely wrong to think my business would take off right away!

Let's continue my business story.

So what happened when I realized I made absolutely no profit last year?

I had to do some re-evaluating.

First, I decided to get organized and figure out where my business money was going! I spent some time reflecting on how I was running my business and made a plan for change. I bought some binders and took out the Sharpie pens mom got me for Christmas and put them to use! I made myself space to write down ideas, organize my patterns, write out measurements and materials for items I sell, file my important business documents, and organize receipts.

I realized that I spent a lot of money on buying materials because I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to focus on. I decided to narrow my shop down to just a few items (bandana bibs, headbands, and zipper pouches). This really helped me to stay focused and only buy materials for these specific items.

But despite all of my organizing and planning, I was still left feeling discouraged. Since my purpose for starting the business was out of the fear of not having enough money, I was really focused on whether I was actually making money and I still had not earned a profit.

Blessing.

An older mentor in my life sat me down one evening and gave me the push I needed to keep going. He encouraged me to keep doing what I loved, because it was blessing others.

Blessing. Isn't this why I started sewing? Not only did I enjoy my creative outlet, but I really enjoyed making gifts for my friends and family. Sewing was a blessing to me. Sewing helped me to be a blessing to others.

I need to see my gift for sewing for what it is: a gift! Not something that pulls me back into the bondage of fear. I want to continue my business of sewing as a way to practice my gift, help others, and bring glory to God (who gave me such a fun gift).

I want to trust God with my business by not working out of fear, but out of a love for him, my family, and sewing itself! I want to be wise in how I invest in my business by not overspending. At the same time, I want to trust that he gave me these gifts and abilities and will help me be a blessing to my family and to others.

Sweet Freedom.

What areas of your life are you working out of the fear of not having enough? This is a struggle for me in so many areas! But now that I have been able to step back and see that my heart was in the wrong place, I feel much happier and more at peace when working at my business. I'm not caught up in the rat race. I can go at whatever pace I choose. My fellow Instagramers and Etsy sellers are not my competition, they're my inspiration!

I feel blessed to be able to keep doing what I love: helping my husband by working in the home, caring for my son, and working at my favorite hobby. I know that my hope is not in my success, but rather in God's faithful, everlasting love.