{Quit Your Day Job, a story of bravery & uncertainty}

Editors note:
It has been 8 months since I quit my day job to work on Gussy Sews full time — and to help celebrate the anniversary of this little dream of mine, I’ve put together a {Quit Your Day Job} mini-series. Please take some time and read through the features — each feature is unique to the next, which I love. Everyone has a different story to tell ♥.

This post is particularly meaningful as it’s Jennifer’s story of bravery & uncertainty. To protect Jennifer’s job, aside from sharing her name, this is an anonymous story. She may not be a full-time handmade business owner yet, but she is determined, intentional and so, so excited! I am so very proud of her — Jennifer has real fears and real plans to overcome them, and we invite you to read her story below.

Jennifer’s Story // The Interview:

1. Give us a little glimpse of who you are and what your handmade business is.
My handmade business — which is in its infancy, or maybe even pregnancy! — is home decor made with digital art. The first products I am offering are canvases to hang on the wall and refrigerator magnets. I have stock items and will also take custom orders. Other products that could come later include coasters, party banners, posters and personalized cookbooks. I would eventually like to add designing scrapbooks for people (as an offshoot of my work as a consultant for Heritage Makers) but this is a much more expensive product than the home decor items so it’s a much more limited market.

2. What are some ways you are preparing to become a handmade biz owner?
I am working to pay down my credit card debts and create a budget that will allow me to quit my full-time job. I’m also looking for part-time jobs so I can ease into trying to make enough money on my business instead of going straight to no-guaranteed income. My real struggle is finding time to get my business set up while still working full time and taking care of children. My husband and I work opposite shifts so when I’m home, the child care is all up to me. So things have been moving slowly. I had hoped to have my Etsy shop open by January 1st, but it still isn’t. I think the time and scheduling is actually a bigger roadblock than the financial aspect.

3. What kind of progress have you made? — and how much longer do you have to go?
I have some products made, and some partially made, but have none photographed for the Etsy shop. I have a blog for the business but am not posting on it regularly yet. I have established customers for my consultant job who I hope will help me spread the word once the home decor business is launched. As for how long I have to go … I really would like to have the shop open by the end of the month. But when it will become a full-time business, I truly don’t know.

4. What kind of steps are you taking so you can give your 2-week notice?
Step 1: Get initial products finished
Step 2: Get products photographed and descriptions written
Step 3: Get products into Etsy shop
Step 4: Publicize shop
Step 5: Find a part-time job. I had been looking for one in my professional field but as I write this, I think something like retail would suffice
Step 6: Set up a schedule with my family to balance business work, family time and the part-time job

5. What are you most afraid of (with putting in your notice)?
I am most afraid of failing. Although the loss of guarantee income will be scary, I’m far more scared of telling people that I am quitting a good-paying stable job for this venture and even more scared of the possibility of telling them a year later that I couldn’t make it work.

6. Share with us what excites you most the most about being a self-employed biz owner.
I’m most excited about making money to be creative and do something enjoyable and to share my work with others. I also like that I can work from anywhere and set my own hours, so when my husband (a teacher) is off and wants to go on a trip, I can do that without being tied to a specific shift or location.

7. Based on your experience so far, what are three tips you could to pass along to someone that’s ready to make the leap?
1. Easier said than done, but don’t let fear rule you
2. Think through your business name, domain name, twitter account and anything else that might have your name on it before you start setting them all up
3. Network, network, network

*A true thank you to each woman who allowed me to feature her.
Thank you so very much to: Kyla, Katie, Lisa Rungren, Kim, Lauren, Lisa Leonard, Sarah, Natalie and Jennifer.

May you all be inspired.
♥