thoughts and ramblings

this weekend (well, let's be honest, every day really!) I've been thinking a lot about the future of Ladybird Likes. about growing it into something that will enable me to do what I love but also make enough money to live from. I want Ladybird Likes to become a brand people have heard of, I want to see people out and about wearing my pieces. I have such huge plans and aspirations for this little business, but there are so many details to work out.

as a brand grows it seems a certain finish or polished look is required. my business plan has always included Ladybird Likes feeling very handmade and independent, but I don't think this is what gets into magazines, or on to celebs. when I look at brands that I aspire to be like, they have professional shoots done with photographers, and models, and make up artists, and stylists. they have websites and online shops built by web designers and logos made by graphic designers. they have PR companies that handle all their press, getting them into magazines and on to celebrities. even their items look better quality and less handmade.

and then there is me. taking my own pictures against a piece of white paper. trying to create a website out of a stripped back blogspot blog. making my own graphics in photoshop using techniques which I know are really long-winded, but it's the only way I know how to do things as I tend to make it up as I go along, having no photoshop training. it's disheartening. I know that to grow the business the way I want I need to take that next step and go a bit more professional. but two things hold me back. firstly, the money. spending hundreds of pounds on photos is a big deal for me. spending the same again on website development, and graphic designers, and PR companies... well that terrifies me! and they aren't one-off costs - every time new products come out you need more photos taking, the website needs updating regularly, PR is an ongoing battle....

but maybe I should just bite the bullet. I have total faith in Ladybird Likes - it's my baby, and I will do whatever it takes to make it a success and to make my dream real. so I should see the money I'd be spending as an investment, right? well this is where the second thing comes into play; I'm a total control freak. I've mentioned this on the blog several times before, but I have real trouble letting go of anything relating to the business. I want to do EVERYTHING myself. it can be a good thing at times, but mostly it gets in the way and stops me from getting things down because I end up constantly battling against myself. not good!

being self-employed has definitely made me realise that the biggest obstacle to me achieving my goals is in fact me. I overthink things to the point where I become almost paralysed by how much there is to do, or how long it will take to do a particular job, or how much trial and error is involved in something new, and in the end I will get nothing done other than sit and worry and compare myself to other people who I deem to be more successful, or more skilled, or more cool than me.

so this week I'm going to storm ahead. there will be no pity party - instead I'm going to plow all that energy into working on new products, building my new website, and opening my folksy and dawanda shops. wish me luck!