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.
Coming up: more stories of encouragement, inspiration and how-to to get you through Friday.
Bio:
Thanks so much for inviting me to share on Gussy! I’m Lisa and I own a jewelry business called Lisa Leonard Designs. I started the business when my boys were very small, because I wanted to have more flexibility with my schedule. Before I made the leap into making jewelry as my main job, I was a teacher working with special needs kiddos. I live on the central coast of California with my sweet husband and our two boys (ages 7 and 8).
My days are full of legos, emails, chocolate chip pancakes, piano-playing and jewelry designing!
The Interview:
1. What were some ways you prepared to become a handmade biz owner {your day-to-day schedule, financially, emotionally, etc.}?
I had some wonderful jobs when I was younger that prepared me for being a business owner. I didn’t know it at the time, but waiting tables is an excellent way to brush up on your people skills {and deal with the infrequent unhappy customer!} I also served frozen yogurt and after college I was a wedding coordinator.
My husband is very supportive and business-minded which has been crucial for the success of Lisa Leonard Designs. Also, I didn’t make the leap into small business until we were financially stable enough to take the risk.
2. Share with us a positive “ah-hah” moment from this process.
So many ah-hah moments! Being creative is a process of constant growth and change. One of my biggest ah-hah moments was realizing I could create what I wanted. I could be different and I could be ME. Sheesh, I had to be ME in order to really be successful!
3. What was the time frame from when you decided you were going to quit to when you actually put in your notice/took some serious steps toward becoming self-employed?
It’s so hard to leave a good job. I loved my supervisor and didn’t want to disappoint her by leaving, but we had to do what was best for our family. And she was so understanding! My husband and I sat down and crunched numbers and realized we could make it work, even if I didn’t have much of an income for a bit. The next week, I gave my two-week notice.
4. What was your first day like as a handmade biz owner? Describe your feelings, were you really excited? Did it seem soooo weird to be home/self-employed? Share this moment with us.
For me, it was a gradual shift. Also, my days were full of two little boys — so I had plenty to do and not a lot of time to reflect. But I remember being so relieved I could focus on jewelry and the boys and not feel spread thin by other responsibilities.
5. Do you write out a “schedule” for each day? How do you divide and organize your time?
I don’t have a super rigid schedule, but I make a to-do list every day. I take the boys to school and pick them up, and that adds a lot of structure to my day. While they are at school, I am in the workshop and running errands. I tackle email throughout the day.
6. What is a current challenge are you facing, and how do you plan to overcome it?
Hmm, one big decision I’m making right now is where to put our advertising dollars. It’s a new year and I want to assess what worked and what didn’t work last year. This will involve looking at data and also just going with my gut-feeling.
7. What are three tips you can to pass along to someone that’s ready to make the leap? :]
*Be smart financially, make sure you can pay your bills and have a little cushion in case sales don’t go as expected.
*Hire people to do the things you don’t like doing. The first person I hired to help with my business was a bookkeeper. Because I just can’t stand crunching numbers. {But I still look at weekly reports!}
*Make sure you are doing something you love and something that reflects who you are!
Connect with Lisa ~
Blog
Shop
Twitter
Share with us: What is something you need to learn more about,
and how do you plan to educate yourself?
[see you tomorrow for another post]
i love looking at her jewelry. one day i will splurge and buy myself a piece.
Love Lisa’s blog and her jewelry. The actual business/numbers side of it all scares me. It gives me a headache just thinking about it. Thanks for saying it’s OK to hire out the part that you don’t like.
so helpful and insightful! :)
gina
I love this and I love her shop too!
loved reading this!!!!
Leaving a day job to start your own business sounds ridiculously scary but these posts are very inspirational and informative! I want to start thinking about things I could do to avoid working for big corporations where you are just a robot serving a means to an end.
I love Lisa’s blog AND her work. She’s such a lovely person, inside and out! So glad you featured her!
I would really love to learn how to focus my work and concentrate on one area and making that my signature rather than making such a broad range of pieces that have no coherency. I think that’s what I love so much about yours and Lisa’s work is that you can look at a piece and instantly know that who made it.
I LOVE Lisa’s jewelry and WILL own some pieces someday:) I totally agree with her statement of how her previous jobs prepared her along the way for what shes now doing. I can see in my own life how God led me from one thing to the next and how those jobs have prepared me for where I am now.
Great guest post!:)
Great post. Great series. And I love Lisa’s jewelry!
I love these posts, they are inspiring and motivating! I would love to hear more on how these business owners advertise and market their products…what works best?
Thanks!!
Great interview Lisa!! LOVE your work so much!! MY biggest issue is the money part!! I Sew Lucky is doing really well now, doubled since last year and I plan to hire an account. That is actually scary to me. I am just little ol April:) YIKES!! Great reading how you manage things! AND, Gussy you have been a great help to me since we met at Tcc:)
great interview!! and lisa, i have to say, you have the most incredible style (very anthropologie-esque)! and i love your studio space – it is so lovely and calming!!
I *am* wearing one of Lisa’s necklaces…it’s lovely…a special treat just for me from “Santa” Christmas 2009. I found you first through Ali Edwards…then I think in a magazine…maybe Real Simple. Nevertheless…you’re bookmarked forever on my Mac!
I loved reading about your journey, Lisa! It’s worth pointing out that your husband is so supportive and has a bit of business acumen. Us creatives are blessed if we ourselves possess such wisdom/insight into the “nuts and bolts” of an entrepreneurial adventure…to have a partner balancing our creative side…even better!
Your three tips for success…right on…it doesn’t matter how beautifully we create, how much we create…if we can’t manage…or at least delegate the financials/business aspect of our new venture we won’t be making or creating stuff for very long.
Thanks!
ab
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my blog thus i came
to “return the favor”.I’m trying to find things to enhance my site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
I like your transitions and qiluaty. I have been writing for Ghost Writers for a while now, and they pay me good to write blog posts like this, or articles. I clear $100-$200 on a awful morning.Judging by your skill with words, you may enjoy doing the same.It wouldnt hurt to check them out.