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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / blog & handmade advice / 31 days / {Handmade Business in 31 days — Day 1, Knowing when to say ‘no’}

{Handmade Business in 31 days — Day 1, Knowing when to say ‘no’}

September 30, 2012 · 53 Comments
Filed Under: 31 days, blog & handmade advice

It’s that time of year — time for The Nester’s “31 days” annual October series, and I’m super excited to announce this years topic ~ HANDMADE BUSINESS in 31 DAYS. We have a whole list of topics, ideas, photos + inspiration to include in each daily post, as well as additional post content pulled from our editorial calendar throughout the month. For 31 days straight we’ll be discussing handmade business topics from packaging to hiring help to managing email, and many things in between. I hope you’ll join us in the comments section for additional discussion.

Day 1//  Knowing when to say ‘no’

There are two things I’ve learned when it comes to taking opportunities: know how busy — or not busy, your schedule is {including the upcoming months} and know the purpose statement of your business. Let’s digress on the latter first. Take some time to outline the purpose statement of your biz, noting things like… What you want others to take away? What are your goals? What kind of content will you create to achieve these goals? What is the #1 takeaway from your post/design/proposal/etc.? Having a solid purpose statement will give you a reference point for potential opportunities, allowing you to “know when to say ‘no'”.  Lastly, when you know what your schedule looks like it’s easier to decide on the spot whether you have the time to say yes or no. Knowing when to say ‘no’ also allows you to say ‘yes’ to opportunities that are a better fit your business or brand. Looking at this from another angle: when you know what your purpose statement is you are able to more freely decide on opportunities that fly your way. On the spot. Because you could also reference your schedule.

2013 calender by Gingiber

See? Super simple :)

The tricky part is enforcing what your schedule looks like + your business’ purpose statement.

HOMEWORK// Write a purpose statement for your business {about 3 sentences} + set a schedule for the next 2-3 months {think editorial calendar, travel, product designs, etc.}. Know you have the freedom to edit your purpose statement as your business evolves, and remember that your schedule can always change ~ although putting a few things “in pen” isn’t a bad idea.

 

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53 Comments
Filed Under: 31 days, blog & handmade advice

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Comments

  1. Michelle Sharkey says

    September 30, 2012 at 7:25 pm

    Oooohhh! I am so excited about this! I am filing all of my recipes, orders and other paperwork I have let get away the past month and it feels good to start preparing for the upcoming busy months. Thank you for all the tips you guys will be sharing.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 2, 2012 at 11:09 am

      @Michelle Sharkey, YES! because these next few weeks will fly by and it’ll be super helpful to have something to reference once the craze of the holidays hits :)

      Reply
  2. Annie says

    September 30, 2012 at 7:34 pm

    Hi Maggie! I’m so psyched about your 31 days series! I’ve been contemplating starting a shop to sell prints of my paintings for some time. I’m even considering doing 31 days of paintings… but I’m on the fence. (Nothing like the last minute, eh?) I loved your podcast with Tsh & am looking forward to gleaning from your experience.

    Reply
  3. Cara @ WhimsySmitten says

    September 30, 2012 at 7:34 pm

    Super excited about this topic. I’m *finally* getting ready to launch my handmade business (again) after an extended time off and I never really “did it right” the first time around. The timing couldn’t have been better. Looking forward to the next 30 days!

    Thanks for passing your wisdom on to the rest of us, and best of luck getting settled into your new home, too.

    Reply
  4. Melissa @ A Time for Everything says

    September 30, 2012 at 7:44 pm

    Yay, yay, yay! I almost did this topic but changed to budgeting after getting feedback on my FB page. I’m so glad I switched and am super excited to follow your posts this month!

    Reply
  5. Angee @ October Morning says

    September 30, 2012 at 7:48 pm

    Yat! I’m so glad you’re doing this series. When you said you were doing the 31 day challenge I was hoping it was business related. I started my handmade business in August and I have so much to learn. I just finished filling in my October shop/blog calendar. I hope having clear goals for the month will keep me focused and productive.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 2, 2012 at 11:10 am

      @Angee @ October Morning, If you set clear goals they’ll be the best assistant to you! promise :)

      Reply
  6. cassie @ Live.Laugh.L0ve. says

    September 30, 2012 at 7:52 pm

    I am going to love your 31 days!!

    Reply
  7. Kirsten says

    September 30, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    Seriously, *such* perfect timing. I was 100% looking forward to meeting you at Influence and soaking in some hand-made business wisdom. But since that can’t happen this year (so so sad, but very much understood), I am thrilled to be able to learn oodles over the next 31 days. ;)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 2, 2012 at 11:11 am

      @Kirsten, Yep, sometimes we need to be reminded it’s OK to say “no”. I’ll be speaking at another conference called Allume later this month, any chance you have a ticket to that as well??? xoxo

      Reply
  8. reeve says

    September 30, 2012 at 8:58 pm

    I’m so excited to read your series!!

    Reply
  9. Kendra says

    October 1, 2012 at 12:17 am

    SOO glad you doing this series! It’s gonna be a good month! :)
    THANKS!

    Reply
  10. Sarah-Lambert says

    October 1, 2012 at 12:45 am

    This is going to be such a fun series to follow! Funny, I’ve been selling my handmade goods online for over 2 years and hadn’t considered whether the “purpose statement” I wrote for myself back shortly after I began really still applies until reading this. The answer: it doesn’t. Time to sit down and re-realize where I’m at and what I’m all about!

    Thanks!

    Reply
  11. Eleanor says

    October 1, 2012 at 4:13 am

    What a great topic. Thanks for choosing this. I have been contemplating opening a shop but I am also a homeschooling mom to 4. So, I really wonder if this is the right time for me. I am also not sure what all I would be getting myself into.

    On another note, I love your posts on your new advanture. My husband and I have lived in 6 states, all over the country since we have been married, so I really appreciate what you ar doing.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 2, 2012 at 11:14 am

      @Eleanor, I know, sometimes it all seems so crazy intense, huh?! I think you should set some time to outline what pursuing a shop would be like for your family. What if you hired help to assist you? If your prices, goals + schedule are written well this is totally do-able! Be courageous! Take time to feed your creative soul :)

      Reply
  12. Stacie Bloomfield says

    October 1, 2012 at 5:04 am

    Excited for this series, and super pumped to see my calendar used in this post. Yikes, it looks like I need a manicure in a bad way ;)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 2, 2012 at 11:14 am

      @Stacie Bloomfield, I adore your work and love including it here :)

      Reply
  13. Nadir@StitchSense says

    October 1, 2012 at 5:55 am

    This is great Maggie! I’m excited about this series. I’ve recently been pushing myself to do more & its been hard knowing what to turn down & what to pursue for my business like whether to do as many craft shows this fall/winter as I had planned or focus more on the online aspect of my business, etc. Thanks for sharing! I look forward to the challenge this will bring me. :-)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 2, 2012 at 11:16 am

      @Nadir@StitchSense, I know. I had a moment where I felt like this post topic would sound too negative. But I think us women these days take on too much, we are afraid to say no. Really, saying no means saying yes to other things that REALLY are important, like our health, families, faith, hobbies, etc. Just as much as we need to work to keep the electricity on we need to take time to nurture our health through relaxation/rest + creativity. Even if your creative “thing” may seem like work to someone else. And I also think it’s OK to be honest with the opportunities that come your way. Perhaps you say “no” now but in a couple of months you can say “yes” :)

      Reply
  14. linda (burlap+blue) says

    October 1, 2012 at 6:17 am

    Yes, yes, YES! So true. It’s so hard for me to say “no” (who doesn’t want to help out a fellow blogger/biz owner?), but you’re spot on…if the opportunity doesn’t fit your brand/goals, it’s not right for you. Well said.

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 2, 2012 at 11:17 am

      @linda (burlap+blue), I want to cringe sometimes because it feels so terrible. Taking on too much doesn’t help said fellow blogger in the end, though. I know you know this though :) Thanks so much for your comment + enthusiasm! Happy to see your name here! xo

      Reply
  15. Emily says

    October 1, 2012 at 7:35 am

    wow – I ALSO picked handmade business as my 31 day topic – but focusing on ETSY sellers – you know, how to sell on Etsy, etc…

    I cant wait to read up everything you write! handmade biz is one thing i could read about for hours! :)

    Reply
  16. Chrissy @ Parlo and LOGI says

    October 1, 2012 at 7:44 am

    Great topic! I’m excited to follow along!

    Reply
  17. Nicole J says

    October 1, 2012 at 8:07 am

    I’m so excited about this series :) I think it will be so helpful and relevant for me!

    Reply
  18. Kimberly Amici says

    October 1, 2012 at 9:21 am

    Yeah, I am so excited for this series. I recently started a business with a product I designed and sewed for one of my children. Still in the infant stages so looking forward to your thoughts on inspiration on the subject!

    Reply
  19. Jenn says

    October 1, 2012 at 11:53 am

    Thanks so much for this! I have been planning on starting up my own etsy shop and would love the input and inspiration!

    Reply
  20. Erin@ Sweetness Itself Blog says

    October 1, 2012 at 12:55 pm

    this is so helpful and awesome! can’t wait to read more of your wisdom and advice on this topic – love your style!!

    xo
    Erin

    sweetnessitself.blogspot.com

    Reply
  21. hsmominmo says

    October 1, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    I don’t have a handmade business, but what you’ve shared today applies to my wonderfully full life anyway. Looking forward to reading more of your insights and tips and ideas this month!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 2, 2012 at 11:18 am

      @hsmominmo, YES!!!! so glad you are able to transition the topic to fit your life! yes! :)

      Reply
  22. Alys Hejl says

    October 1, 2012 at 7:58 pm

    Can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us for your 31 days posts! This is so touching to my heart and so relevant to what is going on in my life right now! I am making products to get my shop to re-open with a facelift. The first time around I didn’t do it quite right. I’m excited to learn from you and see where the Lord takes my biz in this next month!

    Reply
  23. Chemese says

    October 1, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    What’s Gussy Sews purpose statement?

    Reply
  24. Dedra@SolomonsSecrets says

    October 2, 2012 at 1:07 am

    I am so looking forward to following along for the next 31 days. I have recently re-launched my handmade business blog and I really need help with focus. Your series will be perfect for me. I am in!

    Reply
  25. Button Bird Designs says

    October 2, 2012 at 7:47 am

    Ohhhhhhh I can’t tell you how very very very excited I am about this series!!!!!! Thank you so much for writing on this subject!! I just adore you and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee everything you create!
    xoxoxoxo
    Angela

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      October 2, 2012 at 11:19 am

      @Button Bird Designs, ::blush:: you’re not so bad yourself ;)

      Reply
  26. Emily says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:47 am

    This series couldn’t have come at a better time for me! I’m so looking forward to catching up on the rest of the posts in this series :)

    Reply
  27. Beth Ingersoll says

    October 4, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    I am diggin’ this series! Can’t wait!

    I’m a 31 Day-er too!

    Reply
  28. Ruth says

    December 13, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    Hi there, just found your site and i’m so happy i did!! for last couple of months i’ve been thinking of starting my own handmade buss. since i will be out of work as of jan 2013 and don’t want to go back to an office job! but i had no idea on how or where to start…. but along came Gussy Sews Yeeeeee!! thank you so much for posting you 31 Days!! I will start reading it today!!! Happy Holiday’s Ruth (sewing in Suriname)

    Reply
  29. jessie says

    April 1, 2013 at 8:31 am

    just see your series now but i like it and will read it day by day :)

    Reply
  30. Yessica says

    October 14, 2013 at 11:06 pm

    Sorry, can you give me an example of the purpose statement of business please?

    Reply
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Trackbacks

  1. After the Minikins Market… | Solomon's Secrets Blog says:
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  2. 31 days of 31 days | Simple Opulence says:
    October 2, 2012 at 2:51 am

    […] Coffee Talk with Jesus. I am already following Gussy Sews on my handmade business blog as she does Handmade Business in 31 Days. I may hop on over to Sarah Mae’s blog where she will be talking about  31 days to a Fresh […]

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  3. {Handmade Business in 31 Days — Day 2, The importance of a blog.} says:
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    […] piece of advice is to take a look at your schedule, what things do you have written down that are truly clouding your workday and purpose statement? […]

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  4. {Handmade Business in 31 Days — Day 4, Creating goals.} says:
    October 4, 2012 at 3:01 am

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
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We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

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It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
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Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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