Phhhhissshhhh. That is the sound of me deflating like a balloon. My get up and go has got up and went. Not about life. About my business. Now, before anyone reads any further, let me clarify that I am not down, depressed or upset. It is a sense of frustration I am experiencing. Frustrated with dealing with a business that lately seems to be going nowhere. Stagnate. Still. Nothing.
When my partner and I came up with the idea, we were so gung-ho. Full of air! Excitement overflowed. It was all I could think and talk about. My mind raced with a million and one ideas. I envisioned a huge empire that I would be beginning. The next Nike, only for maternity. I would conquer the clothing world, one shirt at a time. The sky was the limit. Sporty U. would be the next greatest idea. Everyone who was expecting or who knew someone expecting would be rushing the racks to buy our shirts. Yeah. Not so much. Not yet anyway.
This October will be three years since we formed our corporation. It will be one year next month since we received our inventory. So technically, we haven’t been at it for as long as it feels like. The licensing process and finding a manufacturer was such a long process, it feels like we’ve been in business forever. Every step of our business has been such a process, from the licensing process to making sales. I am sure that is the case for any business: Everything is a process.
But, day after day of being turned down and dealing with people who never respond or call you back, you get burned out. I am so tired of making phone calls and no one calling back. I am tired of emailing and no one responds back. I know deep down if someone was really interested in our product, they would call or contact us. My brain is fried trying to reinvent ourselves. Re-marketing ourselves. Finding new ways to make sales. Finding creative ways to get the word out about our product.
I am not saying I am ready to give up. I am saying there are days, like today that I feel like giving up. I feel like why keep trying when there are no benefits? No rewards. No reason to continue trying when nothing comes of it. I know persistence is the key. Never give up. Stay steadfast. Some days it is just easier said than done. Today is one of those days. Today I am a balloon and all the air is being pushed out. I just need a little air pumped back in to bring some life to me and my sense of motivation.
Maybe you know someone who is expecting and a University of Florida Gator fan? How about a Florida State University Seminole fan? University of South Florida Bulls fan? You could always pass along our website to someone who could use one of our collegiate maternity shirts. They make a great baby shower gift! A sale would certainly pump some life back in me! If not, I know I will find motivation again. Hopefully I will do so before the motivation balloon pops for good.
Tags: FSU Seminole Maternity Shirt, UF Gator Maternity Shirt, USF Bulls Maternity Shirt
