Paracords and More

As I went through the cold winter months, oh yeah, the past winter wasn’t all that cold. Let’s start again. As I went through the cooler winter months, I many times spent a bit of brain power asking myself, should I, could I, would I? What was holding me back. Fear is the only answer I came up with. Fear of success, fear of failure, maybe both.

Around March of 2012, after what seemed like a long time, one of my colleagues, saw my bracelet and commented. I said that I made the bracelet and we talked for a few more minutes about paracord and survival bracelets. She then left my desk and went back to her office.

Now picture this. I’ve been wanting someone to ask me about this bracelet for six months or so and now that someone did, I smiled and that was it. I was beating myself up on the inside for not saying that I made the bracelet aaaaand I sell them. Actually I felt stupid for missing out on a possible opportunity. I made myself get up from my chair and go to this ladies office and tell her that I did in fact make the bracelet and was considering selling them. This is that proverbial fork in the road. If I go one direction, I’ll forever be disappointed in myself. If I go the other direction…who knows. Sort of like the blue and red pill thing in the Matrix.

When I told her, she was surprised. I was surprised that she was surprised and still interested.

Let’s pick this up on the next entry.

When I first made my bracelet, that very first one, I used to wear it everyday. I’ll be honest I had hoped someone would ask me about it so that I could talk about what I had made. No one asked 🙁

All the summer of 2011, no one asked me. Maybe it was for the best. The first bracelet I learned how to make was fastened with a twist and an eyelet and would come off all the time. That part I hated. I was worried I may lose it somewhere and not even know. I tried to make it hold tighter but nothing would work.

I did like how I would make the bracelet my size though. I’ve seen people wearing the rubber/silicone bracelet and I liked how they looked. You need to have a thin wrist for that thing. I could get them on but after awhile the fingers would start to tingle and go white. No good for he big fella. I mostly wore it at work and since no one asked about it, they definitely didn’t ask when we went to long sleeves.

I’ll continue on the next one.

I thought I would write a bit of how this venture into the world of paracord started. I imagine I’ll write about this over the course of several posts. For me it has been a tremendous experience and I’ve learned a lot of things about business. Many of the things that I’ve experienced in other business ventures have come to play in this endeavor and that has been rewarding as well. Even some of the things that may have felt like failures at the time have turned out to be an experience to broaden my knowledge.

Years ago I sold a few things on eBay and learned a lot about customer service and doing all that is possible to make things right with the customer. I’m not talking about that whole, “The customer is always right” thing. I’m speaking more about taking your brand, your reputation and doing everything in your power to make an experience with my business as pleasurable for both sides as possible.

As I do this I’m learning along the way. Making a few mistakes, listening to my gut on many things and so far having a few great successes. I’ll speak more on it later, but the thing I’ve liked the most about this business besides taking a few strands of rope and turning them into jewelry but seeing so many people wearing them has been truly humbling.

I’ll continue further on the next one.