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As I said before, when I was explaining to him my idea, he stopped me. Now I’m a little worried because this is unchartered waters for me. What he suggested was even better. He said that instead of doing just that, why don’t I set up a table and sell the bracelets if anyone is interested right next to their bike trailer. As you can imagine I’m smiling on the inside and it’s creeping to the outside. š
It has amazed me just how helpful so many have been with this endeavor. Showing their families and friends. Coming to me with other orders for bracelets. Giving suggestions. Help coming in all directions in so many ways. I’ve had multiple people buy 5,6, or more bracelets for all the people they know and are close with. It is really touching to get so much unsolicited help. It’s actually difficult to give a good enough thank you. A few people I’ve given a few bucks to buy them lunch or given them a small item like a key chain. It seems so insignificant, but I have to remember I am trying to build something here. I can’t give away the farm, but I do want those “Angels” to know their help is so appreciated.
To all those who have helped me as I climb the mountains in this business, I can’t tell you how much you mean to me. I appreciate you. Each of you and I won’t forget. I will do my best to honor your contribution and make this a success. Again…THANKYOU.
Back to the work at hand. We’ll talk again next time Constant Reader…see you then.
I took my friends suggestion and went to one of the supervisors that has been an integral part of the police activities associated with the Bikes on the Bricks program. The thought came to me as I was going to work that morning. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get addresses to past participants that may be coming to the police training aspect of the Bikes on the Bricks and send them a flyer and/or card showing my bracelets and reminding them that they can inquire with me if they are interested. Sounds good right?
Well when I get to the office, this same supervisor, tells me he needs to get another bracelet for someone he spoke with at one of the local coffee shops downtown. This is a perfect segue.
So I tell him my idea and before I could finish it he stops me and…I’ll continue next time Constant Reader. Take Care.
This is a constant thought that crosses my mind with this business. At one point it is exciting because there are so many different ways to do things, that it is interesting picking which one. At the same time it is daunting, because I wonder am I making the correct choices. I try not to worry too much if I am doing things perfectly. I know that mistakes will come along for the ride from time to time, but I also want to make the best use of my time.
When I first signed up on Pinterest, the very first post that I commented on is a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt. It said something to the effect of “Do something everyday that scares you”. I love that quote. It reminds me that it is normal that doing something that I’ve never done can be scary. The clearest sign of courage, is facing my fear and doing it anyway or as I like to say in this digital age, “Push Send”. Which is my way of saying, let’s go ahead and do the darn thing. What do IĀ have to lose. Most of the time what I have to lose is minimal.
One day I sent a text to a few people that I’ve worked with over the years and showed them a picture of the “Thin Blue Line” bracelet. A few contacted me and ultimately bought a bracelet or three. One of my good friends, gave me a suggestion that I couldn’t pass up. He reminded me that here in Flint in September of every year there is a motorcycle event we call “Bikes on the Bricks.” It is similar to the wildly popular “Back to the Bricks” custom car event that is held in Flint every August. He suggested that I maybe have a table in the event during the police motorcycle practice and competition.
When we talk again, Constant Reader, we’ll continue with this course of events.
I spoke a few post ago on how lessons can be learned. I also spoke a bit of how a lesson can come at you hard and fast and at times when you least expect it. That was the lesson I got, real quick, when that deputy asked me if I had a website. As I’ve said previously I had been working on a site and was dealing with the kinks that would obviously present themselves. He reminded me to do one thing…hurry up about it. I’ve since thanked this deputy and given him a key chain as a token of my appreciation. He doesn’t really think he did anything special.
I’ve got something important that has come up that I need to do so I’ll catch you next time constant reader.
I truly believe the title. We are all teachers in some form or another. We can teacher others, intentionally or passively. We can even teach ourselves a thing or two from time to time.
I used to wonder how that happens. The answer I came up with is that our minds, the unconscious parts of our minds, remembers everything that we’ve experienced in our lives. Not just the things that we pay attention to but the mundane details that seem trivial or insignificant. Our subconscious mind can process a large amount of things that our conscious mind frankly doesn’t even pay attention to. I believe that is how we can teach ourselves things.
I bet you’ve had an experience like I have. You might be sitting somewhere and think about something; a question that you have been pondering perhaps. All of a sudden an answer to that very questions presents itself and it feels right to you. Without even researching if the answer is correct you know. You know in your gut that the answer is correct. That is, I believe, how we teach ourselves things or skills.
We can also teach others. Be that directly or indirectly. A lesson can be learned from most of our life’s experiences. That is a big reason why I am writing this. I want to for nostalgia sake be able to look back at the journey and see how far I have come. If, along the way, someone can read my words and take a lesson from my experiences, good and bad, that would be wonderful. I have done that with others; learned lessons from their challenges and zeniths. Perhaps I can do that same thing for someone else. My way of giving back to the universe I suppose.
We’ll see where it goes from here Constant Reader.
When I bought the large quantity of paracord, I knew I had to do something with it. If I bought that much cord and enough buckles to match, I would consider myself a fool for not doing something with it. This played in the back of my mind over and over.
One day I came home and looked over the flyer that I had been working on. I thought the flyer looked pretty good, but I had to fight that self doubt that wanted so badly to creep in. After I tweaked it all it needed, I recall sitting in front of my computer and looking at it over and over. I then pushed the buttons to print out a few copies. I figured what did I have to loose. If no one was interested in the bracelet, it would hurt, but at least I would know. If I didn’t put up the flyer, I would always be angry with myself for not doing what I knew I should do. So up on the walls they go.
Now let me explain a small dynamic at my job that I have seen occur several times over the 25+ years I have been working here. Whenever someone puts up a flyer for something they are either selling or for a union position they are running for, if the person isn’t well respected, there will be all sorts of comments written on the flyer. The comments could be derogatory or supportive, but it is definitely a non-scientific way of getting a general opinion about someone’s reputation from the masses so to speak. I went back and forth on whether or not I should laminate the flyers. I decided not to and let the flyers “fly”.
Next time I’ll tell you how the flying flyers went. See you then Constant Reader.
After I sold the first two, the very next day, a couple other co-workers, said they saw them and wanted one. Of course I was happy to help them out.
Around this time one of my co-workers, another police officer, asked me about my “Thin Blue Line” bracelet. I told him that I made them and was considering selling them. He asked to buy one right away. The next day when I saw him again, he said he needed another one for his wife and maybe one for his daughter. Once again after they got their bracelets, I see him another day and he says he needs one for his sister-in-law, father-in-law, and I think his mother-in-law. Within one week he needed about six of them. He also told me that a lot of other officers were asking about his bracelet and he was telling them to contact me. Now this is all before I put up one flyer.
Now around this time, I decide to make a purchase of 2000′ of paracord from my supplier and a bunch of buckles. Back to that talk about the flyer…this was a heck of an incentive to get off my arse [sic] and walk outside of that box and do something different. At least different for me. Come by next time and see what I did.
Talk to you soon, Constant Reader.
Now once I get to my design studio. Actually that sounds impressive right? My “Design Studio”, is actually a desk in my basement. OK, focus. Once I get to the studio, I go about the task of making the bracelets. Now this is a culmination of all the work and research that I did over the winter of 2011/2012. I wonder will the bracelet be good enough for her. Will she appreciate the quality and the time put in?
These are all questions that were rolling through my mind that evening as I made those first bracelets. I had to remind myself that I have always been a person that appreciates high quality in product and high quality in customer service. I’ve had experience with both in the past, so I had no reason to think that I wouldn’t be able to do the same with this.
The one thing I love about this hobby that is slowly turning into a business, is how I can take plain raw cord and twist and tie it a certain way. Add a buckle and have a really nice looking piece of jewelry that has the added bonus of a utility factor with the paracord itself.
The title of this post…the question of whether or not it will be good enough, is really personal self doubt rolling in. I always do my best to be optimistic and with this endeavor, I’ve pledged to do just that. If I put my heart into whatever I’m making, it will be good enough.
Up next…delivery.
See you next time, Constant Reader.
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