The Modern Cottage Company

n e w   y e a r

 

 

This time of year always feels like new years to me. The kids go back to school and I dive head first back into my work.

 

It is always a time for me to reflect on my year. Do I want to grow a bigger business, do we want a bigger store, do I want to stay the same but add a different element to what I am doing?

 

This year was amazing. It surpassed my goals and even blew them away.

 

I have mini goals in my head but for now I want to relish in the year.

 

What I know for sure after this year.

 

Plan. I am not a leap before I look person. I plan. If you leap, someone has to catch you-every time. It can get you into financial trouble. As I grow I slowly invest in my company, pay myself more and I am able to afford to purchase even more amazing pieces. Would I love a 4000 square foot shop stocked with the best of the best priceless antiques? Yes, but I am not there yet. I always want to be self sufficient. I could walk away from my business today owing nothing. It doesn't mean I am not a dreamer, it means I know my capacity of what I can handle at this very moment. If my feet are firmly planted on the ground I can run, not fall.

I do not take on more projects than I can handle. I do not over promise.

 

Quality. Surround yourself with quality people that don't have their own agenda. I have totally done this in my life this year. I had spent a lot of time with being surprised by unauthentic people in the past. I feel so light now. 

 

Balance. Work-life balance. I am getting the hang of this! I have a pretty clean house most of the time, a wonderful place to paint and a store to bring them to. I can shut the studio and leave work for the day.

 

 

Dream. I am stuck on this. Seriously this year I met my financial goals, professional goals and I couldn't ask for a better group of ladies to share the shop with. I am inspired by their quality. Both as people and I am blown away by their work as painters.

 

 

Keep my head down. This really helps me focus. I try not to think about how someone else would do something or compare myself. I have to have faith in myself to create beauty. I turn the music on in my studio and paint. It is what I do.

 

Take ego out of the painting. Seriously. I have to work on this one a lot. Not because I think I am great but because in the past I have been taken advantage of. I get upset and ego gets in the way. Drop it and move on.

 

As I go into this next year I am going to do a lot more praying, a lot more gratitude, a lot more happiness.

 

I am excited to look back on this next year and see how MCC and Poppy have grown.