When I was 15, I knew that someday I would own a company, doing what, I didn't know. The responsibility, independence, and challenge of being a business owner intrigued me. Yes, I was an adult child and a nerd.
Recently Drew and I started tip-toeing into this idea. If I am going to own my own company one day, that means Drew will be co-owner, so whatever I get into, he needs to be into it just as much. I've toyed with starting a creative or communications agency, being a weekend photographer, or having "Greta's Gardening & Gift Shoppe". It would be so cool to have an organizational company to help people with my organizational awesomeness.... But, we need to think about this a little more.
I'm very touchy about the future with benefits, getting a small business loan, learning the ropes of what others have done. Making mistakes isn't my thing (I'm a perfectionist - which sucks), so taking risks is sometimes hard for me. This is not the case when it comes to randomly jumping off cliffs, going sky diving, or choosing to run onto a baseball field in a swim suit while it's raining and go slip n' sliding on the field tarp down the first base line into home plate. Yes, that was illegal, but it was fun. I digress.
As I think about our future, I want to be able to provide for our child(ren), which includes paying for college. I'll be paying for school until 2026. One life goal is to lessen the debt burden for our kids, so how do Drew and I make a successful go of this business-ownership plan so we may provide a profitable future for the family?
Enter Mid-America Diamonds. Drew and I are now proud Wholesale Manufacturer Representatives for a company that has an amazing reputation. Mid-America is a small, successful, family-owned business that specializes in providing wholesale diamonds, precious stones, and custom designed jewelry with unique mountings and settings to jewelry stores and private individual clients throughout the Midwest.
Need jewelry for Mother's Day, a birthday, an anniversary, Hanukkah, Christmas, or graduation? We can do that. Need a stone remounted? We can do that. Need to upgrade your wedding ring? We can do that. Want to make Grandma's old necklace into some new earrings? Yep - can do. How about some cuff links? Yes, we can do that too. Want to get rid of a diamond or sell some gold? Just say the word. We can do that for you.
We're not quitting our day jobs, we're just learning the business from two of the most talented, lovable, professional people in this world, Karen and Wayne Sullivan, owners of Mid-America. Drew and I have purchased our jewelry from the Sullivan's since 2005. Drew has known the family since 1995, and I inherited their amazingness in 2005 when Drew proposed to me. I don't think there are two better people to learn business ownership 101 from (minus Walt Walton, the best insurance salesman ever).
So if you're in the market for jewelry, Drew and I will happily meet with you. We've made 5 happy clients in the month of April! And who wants to pay retail when you can come to us for wholesale? It seems pretty simple! We're happy to serve.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
STATUS UPDATE #1: I RESOLVE...
I made it a point to share my resolutions this year in the hopes that it would make me accountable to people I don't know along with those who are rooting for me. My SMART GOALS consisted of losing baby weight, being more positive and less judgmental, working on my photography hobby, helping others with projects, and potentially following my voice over dream
Here's the status update:
LOSE BABY WEIGHT
Since January, I'm down about 20 pounds. I'm very happy with this result. My method is Weight Watchers. I do need to exercise more. Working on that, but I'm having issues managing my time. I'm about 20 pounds away from my pre-baby weight, but hey, I can fit in my pre-baby jeans, so I'm feeling good. I CAN DO IT!
POSITIVITY
Since starting a new job in April, I think my positivity level has increased based on the excitement and newness of the role. Working with a new team helps me focus on breaking bad habits and starting new ones. Leading by example and taking a fresh perspective on new projects and people makes me feel inspired, challenged, and energized. I just need more time in the day! I'm a lover of change. IT IS ALL GOOD!
PHOTOGRAPHY
In March, I signed up for an online class, Discovering Digital Photography, and I just successfully took my final. It was a little too remedial for me, but I had to start somewhere. The next class planned is Adobe Photoshop Elements 10, which I'll start at the end of June. My prime subject continues to be Cate, who will be eight months this week.
PEOPLE PROJECTS
This is a work in progress. So far, I've assisted in multiple projects for family and friends from gardening, cleaning out rooms and closets, and organizing. I also decided to incorporate more volunteerism and community involvement in to this goal, so I recently added my name to the "available volunteer" list for the United Way.
VOICE OVER WORK
Still working on this. I have some leads, but need to make a demo tape. I am free labor at this point. Hopefully I'll have a chance to do some work for my actual job. I need to get rid of this St. Louis/Chicago accent!
Here's the status update:
LOSE BABY WEIGHT
Since January, I'm down about 20 pounds. I'm very happy with this result. My method is Weight Watchers. I do need to exercise more. Working on that, but I'm having issues managing my time. I'm about 20 pounds away from my pre-baby weight, but hey, I can fit in my pre-baby jeans, so I'm feeling good. I CAN DO IT!
POSITIVITY
Since starting a new job in April, I think my positivity level has increased based on the excitement and newness of the role. Working with a new team helps me focus on breaking bad habits and starting new ones. Leading by example and taking a fresh perspective on new projects and people makes me feel inspired, challenged, and energized. I just need more time in the day! I'm a lover of change. IT IS ALL GOOD!
PHOTOGRAPHY
In March, I signed up for an online class, Discovering Digital Photography, and I just successfully took my final. It was a little too remedial for me, but I had to start somewhere. The next class planned is Adobe Photoshop Elements 10, which I'll start at the end of June. My prime subject continues to be Cate, who will be eight months this week.
PEOPLE PROJECTS
This is a work in progress. So far, I've assisted in multiple projects for family and friends from gardening, cleaning out rooms and closets, and organizing. I also decided to incorporate more volunteerism and community involvement in to this goal, so I recently added my name to the "available volunteer" list for the United Way.
VOICE OVER WORK
Still working on this. I have some leads, but need to make a demo tape. I am free labor at this point. Hopefully I'll have a chance to do some work for my actual job. I need to get rid of this St. Louis/Chicago accent!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
OMG - We're Canceling Our Cable and Home Phone
Never thought this day would come. We're canceling our home phone and cable this week. We had some friends and family do this over the past few years, and the benefits kept adding up - at least for me. It took awhile for Drew to get there, a good six months at minimum. The decision was made easier once we received our bill this week which shot up $45 to $237 for cable, internet, and home phone. RIDICULOUS.
THINGS WE CAN DO WITH $237 PER MONTH
- Hire a cleaning person to visit 4 times
- Stop eating Ramen (doubt this will change)
- Save it (12 months is more than $2,800)
BENEFITS OF CANCELING
- Save money
- House is filled with music
- Hopefully become more active
- Reduction in energy consumption
- More family interaction
- More time to read, do chores, and exercise (not sure Drew will agree with the last two)
DOWNSIDE TO CANCELING
- Drew is making a new television tuner from a Dell computer
- No land line in case of an emergency
- Potential cell phone issues/dropped calls - although this isn't a major issue
- Football season is going to be rough
What does this mean? This means that my tinkering husband is creating a machine that will allow us to watch shows on our awesome television via Hulu, Netflix, etc. So we're not completely unplugging from television, we're just watching less of it in a different way and a MUCH more affordable price. Super excited!
THINGS WE CAN DO WITH $237 PER MONTH
- Hire a cleaning person to visit 4 times
- Stop eating Ramen (doubt this will change)
- Save it (12 months is more than $2,800)
BENEFITS OF CANCELING
- Save money
- House is filled with music
- Hopefully become more active
- Reduction in energy consumption
- More family interaction
- More time to read, do chores, and exercise (not sure Drew will agree with the last two)
DOWNSIDE TO CANCELING
- Drew is making a new television tuner from a Dell computer
- No land line in case of an emergency
- Potential cell phone issues/dropped calls - although this isn't a major issue
- Football season is going to be rough
What does this mean? This means that my tinkering husband is creating a machine that will allow us to watch shows on our awesome television via Hulu, Netflix, etc. So we're not completely unplugging from television, we're just watching less of it in a different way and a MUCH more affordable price. Super excited!
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