Why I Won't Attend Your Webinar

     While it may be effective to market business models to baby boomers, and maybe even genXers, it doesn't seem like it'll work on Millenials. Because we see you as car salesmen of dreams.
      There's something inherently fishy in the whole scheme. Your success seems hindered upon my lack of it. If it worked so well for you to apply these techniques, great! But trying to earn yet another buck off of me, after you're already successful? Its total shit. How greedy can you be?
      "Send me 5 dollars and I'll send you my book on how to get rich!" Page one of book: put an ad in the paper that says send me 5 dollars and I'll send you my book on how to get rich. Yeah. You seem to be looking for suckers, it's not ethical. You're swindling people out of their money at that point.
     If Millenials ghosting employers is any indication, this generation values ethically sound investments of their time and money.
      I'm leery about having to give my email address for a webinar. Why is the content not just in YouTube? Plenty of people monetize their videos and make money off of it, but no. You've got to sell my email address, too? I don't think so, pal. If anyone is going to be profiting off of me, why isn't it ME?

     I'm not going to buy into your weird finances book cult. I'm not going to your webinar even if you said it's free because I am aware of the unseen costs of things and I see right through what you're doing. I value transparency. Not shady and confusing antics of people desperately trying to make a buck so They can afford their second home or new car payments.

Getting Craftier

     Sales are slow in the summer! But my little shop survived anyway. More due to the generosity of my customers than my own perseverance but alive is alive either way, and I won't be taking it for granted.
     I've diversified my inventory, but my main focus has taken a sharp turn toward cosplay items. Not that I ever didn't do cosplay items, just that I've now got the confidence to make more of what I want to make. I've made leaps and bounds in the learn-to-run-a-business arena, but living with schizophrenia, I have to take these things slow to avoid being overwhelmed. I'm still a little nervous about the future, I've got to admit. Making ends meet is a challenge.
     Learning to use Pinterest is an even bigger challenge! (The wiki says I can follow my Facebook friends, but I can't find anything on Pinterest that will allow me to).
     In November, my store will have its first birthday.  Its come a long way and it's still got much farther to go!
One of my recent pieces

Working hard when it's hardly working

    Oh, life. Why are you such a cruel bitch sometimes?? You're as hard as a calculus test I didn't study for sometimes, and I'm not 100% sure I even like you. Anyway, here's a video I posted today.

https://youtu.be/oUn2ypD-l2I

How Had I Forgotten?

     The road is not always the kindest of mistresses. Sometimes she's a cold hearted lying cheat. For the most part, however, it is at her breast where I find my home. My peace is here, where anything can happen. There is a limitlessness to this ocean of people.
     I'm forever asked where I'm going, with little more than a shrug for an honest answer, "onward." Where am I going? The man with the plan is the only one with a clue. He's driving this ship, in just along for the ride. You want answers, that's who you gotta ask. I'm not pressing for answers much these days. I'm perfectly content to live on faith. Its just who I am when I'm traveling.
     How had I forgotten? Note to self: Never again remove yourself so fully from who you know you are.

On the road again, store and all

     It's nothing new. It's nothing I haven't done, traveling. But now, balancing my store from the road is an additional element, and that is very, VERY new. We shall soon see how well I walk the narrow slack line life has set before me.
     Life sometimes feels lonely, but in truth, I know ill never be alone. Amazing people surround me as soon as the wrong ones are removed from my life. While I may at times experience homelessness, I've just got too many places to go. Angels are real but they're just regular folks walking around. Unfortunately some folks seem utterly demonic at times too. I thought I could be safe in a house. But it wasn't a home.
     It's never time for giving up but sometimes it IS time for trying something new.
     Will I ever put down roots? Tune out next time for more of this adventure. Pictured: selfie, backpack, my entire store in two bins and two boxes, my window views in the short bus.

No one ever said it was going to be easy

No one ever said art would be easy. I may enjoy it, but it's still not easy.  Sales are not always consistent. You have to learn how to BE a salesman as well as an artist. Marketing is another skill that comes in handy.  Starting out has not been without its bumps! Running an online store was never something I planned on doing, but here I am!  It's worth it.  Finding balance is a constant struggle, but I won't be giving up anytime soon.
     Those two business classes they made me take in high school and college sure are coming in useful and I can't say I ever expected that.  I'm learning, I'm growing, and all while making mental illness look good. I'm not the best there ever was or anything. Just the best I ever was.