Business Woes

Starting a business is a bumpy road. The payoff is totally worth the struggle but the struggle can be disheartening. We’ve been talking a while now, so I think we’re friends and as a friend I’m going to tell you whats been on my mind lately. Quitting! I’m not going to but it has been on my mind a lot lately. So far I have had almost no sales, views on my items are dropping from almost nothing to nothing. I find myself where a lot of people find themselves when undertaking a venture of this sort, up against our very first business hurdle. I understand why people quit and I pass no judgment. Starting an online business is hard, but I believe I will get through this. I have put everything on the line for this, failure is not an option at this point (that sounds so cliché but its true). I need to put a positive spin on things like, I have not failed I have succeeded in finding what doesn’t work. Boy have I succeeded in that so far. I need a strategy, something to keep me looking forward( to be successful it’s the only way to move). The good thing that has happened out of all of this is that it has angered me. Anger is a fuel I use to keep me motivated, moving and very determined to get what I want. All those easy money people are full of crap! No money worth having is going to come without work, I would not appreciate the journey without some pitfalls. This has helped a lot, thanks readers for letting me vent to you… your such great listeners.

Conquering Fear to Start a Business

Anytime you read anything about starting a business its always kind of vague. Most of the entrepreneur books I read were more like self help books. The truth is most people read a lot of those books because its a lot safer than starting their own business, that’s what I did for a while. Now I’m not saying don’t read the books but what I am saying is don’t read book after book after book, at some point you must take action. Books don’t start businesses, actions do. While I am in the beginning stages of my venture anytime I talk about my clothing business it sparks very interesting conversation with people who are full of woulda coulda shouldas. These are usually very nice people but when your 80 years old and looking back on your life do you want to say I had guts or I wonder what it would have been like. I don’t advocate taking stupid risks, but being an entrepreneur is a risk and there is always the prospect of failure. It takes lots of planning and getting your ducks in order but your worst enemy isn’t a bad plan, its usually going to be Fear. I’m no self help guru but if you really want to start your own business, conquer your fear of failing, your fear of success, and your fear of a challenge. If any of those 3 scare you to the point you can't take action then maybe starting a business isn't for you, but if your fear of a mundane, mediocre, and complacent life is much greater then you can push through your fears. (that still kinda sounds like self help but hey I guess a portion of it is mental, go figure) Now here it is the cure for fear,(drumroll please) Experience. If your scared or nervous about starting a business then just do it, get some experience and it wont be that bad. Just as it says in Alexander the movie “Conquer your fear, and I promise you, you’ll conquer death!”

Here we go

This is the official first blog entry for Smelly Finger Salute.  My name is Guillermo the captain of this ship, but call me Willy.  This is the first post so i'm gonna keep this short and sweet. Smelly Finger Clothing is my ebay store where i smell... sorry, sell my designs.  Its a very simple cartoonish style.  In the future i will be updating the blog with all kinds of ideas that come along with starting a business like marketing, designs, drawing tips and so on.  Stay tuned i hope to share all kinds of cool stuff with you.