There are so many amazing people who are putting themselves out there, being transparent, and sharing what it took to get where they are. Their stories fuel my creativity and strategic thinking. They help me to keep showing up every day for my business and my family. They ease the frustration of roadblocks and challenges. The message that has slowly come out of the noise of the millions of people putting content out there is to work hard and work within your strengths and passions.
I’m quickly learning that if I consume media from every person who has been helpful and inspiring to me and my business, I won’t get any business done. I’ve promised myself that I will give my business it’s the best chance at success and that means working hard, but also educating myself on what other business owners’ consider their best resources for success. So I’m left trying to decide where to draw that line between “learn from others’ successes and failures” and “shut off the screen and get to work.”
These are the sources I come back to over and over.
YouTube
Jami Ray Vintage –
The couple that runs this business share a similar business model to my own, painting and selling furniture and vintage decor. They added a YouTube channel, a YouTube membership program and are coaching other DIY’ers and small business owners. Their business transparency has been inspiring and played a huge role in me getting serious about Purple Monkey Manor. They do five videos a week. Some live and some edited. They do two additional live videos for YouTube membership group. Total Hours Watching – 3.5 Hours a Week
Debi’s Design Diary
Debi has this beautifully quirky video production style and is an amazing artist. Her furniture is so far beyond anything I could imagine. This one blew me away. I’d seen her videos a few times, but it was Jami Ray Vintage’s partnership with Debi that brought me back to her channel. Debi’s paint is the paint I’m selling at my booth at The Village Antique Mall and in my online store. Debi produces a live video on Fridays and also does a weekly live video just for paint retailers. – 2 hours a week
Nuke’s Top 5.
Along with many other questionable parenting decisions, I watch this channel with my second grader. He loves scary stuff and Nuke does videos like “Top 5 Ghosts Caught On Camera.” He does a pretty good job of not sensationalizing the videos and leaving the choice to believe in ghosts to the viewer. I won’t give up this channel because Red will snuggle with me while we watch. I don’t get many snuggles from him anymore. 15 minutes a week
Blogs
Living Well Spending Less is a blog by Ruth Soukup. She wrote How To Blog For Profit Without Selling Your Soul. This book is what guided me on the journey from a personal diary about moving to Wyoming to a blog. The blog has been growing and changing and I’ve learned to embrace each turn and see what the universe has in store next. I no longer keep up with her blog.
Podcasts
I used to have an audio-book playing as I painted, cleaned, folded laundry. I’ve given up the books and have started listening to podcasts. I have recently gone back to Ruth Soukup for her podcast along with Rachel Hollis, Tony Robbins, NPR’s How I Made This, Dax Shepherd’s Armchair Expert, Tim Ferris, Dave Ramsey, Entre Leadership, and Gary Vee.
Other Media
The Hustle Email Newsletter, Brene Brown, Oprah Winfrey, and Ellen DeGeneres.
I’m looking for a summary for this blog entry and realize I don’t really know the balance between learning and doing. I’ll let you know when/if I figure it out.
