Progress not Perfection: Where there's clarity, make decisions

PNP 5

We’ve just had Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so for many makers, creative entrepreneurs and business owners, there’s a mix of feelings.

For some, it’s already been full nose-to-the-grindstone work to keep up with orders.

For others, there have been some orders, but perhaps not enough, or not as many as hoped.

It’s a spectrum, so perhaps you’re in between or even more worried about whether there have been enough orders.

Wherever you are, I want you to know that this is a hectic time of year, and whether you’re slammed with orders or not, chances are you’re still pretty busy just keeping up with life and business.

So this is not necessarily the time to analyse everything.

Where there’s clarity, make decisions. Look at the numbers. Are order levels where you thought they would be? If not, what is working? What can you tune up in your marketing? Use the data to make decisions, because numbers offer clarity.

If you’re struggling to keep up, or worried about stock or staff, again, come back to the facts. What are the limitations? Where might you fall down? What are your options?

You don’t have to fix everything. You don’t have to do everything. You don’t have to make all the decisions about your entire business all at once.

Just start with what’s clear. The rest will follow.

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Progress not Perfection: Set your intention for today

PNP 1

Before you dive in to one of the busiest days of the year, take one tiny moment to set an intention.

We can’t control everything, but we can set a positive intention for how we’ll deal with good news, bad news, setbacks, and all kinds of things that head our way.

Intend to be calm. Intend to prioritise only the most important things. Intend to see the positive in each moment.

I like to decide for myself what “enough” is each day. Perhaps enough is simply getting the orders out.

Or decide what “good” will look like – knowing you’ve done your best, or responded to challenges with confidence that you know what you need to do.

One moment of positivity in the morning can carry through your whole day.

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Progress not Perfection: Black Friday Eve

Tomorrow is a big day for those of us in retail: Black Friday. Whether you’re getting involved in discounts, small business social campaigns, or #noblackfriday, it marks the start of when customers start shopping in earnest.

It’s entirely possible that, this time tomorrow, you’ll still be working. And that, next time you look up, it’ll be Christmas Eve.

A little preparation ritual

This evening I invite you to do three things:

  1. Set an intention for the next few days. Perhaps you want to stay as calm as possible. Maybe it’s about reminding yourself that you’re working towards business success. Or maybe you just want to take every moment as it comes. Make a note of your intention and pop it somewhere you’ll see it.
  2. Have a little tidy up. Full disclosure: I’m not the neatest person. So when things get busy, I have to remind myself that just 10 minutes to clear a little space around my laptop will help me feel better. Even if you just take out the bins, you’ll feel good about it tomorrow.
  3. Stock up on things that will nourish and motivate you. Your self-care is why we’re here. And if you’re not cared for, it’s going to be really hard to get through the highs and lows of the next month. I’ve included some ideas below.

A few ideas of things to get or do this evening. Tweak as necessary.

  • A water bottle or jug and glass to keep nearby so you’re hydrated.
  • Your favourite tea or coffee. Go to town. Get the good stuff.
  • Cereal bars. Mince pies. Popcorn. Easy, store-able snacks.
  • Hand sanitiser. Hand soap. Tissues.
  • Hot water bottle. Blankets. Jumpers
  • Put a wash on. Make sure you’ve got clean socks.
  • Decide, buy, and prepare meals for the next 3 to 5 days.
  • Clear your emails.
  • Make sure your favourite mug is clean.
  • Go to bed half an hour earlier than you usually do / thought you would.

Ready? Feeling cared for? In need of some encouragement? You can get all the Progress not Perfection emails directly in your inbox every single morning for free. Sign up here to get the goodness!

Jenny x

PS Care packages go out on Monday! There’s still time to get these limited edition bundles of joy…

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Notes of Encouragement

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