KISS!

This was an article I had written for a magazine for the Valentine's Issue that I kindof missed the publishing deadline!  So, thought I would share it with ya'll!  ENJOY!! Please leave comments :)

Keep It Simple Sister! That was the “modified” topic of the latest conversation I had with my husband. He enjoys reading Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad books teaching about financial education. As my husband travels statewide and also out of state for different opportunities with his job, he sometimes educates me on the knowledge he acquires during all his free time.

This expression popped in my head recently while contemplating on taking my business to the “next” level. As many stay-at-home moms do, I run a small home-based business in order to have a little money of my own and make life a little easier for our family. However, because of my nature, I am constantly trying to grow my business. By offering more products to my clients, I can reach a bigger client base. Working on new and innovative projects keeps my business and life fresh and exciting. Now that I have achieved my original goals and have a large client base and several new and fresh projects to work on, the next step would be a storefront. Right? How nice it would be to have a peaceful place designated just for my work! Shelves filled with supplies, room to grow, merchandise displayed for all to purchase. Expand! Expand! Expand! Well, this is something I and many other Individuals have struggled with. However, if you pay rent and stock up merchandise, how many more hours would you have to work to afford the STOREFRONT? In my case, probably more hours than I can afford. Time is money and my time now is priceless. Storefronts in a nice area may bring in customers you wouldn’t reach otherwise, but nowadays Facebook alone reaches the same amount if not more!

If you are a strong-willed individual and a hard worker, I believe these feelings of “growing” never subside. As my husband moves up the ladder at work and gains experience in his career, I feel held back by my choice to be a stay-at-home mom. I feel stuck in this world. That’s when KISS comes in play! Keep it Simple Sister! It’s stressful and not fair to me and my family to try and put myself through the rigorous exercise of Growing a business while raising three young children. My choice was to stay at home with my children! My husband and I were successful enough to allow me to do so. I have to tell myself to be happy with what I have, everything will happen in God’s time, and I will just have to wait for now! In the end, my choice was to be with my children and not hold down a +40-hour a week career. So be there or don’t, but don’t try and do both. I am stressing myself out when I should sit back and live life to the fullest. I won’t have this time again. Soon, they will be at school most of the day, and then hopefully I will have the time to do more! I know there are other moms out there that must feel the same way. Right now, I relax, realizing most businesses fail within the first six months, and so far my business has thrived for a good five years or more by just little old me working when I can and enjoying what I do. So, as I began my journey to expand, I now have decided to do my best, and forget the rest (borrowed from Tony on P90X). My constant and continual business motto is simply this: Do my best! If I know everything I create is the best I could do, I am satisfied, whether my clients are or not. Strangely enough, most of my clients are repeat customers and praise me with each piece they commission. By taking on projects I can successfully tackle with the time I have, and learning to say no to those projects that are not worth my time, I can continue to grow as a successful individual and business owner and still run my business my way!

For all those Moms and Dads juggling work and home as I do every day, take consolation that raising kids is a full-time job, and when you take on more, that would be a second job! Kuddos go out to those Moms and Dads that work a full-time job and then come home to take care of the kids.

We all make everyday decisions based on our own life experiences. Staying on track with your life goals can be a rigorous and on-going task. Those small decisions may build up, and make you feel snowed under and disabled or “stupid”(The actual saying is “Keep It Simple Stupid” but I felt “Stupid” was a little harsh). By keeping it simple, you will no longer feel stupid! Stay Positive and Stay steady and you’ll move through all the bumps those decisions may bring.







Kim Usry is the Artist and Owner of ClayfulImpressions.net in Brandon, MS. She has been creating keepsakes using your loved one’s hand, feet, and fingers since 2006! Visit her site to view her work and set up your own personal appointment. Become a Fan or “Like” us on Facebook to have access to all that Clayful Impressions has to offer.