Friday, February 24, 2012

Tip for Conquering Fear: Don't Let it Keep You From Your Dreams

I want to do what you do, but I'm afraid. I get this comment all the time in e-mails, blog comments, from friends and family. I hear that you're scared to start a blog, keep blogging, resell vintage online or offline, start selling in an antique store booth, quit the day job, or start your own brick and mortar shop.

None of that is scary! You know what's scary?


Yesterday I contemplated going back to the office life. There was a very unique web marketing job available, it was the kind of work I shine at. It was a prestigious position. But they were only offering the position full-time. I'd have to quit all my progress with my dreams just when it was building momentum. I didn't take the job.

Life's too short not to pursue your dreams. You're going to fail along the way. You might fail dozens of times along the way, but you can't let that scare you away. Stand up, brush yourself off, and try again. Keep trying and you will make it.

Go forth and work on accomplishing your dreams today.
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34 comments:

  1. Keep on keeping on girl...one of these days your words are going to help me walk out that door! :) :) :)

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  2. Oh no... that clown face again... ekkkkkkkkkkkkk. Your post... well said... words to encourage & remind. Thank-you. The older I become the more it all makes sense.

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    1. It's the eyes that get me, aaah! Same here, the older I get, the more I realize the importance of working hard for my dreams.

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  3. Great post Van!! I agree with you 100%! I walked away from my part time job in January...it was secure, money was steady and it was available, but I did not love it...in fact, I dreaded it. I've been doing it for 6 years and got majorly burned out! With the support of my husband and a few close friends, I said goodbye and moved in the direction of my dreams, which is vintage resale. With the success of my small booth, 36 inches to be exact, I am now moving to a bigger spot and stuffing my garage with even more vintage awesomeness!

    One thing I do struggle with is only having a small handful (3-4) people in my life who "get it"....I post pictures and people ask me questions, but I don't have many people in my life who share the passion. Do you ever feel like you are all alone in the big world of thrift and vintage? Shopping buddies are always fun, but I am a solo in this act.

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    1. I'm glad your reselling is going so well at Southern Crossing! I do have my brick and mortar shop business partners who "get it." We go thrifting and craft together.

      Nearly all of my long-time best friends, acquaintances, and even family members, don't. Explaining "what you do" when you live an unconventional life all the time is tedious, but that comes with the territory.

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  4. Holy Circus Freaks! Yep. clowns are about the scariest thing out there! And I appreciate your encouraging post. Following your dreams is not always easy, but the personal satisfaction is great. Keep motivating us all!

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    1. Yep, definitely not easy, I don't think I emphasized that enough in the post. Nothing will happen overnight, but everyone should strive for it every day and celebrate the small victories.

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  5. wow, van. i think that's the message i really needed to hear today. i've been thinking for a long time about quitting my secure job with its great benefits and flexible hours, etc. etc. etc. i just don't know if i want to keep doing this job for 20 more years (which is what i've got to do til i retire - if i can ever retire and wouldn't it be nice to have a job from which you never want to retire?) but it's the security of that pay cheque and the kick ass benefits (5 weeks of holidays and a medical plan that actually covers naturopathic medicine - that's pretty hard to let go of) but it's not worth it if i'm not happy. i think i really need to start taking steps to something else, even if i don't know what the something else is.

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    1. In cases like yours I always recommend at least trying little things on the side. A little reselling that you can fit in, or jewelry making, painting, whatever interests you. That's how you find out what works and what doesn't. You never know until you try.

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  6. I had been asking for over a year to work four nine hours days to put more effort in reselling. They said OK, but wouldn't you know today they made up some BS excuse, oh that won't work. I didn't tell them why I wanted reduced hours. Thats the BS Fin industry for you, gotta vent, wnet home sick rather than tell them off

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    1. I've been there and feel your pain, my friend. Most corporations see you like a piece of machinery, they squeeze every ounce of your energy and then just spit you out when you don't have the energy to go on anymore.

      That's why I love being my own boss. It's and overwhelming difficult, but far outweighs being a slave to the man.

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    2. I quit my day job over a year ago and will admit it has not been easy and the income certainly is not what it used to be but I in no way would go back to my old job. I absolutely love the art of resell and the highs and lows that come with it. I do wish however I had more personal friends and family who "gets it". I too am usually a solo act even when selling at a flea market or antique show.

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    3. My longtime personal friends sometimes don't get it, but I gravitated toward "my people"- fellow quirky vintage-loving artists, by interviewing and working with people I really admired at art shows. Now they're my friends and business partners.

      I'm a loner and semi-control freak when it comes to work, but I am so happy to work with these people with my brick and mortar. They fill in where I'm deficient- and I still have my Thrift Core brand to control and be the boss of :)

      I wouldn't go back to working for the man either, Jay. Glad you made the leap and love it.

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  7. love this so much! It's so true! starting a business really isn't as scary as some make it out to be...you just have to jump in with both feet and do it!
    I like teaching my little kiddos during the day and running my business as soon as I get home and on the weekend though, it's a lot of work but it's all worth it :)

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    1. Yep, you're a good example. You can set up a side business, work full time, and remain sane! And you're right, it really is worth the hard work in the end.

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  8. OMG! Do you have a hidden camera in my house? Me and my partner have been talking about this (seriously) since last night. I already stay at home doing what I love, but it's mainly due to the fact that my partner's work pays for everything because she gets paid REALLY well (to the point you could say that we don't have any economical issues) and she has awesome benefits. The money I bring home is not relied on and is only used for entertainment purposes or to get more supplies. We've been discussing the idea of her working part time so she doesn't lose all her benefits (health included) but staying home with me and try to make our business grow. I design and make accessories and purses; our dream is to make this business grow to the point where we can hire employees to do most of the hard work so we can stay at home designing new things, advertising, and putting together an actual, physical store in the biggest mall here in PR. We know we have to take small steps to achieve this goal and we are discussing the work plan already.

    BUT WE ARE AFRAID! It scares us even harder than the evil clown or the ugly baby doll from hell. We are already planning on saving enough to make up for any mishaps and to cover for any medical issue or car issue that could arise though.

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    1. I would LOVE to do the same thing- design and hunt down merch while others run the store. We'll get there eventually- I'm sure you can too!

      Keep me in the loop on your plotting and planning toward achieving that dream. I hope it works out for you!

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    2. I really hope this works out, for us and for you too. :D I'll definitely keep you updated with our progress. Have an awesome weekend!

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  9. Yes, clowns and baby dolls with hollowed out eyes are freaking scary. I completely subscribe to what you said about achieving your dreams. Hoping you find a similar job only part time. :)

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    1. I told them to keep me in mind for part-time work. Maybe I could fit that in the busy schedule somehow ;)

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  10. My favorite craft is crocheting. I can knit too, but it's not as much fun for me.

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  11. Great post!!

    I stopped working for the man a little over a year ago and it was the best thing I have ever done, for myself, my dog and my husband.

    It was scary as hell to take that jump, but I just made sure I had a good emergency fund, no credit card debt and decent idea of what I needed to bring in and what was going out. It helped ease my mind a great deal that my husband is a teacher (with awesome benefits!) so that is one very huge burden i don't have to fret about.

    I am so okay with the idea that I am not going to be bringing home a big salary, banking vacation time and getting paid days off to tend to my health. I live a modest life and don't spend outside of my means and I tell you what, my salary is probably half of what it was before and i have never been happier or more self fulfilled.

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