I love what I do. It's still work.
]]>I could go the rest of my life without hearing, "Love what you do and, you'll never work a day in your life."
I love what I do.
It's still work.
]]>One of the biggest myths about sobriety is that you need to hit rock bottom to quit drinking.
To ruin relationships, lose a job, destroy your health, or do something regrettable.
I'm now 575 days sober and I never hit bottom.
I felt fat, broke, and sick, but it wasn't rock bottom.
You don't need to reach a low point to make a change.
It's okay to change a habit whenever you're ready, and under any circumstances you choose.
]]>I once had a boss who would walk down the hallway and past the photocopier to my desk and ask me to make a photocopy.
There's no life lesson here. I just think about it a lot.
]]>There's no life lesson here. I just think about it a lot.
]]>I've seen a ton of social media posts from makers:
Refreshed, relaxed, & back to reality!
I'M BACK AND FIRED UP!
After much-needed reflection and time away...
Makers, I deeply love my business. I'm happy you do too, but it's okay to disappear for a while.
You don't need to return from vacation having learned anything. It's okay to not feel refreshed or relaxed. It's okay if you didn't reflect. You don't need to be FIRED UP.
This is hustle culture toxicity. These posts are rooted in fear of making up for time away.
There's no need to explain your vacation or use it to improve your business.
Take all the time away you need and do whatever you want with it.
Your customers will be here when you're ready to return. They love you and your product - that's why they're here.
]]>Can we not?
]]>As a small business owner, I'm wearing a lot of hats.
Sourcing, making, marketing, selling, hauling, packing, shipping, cleaning...the list goes on.
On top of it all, there's an expectation to consistently create social media content.
I love communicating with my customers, and I do it often on social media.
But 'marketing experts' say the trick to business growth is creating content designed to be trendy and go viral.
Can we not?
As much as I'd like to create a synchronized dance with my dog, I'm busy.
Let's try and support business owners who are busting their ass on the daily who might not have the energy to lip-synch for attention.
Instead, let's actively seek out new businesses and support them because they're badasses with a quality product.
You can still use social media to search. Try hashtags. Follow interesting accounts. Ask friends. Shop local.
Ignore view counts. Look past the fluff. Dig deeper.
That's a trend I can get behind.
]]>I do a ton of custom candles, and I'm often asked by clients to "collaborate."
After some back and forth, I find they're simply looking to hire me.
That's awesome, but there's a big difference.
"Collaboration" language has become ubiquitous, especially in the social media age of millennial "influencers" who often seek accolades and status by attaching themselves with upcoming and successful brands.
"Let's collaborate!" sounds much sexier and carries more social cache than "hire me!"
The idea of collaborating has seeped into every message I receive.
"Let me know if you'd like to collaborate!"
But, I find that true collaboration is rare.
For it to be a true collaboration we each need to bring a substantial amount of time and energy to the project.
We'd need to trade ideas and expertise. We'd need to think about how our brands will come together in a mutually beneficial way that borders on co-branding.
Peanut Butter & Jelly. Eminem & Dr. Dre.
I'm not saying it needs to be perfect synergy (Snoop Dogg & Martha Stewart is hardly an obvious duo) but for this to work we can't just slap our logos together and call it a day.
Our brands have to tell a story together.
Why are you working specifically with Virgins On Fire?
Are you drawn to my story? My humor? How will you communicate this to customers? Are you thinking about branding and marketing?
Will "Heavily Tattooed Bartender" work for your elementary school fundraiser, or should we brainstorm new ideas?
Have you considered a budget that encapsulates this added work I've been asked to do with your brand? Are you expecting spec work? Will you need samples? That all costs money.
Will we have regular meetings or a central place to exchange ideas? Will you provide art, graphics, fonts? How about creative direction, technology, and staff time?
Great! Let's get to work!
Or, would you just like to hire me?
In that case, we'd talk through your needs, and I'd get to work by creating a great product for your brand. There's plenty of room for creativity, revisions and feedback, but I'm leading the charge, making the decisions, and doing the vast majority of the work.
It may seem nit-picky, and I'm always happy to help clarify what clients are looking for, but being as intentional as possible with language goes far in helping me understand expectations.
This clarity in language delivers a better product, saves us a lot of time, and tends to create a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
Fo shizzle.
]]>I cringe every time I hear a scent referred to as "masculine" or "feminine".
Scents don't have gender.
I've encountered some pretty 'masculine' smelling women, and some very 'feminine' scented men.
It's no surprise that candle making, which began in the 4th century BC by Herbert Von Chandlerstick is a little behind the times and I know what you mean when you use these terms. You want something like whiskey & musk for men, and maybe a lavender & sage for women.
I know a lot of women who like whiskey. I know a lot of men who like sage.
Why is it problematic?
The 'masculine' scents are strong, the 'feminine' ones are delicate.
Can we stop this madness?
Describe the scents instead?
🔥
]]>
Virgins,
A lot of business marketing experts recommend giving discounts.
The 10%-off to join a mailing list hell that leads to your identity being sold to the gay mafia.
Customers expect it. It's how we've been conditioned. I hate it. Would you ask your dentist for a discount? No? Why are you asking a maker for one?
Stop it.
As a small business owner, I hate the idea of discounts.
I do, however, like deals. Here's the difference:
Discount means discounting my work. Screw that - I work hard. Pay me.
A deal means we make a mutually agreeable transaction that works for us both. i.e. I have too much Christmas inventory and need to move it. I'll give you a deal so you can spread the love.
Or, if there's someone at a market really torn between two items (genuinely and actually -- no bullshitting me, I'll know) - I'll give 'em a deal, which makes everyone feel great.
Discounts make me feel like shit. Deals don't.
Similar to the differences between "cheap" and "inexpensive" and "affordable." They mean similar things but convey different ideas about value.
My customers root for me -- not giving discounts has actually become a part of marketing.
Why?
People love makers standing up for themselves.
Stand strong - stop discounting your hard work.
And if you're a customer - stop asking makers to discount themselves.
]]>Hey Virgins,
They say I should blog.
"They" meaning whoever organizes the internet.
Blogs are supposed to drive SEO-thirsty traffic, build engagement, and long-term retention, and employ whoever created these trappings.
It's also a place where you get to say "Hey, sorry I haven't been writing!" as if I'm the center of your world and you've been wondering where I've been.
I went back and forth on this. The world doesn't need more content. It needs better content. And there's just too many g-damn things to do as a business owner. Do I really need to be doing this, too!?
But maybe I'll have something to offer as a small business owner who's okay with letting you look behind the curtain, under the hood, behind the scenes, razzle dazzle, zizzle zazzle.
Maybe you'll send large tips and fulfill my Amazon Wish List while demanding nothing in return!
Maybe you'll invite me on your podcast!
Maybe I'll get a book deal and think back to this silly moment where I didn't think anything would happen and make the doubts I overcame the subject of the text on the dust jacket!
Maybe I'll destroy my internet reputation making it impossible to navigate a polite society!
Maybe you'll do a new made-up dance, with a two-step and a cha-cha!
Let's see!
🔥
]]>