Been a weird couple of months this self employed lark! At first it was really exciting because it was new, then I started to panic because we were struggling to sell and now we seem to have reached a secondary stage of exciting where sales are picking up and the network building is truly amazing.
To begin with, it was all new and shiny and loads to keep me occupied and out of mischief. You see, that is the curse of the Hippo - boredom! Never leave a Hippo unattended for too long, goodness knows what might happen. And never fib to a Hippo either - that's been a weird one too. I trust that when people say I'll do that, then they will. However, in business there is always a plan b, c, d required and have been a little taken aback at some of the not so well disguised attempts to take advantage of this. But ... did you know more people are killed by Hippos than lions, that's because when they get annoyed they charge and squish you! So if you don't want to get squished, don't fib - simple. Usually placid and full of ideas, but not so happy when they smell a rat and keep digging and digging until they find where the smell is coming from, yep bullshit is usually the main cause!
That said, am truly loving this self employed lark and have met some people along the way that hopefully wil become lifelong friends and the learning curve, wow! Years of business school could not have prepared me for what I've already learnt - both about the business itself and myself in a business environment or more accurately how to add a little colour and cunning plans into it.
You see, ours is not a truly corporate world. Yes, we have our branding or as someone said 'those Hippos get everywhere' and yes we have to play with numbers and pay bills because we are a proper business in that sense. But it doesn't mean we have to lose our identity or purpose just because we have to play with a calculator once in a while. If anything it's made me feel even stronger about what we are doing - especially when I hear horror stories of other crafters being fleeced. And the idea of supporting others to set up is gently building and taking shape and can't wait to get out there and start sharing. But as ever the impatience is growing - see, you should never leave a Hippo unattended with ideas, it's dangerous.
