I often get asked about how I do it all. How do I manage to fit everything in? Do I ever sleep? The answer is no I don’t fit it all in. I just make time, prioritise things and I make lists. I make lists for lists and then lists for those lists. I even have post it notes around my office to remind me to check my lists and I also have a large whiteboard in my study with lists. Sounds complicated but in my world it all makes sense.
Alpaca fibre is my world, I’m slightly obsessed with it, and I love every aspect of it but to organise and grow my business I need lists. Lists keep me grounded and remind me to do the things for the business that is needed when all I want to do is spend time dyeing yarn, another of my obsessions. Time for me to be honest here….I have three major obsessions – alpacas, yarn and making lists!
Lists are soothing. They’re simple. They provide me with instant gratification and purpose. I love the feeling of creating lists. Lists help me with focusing and prioritising the important things that my business needs and I love the feeling when I mark off the items on my lists. Job done = tick off list = happy Angela!
One of my personal pit falls is starting a job before I have finished the first one, I do this all the time by the way. And I mean all the time! I just get excited by new fibre, new fleeces, new yarn bases, new dye colours and new colourways – so many lovely distractions.
Running a fibre based business is very gratifying. I love to see peoples’ eyes light up when they see my new yarn colours. I love seeing what my customers make with their purchases. I love making my customers happy. In much the same way that I love seeing my customers happy I love making lists. They make me happy and in turn lists allow me to keep my customers happy.
So the moral of my story is to prioritise and make lists. And that is what I am off to do now…… start a new list!