Once upon a time there was a bunch of tadpoles who grew into frogs inside a well. Once all the frogs were grown they needed to get out of the well to survive and live long happy lives. Well, the frogs jumped and jumped and jumped and one by one they stopped jumping. They had resolved themselves to die in the well -- except for one frog. This frog was deaf and while all the other frogs had given up this frog couldn't hear what they were saying, he didn't hear anyone saying how impossible it was to make it over the wall. He didn't have the capacity to listen to the naysayers, so he kept jumping. Eventually he made it out of the well and led a long, happy, healthy life.
The moral of the story is don't listen to the ones telling you it can't be done. If you have done your research and you have the skills needed (in his case jumping) go for it and don't stop until you succeed. I wish this for all of my customers in 2009 -- follow your dreams, even if it's one step closer each week, each month or each year. Our lives are way too short and demanding to give up on our dreams.
Now, what have I been up to this last month --
Employees! Well, first let me say it was a very busy and successful month. I had my highest sales day this month and it was well over the $1,000 mark -- thankfully it also occurred on the very same day that my newest employee started. If anyone has been in here on Sundays they have met Liz (my first employee) and then Sarah started on December 13 (and 13 is my lucky number!). I'm very happy to have both of these ladies on board over the holiday season. Sarah is in college and will only be working until her next semester starts and Liz is going to be my back up for emergencies and times when I need to be away from the studio.
Christmas Gifts for Iraq. I received a phone call from a very good friend who is in the Air Force doing his second six month tour in Iraq. What did I do when he called from Iraq? I told him to never call me again and to take my number off his phone list...I thought he was a merchant services sales rep -- ooops. It wasn't until the next day that I found an email from him saying how sorry he was and that he didn't know what he had done to upset me...talk about feeling like a heel! So, of course, he called using a phone card and I couldn't return the call...so many apologetic emails later I found out why he called. He didn't want to send his kids the typical Toys R Us order for his Christmas away but wanted something special and could I make something personal for them. Of course!
Using the Creative Images papers I created a plate with a picture of Dad and the kiddies with his son's favorite thing, a train! Its' an adorable family and I was lucky enough to get a picture of Daddy's Buddy with the cup after Christmas. Now he gets to see Daddy after every meal. By the way, Daddy is pretty adorable too.Okay -- be on the lookout for my new window display (Stupid Cupid) in the next week or so and I rearranged the studio this week too. It looks a lot roomier and I have plenty of space behind the cash counter now. I also have a display case I'll be filling up with finished items for sale. In less than one week the party room will be completed and I'll have room for up to 48 downstairs. That means I can have much larger parties or split the room in two to have two parties at a time. I won't stop looking for ways to make FireWorks Art Cafe the socializing center of Damascus, Clarksburg and Germantown. I love my customers and only wish the best to all in 2009.
