You've Got to Start Somewhere

They say don't sweat the small stuff, but it can be challenging to see the bigger picture while the small stuff seems to overshadow it. 

When you're just starting out--a new endeavor, a change in lifestyle--that newness, those tiny numbers--it all feels so small. You hear your mind rattling off the baby steps:

"I started my workout today."
"It's been 3 days since I stopped smoking."
"I've made 15 sales."

No wonder it's so easy to give up on a dream. After all, starting is half the battle, and that's a clue in itself that there's more than one way to look at the numbers.

Some things take time....

I recall taking a management course early in my information technology career that taught an astute approach to decision making. That method has stuck with me for nearly three decades and informed many tough choices in the workplace and beyond.

This approach, developed by the Kepner Tregoe consulting firm, adds the dimension of weights to scale-of-1-to-10 valuing. While the business version of this method can seem rather complex, you can adapt it to make almost any critical decision. Say you're wondering whether to buy a new car. Using KT, you start by making a list of the pros for choosing the decision as favorable, and then a list of cons for scrapping the idea. At the end of this first pass, you may end up with 3 "pros" that point to making the purchase, and only 1 "con" that says, "don't do it."

Now go back through both lists, assigning a weight of importance between 1 and 10 to each "for" and each "against" buying the car. When you include these weights with the original totals for each list, you may find a very different picture. For example, there might be only one downside: that you'll be tapped out financially each month to cover payments. Given the potential for certain disaster, you'll probably want to rate this a 10 on the importance scale. Even if the 3 pros rate 2 points each for a total of 6 on the positive side, that single negative factor creates a weighted total that advises against a car purchase for now.

But wait a minute. If we're talking about progress rather than decisions, how does all this math help paint a clear picture of steps toward a goal? Let's start by tweaking the KT rating method a bit.

First list all those things you've done to move forward, and then list everything that's held you back. Now go through each list and apply a weight factor, item by item. If you've started something new--anything from opening a new business to running a marathon--that start is a crucial step that deserves ample value. You may also want to include a positive line item for working each day toward your goal, no matter how slight that work seems. After all, daily commitment has certain value, too.

As you take the time to add up the reality of your efforts, you might be surprised to discover that you're more successful than you thought. You might even feel a little grateful for that small stuff. 

Handmade: Making Things from the Heart

Since the dawning of the Industrial Age, modern society has learned not only to accept, but to expect the products we buy to come from machines. We're accustomed to objects that are identical. A set of plates bought from a big box retailer in one location looks identical to the same set bought thousands of miles away at another of that retailer's locations and, of course, each plate in a set will look like all the others. That sense of stamped out perfection can feel almost comforting.

But is there something missing? Etsy, Redbubble, and ArtFire have staked their Internet sites on that supposition, providing artisans a way to sell their handiworks online, with impressive results. These "virtual marketplaces" are accessible from around the globe, delivering more customers to Web shops than most small-time merchants would see in typical bricks-and-mortar businesses. 

What's so special about handmade? Major manufacturers and retailers boast the advantage of quick production, the uniformity of machine-precision, and the presence only corporate-funded advertising and multiple stores can provide. 

Handmade "Primitive Celtic" Pendant

Yet handcrafted products feature things major chain stores can't touch. 

Each item is unique. 
Without a machine, it's seriously challenging to create two items that are exactly alike. Handmade craftsmanship takes advantage of this ability to differentiate, seeing uniqueness as an opportunity rather than a detriment. 

Time is spent in crafting each piece.
Even when the artisan is accustomed to a process, it still takes more time to create something by hand. In a world that's anxious to deliver, this can be a drawback, but for those who enjoy something unique, the joy of the carefully crafted piece is part of why buyers purchase directly from the artist. 

The artist focuses on one item at a time. 
Depending on the product, individual attention is spent on each item. This is an aesthetic value rather than a physical one, but for those who understand this aspect, it's important. In a world that often seems soul-less, the care of craftsmanship applied to handmade goods imbues a sense of quality that's highly valued. 

There is a connection between the artisan and the buyer.
When the buyer can directly access the artist, communication easily ensues, improving the experience. Buyers can ask for customization, request more detail, or simply share their interest in a particular product. And, when it comes to making a purchase, they often can expect to turn heads with clever creations that lead others to ask, "Where did you get that?!"