Friday 26 April 2013

If Only...

If only I had a super-duper soap cutter that cut the whole log… if only I had all my labels printed out for me on beautiful rolls... if only I could order 1000 cream tins and/or lip balm tins and bring the cost down and not worry about running out… if only I had that awesome Kitchen aid mixer for my creams… if only…  I could go on and on.
Then my daughter reminds me “Mum, remember what Grandma always tells us?  Enjoy the phase you are in, because one day you will miss it.”  Then she also reminds me “Remember when we use to play those computer games like Diner Dash or Cake Mania and you would build your business… at the beginning it was so addicting because you were working towards getting something to improve production, like a new faster oven, but then once you had everything the game got boring?”   She’s right.  So’s my mum.
I remember when my soap moulds held 3 soaps, then I upgraded to 6, then 9… now my moulds hold 48 bars.  I remember when I was ordering 15ml of essential oils and my first order of 100ml bottles was a really big deal!  Now we usually order 1lt bottles and are about to place our first order for 5lt bottles.  Little by little.  If we had it all at once, we wouldn’t appreciate each new step…
My husband and I have spent hours and hours and hours preparing the labels for our salves, creams, lip balms and scrubs… we dreamed about having proper labels made that really didn’t smudge and came on rolls.  We placed our first order for our lip balm labels a few months ago and we were so excited we almost argued about who got to stick the first "proper" label on... and we celebrated with champagne!  Now we are about to place an order for the labels for our other products.
As the business grows bit by bit, I feel so grateful for each new little step… but watch carefully that I stick to my 4 core values of the business:
1)      Enjoy what I do
2)      Use only natural ingredients, from this area whenever possible
3)      Support the local community and economy
4)      Treat the environment well

So for now, I enjoy cutting each and every bar by hand but one day, in the not-too-distant future, I will get “the Tank”, and hopefully enjoy cutting my soap on a different level.  If I ever find myself not enjoying something, I remember my core values and re-direct things to come back to what I enjoy.
 
So, I wish you all passionate enjoyment of whatever doing!!
Xo
Jen

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you very much for this post which is really inspiring! What I can see building of business is not easy at all but everything is in sticking to defined objectives and values. Your business grows really nicely and improves continuously. You are really on good truck!

Jennifer Young said...

Moj sapun, Thank you so much for your amazing comment!! xoxoxo Jen

Diva Prirodna Kozmetika said...

I've said before,but must repeat again: you're such an inspiration! Sharing your experience makes me move forward, more & more toward my goal! Everything seems to be moving so slowly for me,but then you write this post and remind me that patience,good work and determination to success are the key! The best part is that I really enjoy along the way! Following your example.....

Jennifer Young said...

Diva Soap, You are very welcome. I love hearing that I may inspire someone! Keep us posted on how you are doing as well! Your latest soap experiments look beautiful!!! It is so easy to get caught up and too focussed on where we are going or where we want to get to rather than enjoying the process of getting there, step by step... xooxo Jen

isabel said...

Hola Jen!! felicidades por tu trabajo,una vez mas, te admiro porque nunca pierdes tu objetivo, y aunque crezca mucho tu negocio, que seguro que será así, siempre tendrás tus valores, con los que un día empezaste tu gran sueño, felicidades un beso gigante, de tu admiradora, simpre, ISABEL.

MelissaRo said...

So great to watch your progress. Enjoy each step and milestone!

Diva Prirodna Kozmetika said...

Oh Jen,it's Maja (pronouncing Maya), I had commented on your posts as St.Maja (my personal Google account),before I started my own Diva Soap blog. You have always had encouraging words for me and I found your business development so inspirational and worth of admiring! Thanks,once again!

Jennifer Young said...

Isabel, Muchisimas gracias por tu comentario. Siempre eres tan positivo!! xo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Melissa, Thanks for your comment!! xo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Maja, Well, thanks again for commenting "participating" in my blog. Your Diva soap blog looks fabulous as do your latest soaps! xo Jen

karolshandmadesoap said...

I have "secretly" followed your blog for a while now. What an inspiration! I get frustrated at times, wishing my business would grow faster. When I reflect back, I realize it is growing slow but sure. Thanks for the reminder to enjoy the journey.

Anonymous said...

Karolshandmadesoap, Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Do you have a blog? Would love to see some photos of your work! xo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Karolshandmadesoap, Thank you so much for your lovely comment! Do you have a blog? Would love to see some photos of your work! xo Jen

Jabones Aromas del Campo said...

Hola Jennifer, muy lindas y sinceras cada una de tus palabras. No cambies nunca, aunque un día no muy lejano ya no cortes el jabón a mano.
Te admiro mucho!
Un beso muy grande:)

Jennifer Young said...

Jabones Aromas del Campo, Muchisimas gracias por tu comentario tan bonito. xo Jen

Irene said...

You are such an inspiration..one day I hope my soap business blooms like yours and I can take the very scary step of quitting my day job and focusing completely in my business. with you as an example I know I can do it!

Jennifer Young said...

Irene, Thank you so much for the lovely message!!!! Glad to be an inspiration to someone!!! xo Jen