Sober Stream of Consciousness

I haven't done so well with the Sacred Life project, but in my defense, I didn't realize I would be out of town for a week when I began the project. Actually, I thought we were just piggybacking onto Carla's 30 days; I didn't realize we were doing thirty days of our own. So now you know, I'm a little slow that way sometimes. Also, three days ago my camera decided to stop downloading to my computer. I've done everything I can think to make it work and it won't. It's been a good lesson for me though 'cause it's kind of been driving me nuts that I couldn't keep up and finish. I finally had a good talking-to with myself and gave myself permission to cease and desist in my head and just move forward with Sacred Sunday. Since the project started, I've also come up with an idea for a business and that's taking an incredible amount of energy. I'm loving every minute of it. The name of my business isVillage Connections and right now it's a marketing vehicle for Montana artists. I'm starting an etsy site called Big Sky Village which I intended to open October 1st. It ain't gonna happen, though, due to the week away and the camera situation. So I'm going for November 1st to give myself plenty of time to be ready. I'm having a Meet the Artist party at my house tomorrow afternoon for my first client. Since I had the idea, here's what I've done: Registered the name with the state, secured the domain names, created business cards and a brochure, created a contract and inventory sheet, met with an accountant, begun creating the etsy store, talked with several potential clients, planned the Meet the Artist party and distributed flyers, practiced with pictures until the camera went kaput, gotten reference letters from local business owners that know me and done god only knows how many hours of reading and research on marketing and starting a business. On my list for today is to open a checking account for the business, buy flowers and plan the menu for tomorrow, meet with someone who can hopefully help with the camera (thanks Ben!), make calls to potential clients and distribute more flyers which I would picture here, but you know, the camera thing. There have been some interesting synchronicities along the way. There's a local art show here in the summer which I love and always go to and start my Christmas shopping. For some reason, this year, I secured business cards from each artist I bought something from. This was before the idea, so I had a list of potential clients making art that I love before I even knew what I was doing. My friend bought a lot of jewelry on her visit and didn't want to take any of the boxes back so I've got boxes to mail items in AND she left me a great camera she doesn't need - I just have to order the USB thingie. Also, a colleague through my day job has 75 pefect sized boxes he was about to throw away and I'm getting those. My friend, Roberta, has a lightbox I can borrow for jewelry pictures. And I'm realizing something amazing. I don't feel I'm uniquely qualified to run this business; I know it. I have an eclectic background in business that ranges from running a flower shop and designing flowers to having an insurance license to marketing a rescue product. I have the perfect combination of business acumen and design savvy to make this thing work. Since this process began, I've begun planning way beyond an etsy store and have an idea for a product that could be big, along the line of Spanx. Maybe. I've noticed something else amazing. When I let the creative process loose and let it flow, it's like a snowball, it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I'm reading a great book called "Ladies Who Launch" (yeah, I know, corny title). It's been so helpful because it speaks to the uniquely feminine creative process. I may've totally gotten bogged down in the mundane details and given up on the whole thing if I weren't reading this book.

For those who made it through this entire post, thank you. For those with more experience, any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated.