Things I learned this week (2)

I admit starting this business has its pressure. So many things to do, things are going NOT according to the plan, (bad) unexpected things happen, lots of mistake are done.
Handling customer complaint, demand, and expectations.
To top things up this week, I got a $132 parking fine and loss 2 demerit points (because I was careless to read the traffic sign).
In short, this may not be a fun week. But I learn so much this week.

Mistakes make me realized about my own limitations and weaknesses. And I want to overcome that. One of my main weakness is I'm a people pleaser and I tend to magnify the problem 1000times.
I should try to slow down and take things easy now. I should not take things personally.
And I should try to enjoy and appreciate life more.

Starting a business is quite challenging, but I want to learn to enjoy it.
Celebrate the small victory along the way, admit and learn from all the mistake i made.

Taking a risk. I still learn that concept. A part of me sometimes crave the stability and safety of my comfort zone. But I know that I grow more by taking a risk, step out into the unknown, and just enjoy the journey.

Things I learned this week

Expect the unexpected. Thing will actually go wrong.
Sigh...
Such is life.
I bought a new manual cutting machine. And guess what...

1. I'm not strong enough to assemble and put it to the stand. Have to wait till weekend, so hubby can help me.
2. I can't operate them. Since it's a manual cutter, it doesn't have the fancy laser beam light that tells you a straight line and where the knife will cut.
3. I tried to use it today. Cut the wrong things. Whoops...Now everything have to be printed again.. all 50 pages of them..
4. Since I don't have time to cut it by myself tomorrow, i have to bring it to a print shop, and pay someone to do it for me..
5. Still need to operate this crazy machine later..

Well.. just have to cope and go with what you can do, I suppose.
Everyday, new problem comes up, and have to think of way to solve it.

Backup plan is necessary, just in case things doesn't go according to plan (and they usually will)

Hang in there fi.. you'll make it (encouraging myself..:)
Just more practice and experience will make lots of difference.
Plant the seed, keep up the work, and the harvest will come for sure.

Busy week..

Last week was really hectic! So many things to do! Finished the first batch of invitations for one of the client, before she goes to Italy. She looks happy when she received them. I hope her family and friends like the invitations too.

Still a lot of things to learn. Have to set up a better system, so the production process can be more efficient, faster, and less prone to mistake.
Sounds easy, sounds good, but it's another work to be done. But if we want to grow the business, it's inevitable to have a good system in place, I suppose.

Thinking of expanding the range of invitations, but also don't want to be too aggressive. Trying to find the right balance here...
There's also plan to join the bridal exhibition next year. It'll be fun, I think.. and I need to learn how to prepare for exhibition. Thank goodness, hubby is very good at logistic and planning... :))) I'll appoint him as the project manager then.

learning curve

Pic of Rainbow bird I took at Watson Bay last week.



Setting up your own business is more challenging than working for a company.
As you might see at the left side of the blog, there's a link to my website, kanna.com.au. It's a wedding invitation company. It's very new, just opened last May. And thank goodness there are already few customers..

Since I'm still working part time as a graphic designer in a corporate environment, and paper is my main passion, I see wedding invitation as a good balance between creativity, paper, and packaging. I love packaging.. especially luxury packaging for cosmetics, perfume, skincare, etc..

What I learn so far from opening my own business:
- so many decisions to make!!! from simple stuff like should I buy C6 envelope or B11 envelope, this color or that color... to pricing decision, how much should I sell, which supplier to use... and what's for dinner. :)
- finding supplier and buying stuff from them is heaps easier than finding customers
- trying to keep the cost down, especially for rent. But still.. I wonder how are we going to fit a big guillotine inside our tiny apartment. Maybe next to the fridge.. hehehe..
- sometimes it gets lonely working alone at home, and i get distracted. Browsing holiday site, checking jetstar and virginblue cheap ticket, yahoo mail, flickr, google this and google that.

Tips for budding entrepreneur:
- I agree that it's not for everyone. But if it's really your passion and you've been thinking about it a lot, then do it. :) it's challenging, but very rewarding.
- Start in small step. What can you really do right now? researching the industry is always a good start (while still keeping your current job of course).

By the way...anybody would like to buy ribbon?
We have good quality grosgrain ribbon in various color. We bought them in bulk for our wedding invites, and have too many. visit the website for more info. thanks

Yakiniku time!!

Went to Suminoya with bro and in-laws yesterday. Since hubby is the oldest, my younger in laws feel like bro and sister that I never had (minus all the child bickering and fighting). It was really good. But I think I had too much meat for a week...
But I had a good time playing around with the new camera.
Yay! Getting the hang of it...

relaxing saturday

I wish I brought my camera when I went to the city yesterday. The weather and light was just great, and I saw quite a lot of interesting things. Japanese photographers and their pretty models were posing at Hyde Park, mums and super cute bubs, the Italian festival, etc. But the thought of hauling 5 kg of weight on my shoulder plus extra shopping bag while I'm strolling round the city, doesn't sound very comforting at all. Maybe I need to do two trips. One for shopping/leisure, the other for photography. I need a lot of practice in using this new DSLR camera.. It's an old Nikon D80, quite heavy, but I think it's supposed to be better than my tiny digital Casio camera. hahaha..

Also went to meet friends at book kitchen yesterday. The brownies cake is divine. Really yummy...
which reminds me... that I need to buy things to make cheesecake today for my super cute and adorable inlaws (i love them v much). They're like brother and sister I never had... :)

Jecy's illustration

My friend Jecy, is an awesome illustrator. Although she mainly works in website design, she's a paper lover too. I tried to bribe her to do more wedding-related artworks for me (this blog's header illustration is done by her).
She's thinking of doing her own line of stationery soon in the future, and I'm sure I'll be her first customer.

For any of you who like her artwork style, she has kindly given me permission to use it on our wedding invitation range. Thank you Jecy :)