Creativity as a Business: Your Vision

There frequently comes a time after passionately working a hobby for an extended time, that some people realize their creative skills could be of great value to others. There are many instances where this could be the case with such hobbies as jewelry making, scrap-booking, cooking, writing, and innumerable other endeavors. Starting a business can be extremely challenging, especially when your passion and creativity is up for critiques. But starting a business based on your talents can also be extremely rewarding. It's the dream of thousands to wake up in the morning and know that they are doing what they love, and getting paid for it! But before jumping headfirst into the business side of your creative talents, there are some major factors to consider.

First, is what your business idea truly your passion? If you're not truly passionate about what you're considering it will show in your work. On the other hand, if this is something you love doing, and you would do it every minute of the day, paid or not, then this is a great sign that you have the commitment and drive that it takes to make your endeavor a success.

Second, will other people find value in your talents? Do your talents fulfill a need? Are they something people would consider a meaningful service? If you love to assemble model cars, that's great, but it's not something most people are going to require as a service. On the other hand, if you love to make party decorations and invitations, your original works could be a fabulous touch for someone who is looking to make their celebration truly unique.

Third, is it profitable? Is the amount of time you put into your work and the cost of supplies cost effective against how much you could earn? If you spend forty dollars and five hours making a scrapbook page that someone is only willing to pay you twenty dollar for, then that is a problem. Know your audience and your market potential before making any serious decisions.

So you've considered these three factors, you've thought a lot about your idea, and you're all ready to dive in! What now? Now, like any successful mission in life, you must have a vision for your business. You must, as many wise people have said, begin with the end in mind! If you know you'd like to start a business, but not quite sure how you want it to be, try one or some of the following techniques to get begin building your own business vision:

1. Visualize. Find somewhere quiet and take a few slow, deep breaths. Now imagine you are waking up to your perfect work day. Where are you? What are you surrounded by? How do you get to work? Do you work from home? Do you work at your own studio? Walk yourself through your day. Imagine your customers, your daily responsibilities, and most importantly how you feel running your own business. Do you spend some of your day creating, marketing, or working with clients? What sort of responsibility do you have, and how do you feel about it? Write down everything that comes to mind.

2. Write your own press release. This is a tehcnique used by many large corporations such as Microsoft. Before beginning production on a new product, the team sits down and creates a press release, dated with the time they approximate their goal will be reached. Date your press release with the first day of your operation. Know who your press release is addressing. Write out the purpose of your business and all the great things you will be offering your chosen audience. This will get you excited about your potential success, and also help you clarify exactly what it is you wish to accomplish with your service.

3. Look for inspiration. Look at the mission statements and purposes of other creative businesses. Do you have anything in common with these? One of their ideas may spark something in you that you want to emulate in your own business. In addition, learning about the success of others can you inspire you to achieve your own.

4 Make a vision board. If you are a visual person, make a vision board for your business. Include pictures of other businesses or practices that you would like to infuse into your own. Include people who look happy excited, and successful. Find things that represent the service or products you would like to offer. On a related note, you can make a few pages in your art journal related to your business vision.

The most important thing is that you know what your want for your business, and yourself, before you take that leap of faith. Having even a general idea of where you want to go will lead you to far more success than taking that huge risk completely blind to possibilities. Get started on your vision, and get excited!

The above are just a few simple suggestions to get you started. Try one or try them all. You'll be surprised at what you can create. For more ideas, check out the following resources on small business:

The U.S. Small Business Association

Small Business Notes - Mission, Values, Vision