The Honeymoon's Over

   For the last few months, I had noticed that my attitude was different.  It was such an insidious thing... I couldn't really put a finger on it.  But one day, in the course of taking care of business, I realized why things didn't feel the same.  I  didn't feel the same.  I had, very gradually, lost the fire.  After 3 years of exciting and fulfilling self-employment, the honeymoon was over.  It had become just another job, even if I was the boss. 

   Now don't get me wrong.  I do still love my profession.  But after you take away the newness and wonder of something, it eventually settles into that "been there, done that" kind of feeling.  And I had to admit to myself that good painting skills weren't going to be near enough to keep me successful in business.  Business.  That word covers a lot of territory.  Roofing or painting or carpentry or any other skill or service that you perform -- if you're going to collect money for it, it's business.  And so I have come around to understanding and agreeing with some of the key points that Richard Kaller (once considered the heretic of the boards by some of us, in the early days) has been making over the years.  It's ALL business, and, ultimately, that's what you need to be good at to survive...or maybe, to live well.  You see, I have decided that I need to educate myself so that I can do more than survive.   When I decided to take that step and form my own company, I knew I'd have to learn a little about business.  But I was a very experienced painter, and naively thought that would be 90% of the game.  It's taken me 3 years and LOTS of reading the boards and "living" the business to realize how much more I need to know.  And I'll tell you, I kind of hated coming to that realization.  I mean, I'd always thought of myself as a craftsman...and I surely didn't want to have to become a salesman (that word has always had a negative connotation to me).  But the reality (another unsavory word for us former hippies) of it is, it's business.  And now I understand that you can't have (successful) business without sales.  Ugh.     So even though my "honeymoon" is over, I feel like I'm developing a better understanding of my relationship with my business.  I've committed myself to reenergizing my batteries by improving the "business" and sales part of my operation.  My attitudes have changed greatly from what they were my first year in business.  It's a maturation process.  Funny, but I thought I had done all the growing I was going to do.  The fact that I've been able to keep my mind open to all of the information that's come my way has helped me greatly.  And I'm not sure that line about old dogs and new tricks is true...if you asked any of the successful old dogs, I bet they could show you a new trick or two. 

 To anyone out there who is new to self-employment, enjoy the freedom and the newness of the experience, but be aware that the glow will fade.  It doesn't have to burn out, though, if you can achieve a good perspective of what's involved in the different areas of the business.  My best advice to anyone is to always be open to other's ideas and experiences...keep what works for you and let the rest go.

Donna Martin (Local Color Painting)
"We take the 'pain' out of painting."

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