Thursday, January 29, 2015

New Year New You: Week 3 My 2015 Etsy Shop Policy

Is this new year going good for you, or would you rather start over?  January 2015 will be gone forever in just 2 more days.  What will we do with these last few days of the new month?  For me it is taking a look at my Etsy shop policy.

The best way to reach me:  The best way to reach me is via email.  I don't use a cell phone and my landline is for personal matters rather than Etsy business matters.  That might change in the future when I decide to invest in a cell phone.

The best time to reach me:  I'd have to say the best time to reach me is in the morning before 11 a.m.  I am a late sleeper and therefore I don't start my day until late morning.  I turn on the computer right away then head to the kitchen and start my breakfast.  While, that is cooking I check my email and Etsy shop orders section.

What I will not tolerate:  Bullying is the on the top of my list of what I will not tolerate from any relationship I am in.  If you want to end our relationship just say so straight out without all the drama.

Hours of Availability:  I have unusual office hours due to my health issues.  So, expect to receive a reply back to your email 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday

Setting up your own shop policy will help resolve issues before they begin.   Don't feel like you can't be open and upfront with future customer's.  People like to know the boundaries of any relationship.  Now set your own shop policy by asking yourself these questions.


Thank you for joining me for week 3 of this 7 week series!  Tune in next week for more of my New Year New You 2015 tips.  I again want to thank Lisa Jacobs of Marketing Creativity for her inspiration!


                                                       Local businesses can also help
support women in small business

by being one of our host locations

for one of our tea party events.
 
             Contact us at marketsofsunshineusa@gmail.com



Like us on Facebook     Follow us on Twitter     Shop with Us, Vendor Classified

 
                                                   Markets of Sunshine has a simple mission to:

                                                  Supporting Lyme Disease Awareness

                                                Promote Health and Education for Children

                                               Educate on the Benefits of Eco-Friendly Living

                                               and an Organic Lifestyle,

                                             While Supporting Women in Small Business

                                             Locally & Across the USA!
 
 

                                                     Sending You Sunshine,
                                                         Marsha Jaramillo



                                             

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

New Year New You - Week 2 Beating the Winter Blues

It's week 2 of the New Year for a New You review here on Markets of Sunshine!  I have a new list of questions with my answers.  Feel free to use this in your own life and business.  If you missed last week, click here to catch up.

                                        Time To Reflect on 2014

          What was time wasted in 2014?

          By far I feel my biggest time waster is TV and movie watching.

        What was money wasted in 2014?
    Since, I feel watching TV, when I could be doing other things is a waste of time,  Paying for the cable is money wasted in my book.

    What was the biggest challenge you faced this year?
    If anything, what would you change about how you handled that challenge?
     
    My biggest challenge I faced in 2014 was being out in the community doing events. I have multiple chemical sensitivity disorder and not knowing what would cause an allergic reaction was a concern. I kept my charcoal mask handy just in case I started to notice a strong odor of chemicals.
     
    Did you end the year with any unfinished business?
     
    Getting my office organized is still on my to-do list with my family. We have a plan in place of how to get things in one place which will make the running of my business function more efficiently.
     
    Were there any outstanding goals you’d like to let go of?
     
    I always think things through carefully before putting it down as a goal. So, No there is nothing outstanding on my goal list.  They are all still just as important today as they were when I put them on paper.
     
    What was your worst setback in 2014?
     
    I changed my business name and closed my main Etsy shop. That was a mistake to close the shop. I should have put it on vacation mode instead. I am now getting emails from past customer's asking me where my shop went. I quickly reopened it with the new name, Markets of Sunshine.
     
    What bad habits or unhealthy patterns did you engage in that you’d like to give up once and for all?
     
    I have OCD now due to my eczema on my ears. I am determined to break the habit of picking at my ears every 30 minutes. I have to retrain my brain that just because they are bothering me does not mean I need to do something about it!
     
    What or whom held you back in 2014? Did anything make you shrink into yourself or feel defensive about your dreams?
     
    I have an extended family member that is bi-polar and dealing with their tantrums and games to get back at me for correcting their behavior is the biggest issue in my life that gets under my skin.  I finally had to limit my association with them and this has calmed down my mind so I can think clearer and stay focused on my life and not feel guilty anymore.

    How did you hold yourself back in 2014?

    I could have made a written schedule for my business activities instead of flying my the seat of my pants each day, week and month. Not having a set plan of action each day really held up progress.

    Which beliefs | ideas | excuses stopped you from pushing forward?

    I think my biggest hurdle is thinking that all my efforts are not paying off as fast as I want them to.  So, I slow down and do less and less as the year moved on instead of pacing myself and looking at my successes.

    Finally, I'd like to thank Lisa Jacobs of Marketing Creativity for inspiring me to make 2015 a successful year!

                                                Local businesses can also help
support women in small business

by being one of our host locations

for one of our tea party events.
 
             Contact us at marketsofsunshineusa@gmail.com


Like us on Facebook     Follow us on Twitter     Shop with Us, Vendor Classified

 
                                                   Markets of Sunshine has a simple mission to:

                                                  Supporting Lyme Disease Awareness

                                                Promote Health and Education for Children

                                               Educate on the Benefits of Eco-Friendly Living

                                               and an Organic Lifestyle,

                                             While Supporting Women in Small Business

                                             Locally & Across the USA!
 
 

                                                     Sending You Sunshine,

                                                         Marsha Jaramillo

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

New Year, New You! - How Do You Survive Winter Blues?

A new year, a new you!  How do you survive the winter blues?  Living in Florida is not the place that you would think of having the winter blues hit you, but for some it does.  For the rest of the country where it gets really cold and snows killing all plant life that is not of the evergreen variety makes life pretty bleak to say the least.
So, lets focus on how to make it through the winter by focusing on what you accomplished in 2014.  I am borrowing this system from a fellow blogger because I needed to get my personal life and business life to mesh better in 2015 than in past years.


Here are 10 questions for you to get you started on this fun and motivating way to beat the winter blues.  We all have negative things that impact our life.  Don't focus on these, focus on the positive and how you work through them despite the limitations you now have.  Get out paper and pen and write down these 10 questions and your answers and reflect and review them for a new year and a new your in 2015!

What was time very well spent in 2014?
I really liked having the feeling of 'normal' back in my life after suffering for 8 years with Lyme disease with a doctor that could not move me forward.  I can now enjoy spending time with my family and friends out of the house without feeling terrified something awful is going to happen to me.
What was money very well spent in 2014?
Being able to afford the ongoing medical costs in addition to our regular daily necessities is a very good feeling.  The budget had to be tightened in more ways than one but we did it and managed to complete the year alive and thriving!
What are your favorite memories of 2014?
Being able to attend my Christian meetings again on a regular weekly basis are my favorite memories for 2014!
What did you accomplish or complete in 2014?
I have been able to keep up with a regular routine and that is a huge accomplishment for me.  When things are not planned and a schedule is not followed I feel lost and that I didn't do what needed to be done each day.
Did you make any progress on long-term goals?
I have had a life time goal of doing more in my volunteer work in the community helping people understand the bible better and draw close to God through free home bible study programs.  I now spend 70 hours a month doing just that and it feels wonderful!
What felt successful about the year as a whole?
We had 2 job losses at the end of the year.  We had been planning to adjust our secular priorities as a family in March of 2015.  But, it just happened a little sooner than we had planned and that was okay.  We relied totally on God for his help and he got us through the tough times without a scare.
Did you overcome an obstacles or mental blocks this year?
My chronic health issues are my biggest obstacle to overcome.  The one that is my thorn in the flesh so to speak is my eczema on and in my ears.  There is no cure once you get eczema so you just have to deal with it the best you can.  After, dealing with this for 5 years I was ready to go out of my mind.  So, I begged my doctor for his advise.  He recommended Calendula.  Well, I am happy to report that it is working. 
Along, with the calendula salve and homeopathic liquid 30 c that I use daily he gave me essential fatty acids that are plant based.  It has been 8 weeks and I can now see big and regular improvements.  Now, my biggest challenge is to have self-control and not pick at the ears like I had been doing.
What did you learn about yourself after all that happened in 2014?
I don't have as much self-control as I thought I did.  It seems that I developed an OCD type habit when it comes to my ears.  So, with prayer and much discipline I have stopped picking at my ears for a total of 3 days now and amazing things are happening.  My ears are healing as well as my scalp.  I also have Lyme disease and it caused pain in the ears and I suspect it is what brought on the eczema their in the first place.
We are not pillars or islands unto ourselves.  The bible is very clear on that score.  He or she who thinks she is standing, they are before a fall.  So, ever time the ears itch or get a sudden unbearable pain I do not touch them instead I pray and do something to distract me from focusing on them. 
Who nurture or supported you most this year?
Without  doubt reading God's word daily and my weekly congregation meetings is what gave me my nurturing and support.  The wonderful spiritual support is my life-line.  My family and friends continue to give me physical and emotional support and nurturing that has helped me to have the will to keep surviving and thriving.
Who did you enjoy nurturing and supporting?
That would have to be my husband and daughter.  Since, I can no longer drive and I don't have the energy and stamina that I used to I am very limited on the help I can offer other's in a physical way.  I gladly give gifts and words of wisdom when they are sought out. 

So, there you have my approach to a new year and a new you to survive the winter blues.

The best is yet to come.  Here is to a new year and a new you!  Want to make 2015 the best year for your business?   Sign-Up For Our Weekly Newsletter Here!  We'll send you a free printable daily calendar page after you sign-up.

Local businesses can also help

support women in small business

by being one of our host locations

for one of our tea party events.
 

 

 



Like us on Facebook     Follow us on Twitter     Shop with Us, Vendor Classified

 
Markets of Sunshine has a simple mission to:

Supporting Lyme Disease Awareness

Promote Health and Education for Children

Educate on the Benefits of Eco-Friendly Living

and an Organic Lifestyle,

While Supporting Women in Small Business

Locally & Across the USA!
 
 

Sending You Sunshine,

Marsha