Tuesday, May 17, 2011

All Glory Comes From Daring to Begin

I read these words and I was inspired.  So inspired I decided that I needed to hang them in my office.  Looking at these words, so bold and well appointed on paper, motivates me to move ahead.  As we all know, some days it is hard to know where to begin, but once we do we have started the journey!

I thought about how inspiring words impact you, families who are constantly stretching yourself into new directions either medical care for your child, managing family life or seeking funding for your childs equipment. 

Do you have have an inspiring quote you would like to share?  Please leave a comment with your quote and next Tuesday I will draw one lucky winner for the print above from Happy DeliveriesFor the next three weeks I will be featuring a print by Happy Deliveries and drawing a winner from the comments left on this site.

Happy Deliveries is a business built by an inspiring mother.  I found her shop on Etsy, an amazing online retailer for peple who create and sell their creations!  Next week I will feature this online retailer and how it can be used by YOU. 

Today, I would like feature Lori, the amazing  momtrepneur behind Happy Deliveries.  She shares with us how she took a challenging time in her life and created an opportunity, a business that brings joy to her and her family and inspires us!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how your home based business came to be?


Prior to starting my own business, I had been working as a nurse at a nursing home when the weekend position I held was suddenly discontinued. I was upset because I enjoyed my job and the hours worked perfectly with my family’s schedule. I decided to stay home for awhile to spend time with my sons, then 3 and 5 years old. The previous year, I had taken a letterpress printing class and was dabbling in making posters and cards as a hobby. Now that I had a little free time on my hands, I started learning and creating, and at the end of 2009, my Etsy shop was launched.

How important is social media to your business? Do you keep a Blog? Use Facebook?

Well, I must say I am a little behind the times when it comes to social media. About a month ago, I finally started a Facebook page for Happy Deliveries. I don’t tweet, but I would like to start a blog one of these days. As my business continues to grow, I hope to incorporate more social media.

Do you sell only on Etsy?

At this time, I only sell on Etsy. I plan to start selling retail or consignment in the near future. I’d also like to try a local art fair to have the opportunity to meet customers and get face-to-face feedback about my artwork.

Do you read alot? What inspires your quotes? How do you know when it is one worth printing?

I enjoy reading, but don’t make time to read as often as I would like - although I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan. As for inspiration, often when I am feeling discouraged, I find myself repeating the positive sayings of my prints. Several quotes are from famous people I find so empowering that I wanted to create a work of art based on the quotes and share these with others.

What type of feedback have you gotten from your customers? Why do they purchase inspirational quotes and how do they use them?

I’ve had wonderful feedback from my customers. Customers have told me they bought an inspirational poster for special occasions -- starting a new job, a baby shower, wedding gifts, starting a business, Mother’s Day, decorating a baby nursery or just as a gift for themselves to hang in their home as an encouraging daily mantra.

Has the power of positive thinking worked for you?

I definitely believe in the power of positive thinking. There have been many times I find myself feeling defeated, especially with the uncertainties of starting a new business. I tell myself that dwelling on my worries and insecurities isn’t going to help me achieve my goals. I instead surround myself with positive people and things I love. Many of my prints are born as a result.







2 comments:

Anonymous said...

here is my favorite quote by Ian Brown. He wrote about his journey with his son's severe disability in the book, the boy in the moon

" for this is something you see--every time he is happy, he is as happy as he as ever been."

for children like his, and mine--sometimes it is difficult to see the quality in thier lives, and easy to focus on the hardships, but this line made me see my son in a different light...that maybe quality of life is those moments when he is purely happy...which is every time he is happy at all--what a wonderful way to experience life! :)
--Barb Weatherbey (mom to Ben and Joseph)

IWK Funding Coordinator said...

"Unwrap everyday and create a new gift"