Creative or just crazy?

Gee whiz it's happening again. I go through these phases at least once a year when I think that this will be the year that I really start a business. I consider myself a creative and multi-talented individual which makes it hard because I want to do a little of everything. What is everything? Well let's see, there's retail management and gift buying and resume writing and document creating (newsletters, etc.) and article writing and scrapbooking and party planning, And... (you get the point)

I put on my thinking cap and get going on a business name. Now, keep in mind that this is probably my first mistake. Business planning is much more about developing a "plan" financially speaking, determining what to do, and figuring out how to go about doing it than immediately coming up with a catchy name and logo. But that's just not how I do it. I have to start with a name and then I have to fool around for a few hours on my computer with fun fonts and clip art because, of course, I just have to come up with a cute logo and business card. Then I email my results to my friend Gabby, because she thinks about the business world a lot too.

That rush soon dwindles a bit though. I'm creative, but I'm not a graphic artist, so I eventually get frustrated as my logo in progress is not absolutely fabulous. And you know, when your name is out there in print, it just has to be great!

The title that seems to fit what I like to do the best is Creativity Consultant. A C.C. is going to help others in any way that they need creative help. Need party ideas? A new resume? A newsletter or flyer that will knock their customers' socks off? Need to plan a store event and don't know where to start? Need an advertorial written for your business? A Creativity Consultant is there to save the day. I could be there to save the day. I could do a lot of this via website and email...

But then the retail girl in me screams, "What about me?" And I think to myself, "You know you love retail, you should get a retail job." And it's true, I love and miss the retail world. But Dave and I made the decision for me to be at home with the kids. This is something that many families can't afford to do and we are lucky to be able to do that for the kiddos. I could work part-time doing that, but then again...

I would love to own my own gift store (possibly party too!). That's been my dream since my Roberts days and I would do such a good job! I loved my years at Roberts (Hallmark and Gifts) and I did a darn good job at it and built so many wonderful relationships with the customers. But there is always the subject of financing (gotta get myself one of those money trees!), and moreover there is the subject of time... the thing we never have enough of. I couldn't do it half way - it would have to be all or nothing.

Jim and Dorothy Roberts, a.k.a., "Mr. and Mrs. R" made great sacrifices in order to open and maintain their very successful retail business. For many years, Mr. R. worked seven days per week, from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM (at least) and would then do the books at home. This was all taking place while Mrs. R. was at home, alone a lot, raising FOUR children! They did it somehow and had one of the most successful and loved stores in Napa for over 35 years, but can I commit to that?

Small businesses are tough. They take oodles of time and commitment and they don't show returns a lot of times for many years. Is that something we could afford? Probably not right now.

Getting back to the name game, there's been "Your Girl Friday" which I loved and used for a few years in Napa while writing for Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine and doing misc. other small jobs. Then there was "Kimberly Funk Communications". And since then there have been lots of playing with names; "Little Country Cottage" for one and most recently I came up with "Celebration Station". For what you ask? Well... I could use it for eBay sales and a few other things... there's also, "Marketing Magic" (market your business or market yourself).

See how my mind works? I get on an idea and my mind just starts going and going ! Luckily my friend Sarah owns a scrapbook store and lets me play idea games with her. I love sharing my ideas with her. (www.imascrapbookaddict.com)

So I ask you, am I creative or just crazy? Perhaps I should just call my business, "Creative Kim Strikes Again!"