plumeriaceramics-blog

[plumeriaceramics-blog]

This is my first post, and it’s not perfect.

I’ve had my business license since October. When I first tacked it to the wall in my studio, I envisioned a fully functional online store within three months. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was ready to face the challenge head-on. 

What I didn’t know was how thoroughly I would get in my own way. There’s an episode of How I Met Your Mother from season four in which Ted has just started his own Architecture firm. His next move should be to start calling clients, but instead he focuses his energy on choosing the “official pen” of Mosbius Designs.

For the past six months, I’ve been Ted. It took me a week to design the first version of my logo.  I’ve changed my “official color scheme” three times, and I’ve changed the theme for this blog more times than I can count. When I’m working in the studio, nothing I make is good enough; I find reason to scrap almost every piece I create.

That’s the effect perfectionism has; it paralyzes us. We think that it’s because we care so much, but the truth is that it’s a defense mechanism. Our hopes and dreams are an important part of who we are. They motivate us, drive us to succeed, and cripple us in the event that they’re destroyed. The safest place for our dreams is in our head. When thought becomes action, when dreams make their way into the real world, the fear can be debilitating. The longer you stall, the longer you take to design your logo or choose the perfect pen, the longer your dream stays intact and doesn’t become another thing you failed at.

I’m done stalling. This is my first lesson learned as a business owner. I may change this theme again. I don’t have a logo and I haven’t decided on my colors. But I’m moving forward, and that’s what’s important.