What I've Learned

Happy Monday, everyone!

I wanted to quickly post today, and the thoughts that have been running through my mind lately are centered on all the lessons I've learned the last couple of weeks. Yes, I've been focused on the store on this blog - that extends to real life as well. It's basically all I talk about. So, friends, family, and readers, I apologize for my single-mindedness! The coolest thing about this whole experience {other than actually opening my doors Saturday morning} has been all the things I've realized about myself. Some good, some not so great...but ultimately, lessons that had to be learned.

{Our window display for the first Gathering}

Thought I'd share them here:

1. I'm fiercely protective of my business. I have perfectionist tendencies in everything I do, and I refuse to lower my standards for any reason. I've put a lot of time, thought, and hard work into this business. I've sacrificed a lot for it already. I've learned that I'm extremely protective of my business and my hopes for its success and I won't let anything get in the way.
2. I might actually be okay at running a business. I think I make sound decisions, know where to invest money and when to save it, when to ask for help, and when to trust my gut because I know something isn't quite right. I want what's best for the business and I want to continue to grow and learn as an owner.
3. I have the best husband on Earth. This isn't news. Just confirmed through this whole process. I couldn't have done it without him.
4. I have some of the best friends ever {again, this isn't really news, just confirmed}. They came from all over the area to support me on my first day. They shared news of my opening with their friends. They brought cards, sent flowers, wrote sweet notes, and so much more than I could have expected. I'm a very lucky girl.
5. I will make mistakes. I already made a huge one, before the doors were even opened, and I'm already regretting it immensely. For a person who has {for the most part} lived her life without regrets...this is a hard thing for me to swallow. However, it's a correctable mistake, and with Mike's support, things will be corrected eventually. In the meantime, I'm learning a very hard lesson. {Rest assured, this mistake only affects Mike & me, not the quality of our products or hopefully our ability to keep the doors open to Gather!}
6. There simply isn't enough time for me to complete my to-do list. I didn't get everything done I wanted to before the opening, and I suspect that will be the same for every day I'm open. But, that's okay, and I'm learning to make peace with it. I don't want to sacrifice my quality just for the sake of getting things done as quickly as possible.

There are so many more, but those are the key ones that are running through my head at the moment. Someone could have told me all these things before last week {or even before the last couple of months} and I wouldn't have believed any of them. So, I guess it's one of those things where I had to go through the situation to learn these things.

So, as I mentioned above, I haven't had time to do everything I said I would last time I posted...meaning, I never did close my Etsy store, and I'm still in the process of photographing a lot of products to get listed. For now, it will stay open as I know a lot of people are wanting to order aisle runners for summer weddings and I don't want to delay that for them. However, as soon as I get new products loaded, I'll be sure to put a note here on my blog and on the Gather Facebook page {www.facebook.com/gatherboutique}.

Speaking of Facebook, I'm doing a giveaway over there...as soon as I reach 100 likes, I'll be giving away a $25 gift certificate to Gather, so if you haven't already...make sure you like the page, and tell your friends about the giveaway as well!

Thanks again for all your support, friends! I'd be lost without it!!

Have a fabulous Monday!