Sometimes things happen...

Sometimes things happen and it is a total wake up call. Priorities get sorted out and you realize that your goals are not really all that important. Things change, life happens, whatever the catalyst it is good to be woken up, however painful, to a new life with new possibilities.

For a long time now I have enjoyed, coveted and curated my top seller status and it has been fun but the constant push to stay one step ahead of the game isn't what my life is all about and I lost sight of that. I always talk about wanting balance but I have realized that I cannot have both, top seller status *and* balance. I work a lot and when I am not working I am finding new ways to work so I can continue to thrive on Etsy. None of this is bad mind you but it should have a time limit or else you loose yourself. I miss me, I miss my family and I miss balance.

So here I am a month from summer and I have decided that I want out of the scrabble pendant business. I will continue to craft, create and sell but at my pace, in my own field, not one that is so saturated and competitive (or even if the new one is I will take my time anyhow). In order to full fill this new purpose I need to clean out a lot of inventory *and* generate some income. I have decided to cut my prices on every pendant to $7 until they sell out. Mind you, I have a lot of pendants but some are limited in print and once they are gone they are gone.

I plan on carrying my looking glass line and taking it above and beyond where it is now but first, I need to get rid of all things scrabble in my shop, then take a long break and hopefully come back refreshed. If you wanted a pendant or 6 now is a very good time to get them. If you want to email me a hug now is a great time to do so. My apologies for not going through with the give away, I just need to stop for a little while and refocus,

peace and love

Ryan

Comments

[SANDRA alias LAMIACASA (Etsy)]

Dear Ryan,

You have been my inspiration, I've followed your success with admiration, you are so lovely, so honest, so special - I wish you and your family all the best, from my heart!

Sandra

[panyizsuzsi]

Hi, This is my first time reading your blog. I am not a top seller, but I came up with the same idea, that I told my friends, they advised me to read your blog. Thanks a lot for sharing,
Zsuzsi

[Cindy]

Hugs to you, Ryan!

[mnrge]

Hi! I was so shocked when I went to your store and saw that it's closing! Whatever the case may be, you seem to be happy with your decision and that's what counts.

This is where I feel torn about Etsy. On the one hand it's a great place to sell things, meet great people, and get noticed, but on the other hand in order to make an actual full time living it can get impractical and busy as you have to make and do most things yourself. While this is admirable and stops the mass-produced from taking over, it clashes with the ability to create and keep the balance in our lives.

I've often wondered how the most successful sellers manage to have a life outside of Etsy and I think the answer is..that they don't, or it's really, really hard.

When I checked out your shop I was looking for inspiration on how to generate more sales and streamline my biz, but I am now having second thoughts about whether or not it can work on such a large scale.

Perhaps your next venture will be one in which you don't have to do everything yourself, thus creating more balance in your life. Good luck to you!! :D

[ArtMind]

Hey Ryan!
Good to hear that you are taking a break! Those can be more refreshing than anything!
I wish you a great, inspiring, peaceful and wonderful summer. Love to see you back when you do!
Big hug! :)
your little Belgian friend
Mitsy

[Anitra]

Wow. Ryan, I applaud you, and wish you well, whatever your new direction happens to be.

I just want to tell you that I came rushing over here, and then to your shop, as soon as I saw Diane's post on CraftyPod. I was thinking, "I'd better hurry! I want to get one before they're gone!" but I was too late. But I'm glad for you that they went so fast!

Hugs,
Anitra

PS Subscribing now...with thanks to Diane for showing us GoogleReader...

[Amy]

Good for you! It is hard to know when things get out of hand but burnout is no fun - Take Care!

[Chris]

Best of everything to you! Your work is primo, and I've been so informed and inspired by you.

[Vanilla and Max]

Sorry to see you go. But on the other hand many people never find balance in their lives. We wish you the best. We are just starting in the Web site/blog business with a site called http://hookedonscrabble.com for people who like and want to learn more about the game. We have been attracted to your site because of the obvious connection. We love the ornamets and your photography of flowers is magnificent! We hope your next venture is even more successful. Thanks.

[curster]

enjoy your summer, you deserve it-i take breaks all the time!
-erin

[Karen]

I completely understand this too. Our Etsy shop is only a tiny part of our overall business - though one that I like - and there are times when we do wonder if we really every wanted to be working a 70 hour week for five years straight. Last Christmas we were packing and posting almost right up to Christmas day (more than 500 orders to get out in a fortnight) - I was almost too tired to cook the dinner!

But - having your own business is addictive, isn't it? I'm sure you'll go on to do more wonderful things, and hopefully the experience will have given you strategies for finding more balance. We've decided just to take time out WHATEVER and, on a practical level, to focus more on higher value products (so much easier to produce and send one $60 item than eight $8 ones).

All the best with everything - and thanks so much for posting about this, it's an inspiration.

[Meshell]

Good luck with the future Ryan, all the best to you, along with a virtual cup of tea and some nice warm cookies...I'm sure you could do with about 50 of each!

It was such a pleasure purchasing from you, you really are a top seller in every sense of the word and I will cherish my beautiful journal (that I still haven't got the courage to mess up by writing in it yet, ha!).

Rest, relax, revive and have a blast rediscovering your creativity and living your life on your own terms and at your own pace :) xo

(LittleMissMeshell)

[Persimmonsgal]

Big big hugs to you! I hope you find your balance soon.

[missficklemedia.com]

You know, I thought I heard etsy crying today...
You are loved and admired, Ryan.
Best wishes for you and yours this summer!

[sophia]

best wishes for whatever road you take. kudos to you for going with your instincts and for letting go when you feel the time is come.
you are a rare and special bird...talented crafter and creative marketeer. looking forward to seeing your name and new work in the near future.

[teegee]

Oh wow Ryan.
Hugs to you and my sincerest thanks for everything you've written here in the blogs and on etsy to help new sellers.

Your pendants were my first etsy purchase. They are fab and you should be proud of them. Success is wonderful- but sometimes it overwhelms the really important things. It takes a strong person to realize when it's happening.
Good luck to you.

[bee]

Have a super amount of fun and resting times this summer. You know you are doing the right thing. I wish you all sorts of magic for the new creating you'll be doing. You are one of the most positive etsy people I've read and purchased from so I'm sure you'll open up all sorts of new doors for yourself.

[Christine]

Good for you for knowing when to take a break! I'm sure that you will be successful in whatever you do. Thanks for being a great inspiration and hero!

[lauren]

All best to you, Ryan! It takes lots of courage to make a change.

[Marie]

It's good to stop and re-evaluate things. I wish you peace. Hugs :)

[Sister Diane]

This is an important decision, and I applaud you for having the courage to step in a different direction. No success is worthwhile if it consumes you. Enjoy your rest, and I'm sure you'll return with a renewed creative energy for the looking glass line. Enjoy the summer!

[Gina]

Good for you -- perspective is an amazing thing and its hard to hang onto. You're setting a fantastic example for everyone inspired by your success. This break is just part of the journey. Enjoy smelling the flowers.

[Sandy and Kellie]

We wish you all the best. Rest and relax the best way you know how.

Take care and god Bless you. Many many hugs go out to you.

[Shannon]

Well this is a bit of a surprise since I only found your shop this week. But I think you are doing a very brave thing. And from how fast thing are selling, I know everything is going to be okay for you, you have a lot of supporters. So take some time to enjoy life and find that balance. Take care.

[Tina]

I wish you so much good luck! I look forward to your return & look forward to seeing what great things you have in store!