My 4 words

My four words

My 2015 amazing Biz and life workbook 

It's that time of year again when I start planning for next year and looking back on the year that was. 

Looking back at my workbooks for the beginning of last year I found an almost forgotten page- my 4 guiding words (or mantra) for my business for the year. Written down in January I don't think I've glanced at them since, but looking at them at the end of the year, I think I chose well and I'd like to keep applying myself to them. I intend to print them out and put them where I'll see them every day 

 1. Abundance

a·bun·dance 

noun

1.

an extremely plentiful or oversufficient quantity or supply: an abundance of grain.

2.

overflowing fullness: abundance of the heart.

3.

affluence; wealth: the enjoyment of abundance.

I'm aiming for all three (well maybe not the grain, but you know what I mean) Having enough, giving more to others so they feel the abundance, and thereby me receiving abundance from them. The feeling that I've got enough of everything and I'm not going without, not having that panicky feeling that I may not be able top afford a big bill that's on the way (or the unexpected speeding fine that I somehow get every now and then!)

2. Brand

"Unique design, sign, symbol, words, or a combination of these,employed in 

creating an image that identifies a product and differentiates it from 

its competitors. Over time, this image becomes associated with a level of 

credibility, quality, and satisfaction in the consumer's mind. 

Thus brands help harried consumers in crowded and complex marketplace, by 

standing for certain benefits  and value. A legal name for a brand is trademark 

and, when it identifies or represents a firm, it is called a brand name."


Put more simply, a “brand” is what my prospective customer thinks of when he or she hears my brand name.  It’s everything the public thinks it knows about my name brand offering—both factual (e.g. It comes in a robin’s-egg-blue box), and emotional (e.g. It’s romantic).  My brand name (or logo) exists objectively; people can see it.  It’s fixed.  But my brand exists only in someone’s mind.

What does Jacqstar Creations mean to you? What are the first words/ images that come to mind? 

They may not be what I have in mind but that's OK. I'm trying to establish my brand and make it cohesive and easy to understand.

Having said that, it's evolving, as am I and won't be the same in 5 years as it is now. 

3. Learn

I ADORE learning new things and anyone who knows me knows that I'm a font of trivial information (which only comes in handy when you're on my team in a Trivia contest), but I love learning new facts or techniques. And if you run a business you need to keep updating not only your business and financial goals and plans, but also your creative ideas and techniques. 

You never stop learning,  and I never want to lose my child-like fascination with new things.

Things I want to learn this year to enhance my business:

• Wool dyeing techniques
• I'd love to learn to spin my own wool but I'll have to save up to get a spinning wheel
• SEO (search engine optimisation) and general internet-y stuff
• How to build a better blog (gonna learn/ figure out Wordpress this year)
• Pattern designing 

There's more, but it's best not to over commit myself, and  as the year goes on, I'll add and change things.

4. Professional 

I've got a hobby business but I still treat it professionally and expect to be treated with the same professionalism. I'm striving to make things better and more professional, and bit by bit will get there. It's a matter of thinking big :)

From little things big things grow.  

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What are your 4 words?

They don't have to be business related, what simple words/ concepts can you apply to your life for next year?   

If 4 are too many (and I'm wondering whether I'll be able to focus on all four) choose one or two that you'd like  to focus on. 

I'd love to hear your words.