The September magazine is live! Not only is this our 60th magazine (WOW!), it’s also our special edition magazine issue about mental health! Every year we focus an entire magazine on discussing mental health as business owners and we’re so excited about this one! So many brave women have stepped up to openly share what their experience with mental health has been like, how it’s impacted their businesses, and how they have learned to cope and even thrive.
“I earned $1,200 that first month. I was FLOORED.”
Our first story is from Morgan, who suffered for seven years with anxiety and depression. During the height of her challenges, she launched an Etsy shop and made $1,200 in her first month. Then it went all the way up to $10,000 a month before she’d even been on Etsy for one year, but behind the scenes there was chaos. She was not thriving internally. Read about her journey with mental health challenges and how she ended up building a business that didn’t require her to show up every day:
- Why she wasn’t thriving, even though her business was
- Why her business exacerbated her mental health challenges
- How she restructured and built a business that didn’t need her to show up every day
- How she’s learned to have a more healthy perspective that keeps her going
“I earned $1,200 that first month. I was FLOORED. The next month? A cool $4,000. #mindblown And things quickly began scaling from there….$6,000/month….$10,000/month….and on and on. And while everything looked good on paper (and trust me, it looked REALLY good for us dirt-poor newlyweds with hospital bills!), there was still chaos behind the scenes. My business was thriving, but I definitely wasn’t.”
– Morgan Nield morgannield.com
“After 10+ years with anxiety, I found my purpose.”
Our second story features Shayna, who has had a 10+ year journey with a generalized anxiety disorder that was exacerbated by starting a business. As business owners, we often can’t take extended time off to recover from exhaustion and get re-centered. Once her business prevented her from applying her usual coping mechanisms, Shayna had to seek professional help. Read about her inspiring journey in this month’s magazine issue!
“Although I have a successful business it hasn’t always been a walk in the park. Not only do I deal with the day-to-day challenges that come with being a small business owner, but I have a 10+ year journey with mental health challenges. Specifically, Generalized Anxiety Disorder.”
-Shayna Norwood from Steel Petal Press
When all her orders were canceled due to COVID, Anne-Marie had a change of outlook.
Our third story is about Anne-Marie, a seller who’s specialized in something very tasty: chocolate. When all of her work for March and April canceled due to COVID, she had a change of outlook which lead to a donation. That donation then lead to her business being revived and business coming back in.
“I had ordered all my supplies for March, April, and May, which are busy months for me. I was booked every weekend for March and April and I’ll never forget the first event that called and canceled. Then the events started falling like dominoes.”
Anne-Marie from choc OH lat
Here’s a preview of the goodies inside the September magazine:
September Question of the Month
Last month we asked handmade sellers what strategies have best helped their mental health as a business owner. Read about their experiences with mental health and how they care for themselves.
I built a business that supported my mental health challenges… and not the other way around.
Morgan earned $1,200 in her first month on Etsy and then grew to over $10,000/month before the end of her first year. But even though her business was thriving, she wasn’t. Read about her journey with mental health challenges and how she’s structured her business to work for her needs.
Creating Your Relaxation Program
When the line between work and hobby gets blurred, do you find yourself less able to just enjoy creating? After meeting the “beast inside her brain,” Deborah is offering advice on how to overcome anxiety as a business owner and find ways to continue enjoying your work once you’ve turned your hobby into a business.
After 10 years with anxiety, I found my purpose.
Shayna’s had a long history with generalized anxiety disorder that was exacerbated by her business. Read how she found help and is thriving with her new outlook.
Brainstorming Your Brand’s Story
Dive into the elements of a great brand story, learn how to draft your own, and check out examples of wonderful business stories that will inspire you.
When all her orders were canceled due to COVID, Anne-Marie had a change of outlook.
Meet Anne-Marie and learn how her business took back off after a change in mindset when all her clients canceled their orders due to COVID-19.
The Battle with Digital Burnout
Digital burnout leads to a lack of motivation, feeling like you need to work even more, and even depression. Learn about the dangers of our digital work and find ways to revive your routine and find balance.
The September Newsstand
Get updated on the latest industry news, shopping trends, social media changes, and more!
Funny Stories from Handmade Sellers
We all know that crazy and goofy things happen all the time while running a business, so we decided to start sharing a laugh about them! Handmade sellers from around the world have sent in their stories and you can, too!
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