Folks, I’m not even going to act like I’m oblivious to what’s going on in the world around me. I’m painfully aware that there’s a virus that’s taking the world by storm and seems to be on the minds of everyone these days.
So, I want to start off by cautioning you to be safe out there and stay informed on current events and situations that can affect you and your family.
During times like these, there’s a lot to be said for remaining flexible, learning to think on your feet, planning for the unexpected, and pivoting directions when life puts a crimp in your best-laid plans.
And, reeling in the discussion closer to my Internet home at Degrees of Maternity, I have to admit that the things I’ve been so wrapped up in lately fade in comparison to the well-being of mankind and our ability to function among the disruption of every known infrastructure and system in this world. Nothing’s been left untouched. And I can only imagine all of the original plans, big and small, that are falling by the wayside right about now.
So, in troublesome times, I do a lot of praying and reflecting and re-prioritizing. And I can’t help but appreciate the fact that I’ve been working in a mode of flexible creativity lately. Plans have changed, new ideas have rolled in, and growth into where I need to be and what I should be doing with my skills are steadily taking place.
Again, it’s a good thing I’ve been functioning in a mode of “change of plans” as of late, because the world we live in is getting a great big heaping dose of it right now and will continue to receive some into the months ahead.
And here’s how I’m planning for a change of plans: I’m learning that it’s important to have some type of plan (a flexible framework) to guide the moves you make in anything you do, while allowing you to make necessary changes that will keep you moving toward your end goal. In other words, it’s quite possible to take the change (that’s sometimes thrown at you) and do something with it instead of abandoning your goal because of an interruption to the initial plan.
Creatives create, right? A new plan can always be created. And, new plans are made up of new ideas. The way I see it . . . visions that come to fruition are simply ideas and plans fulfilled. And, I envision my role, in what I do at Degrees of Maternity, as an attempt to keep the vision alive until it’s fulfilled, even if it means changing the means necessary to reach the desired end.
So, the new plan I’m developing is even newer at this point. It’s switching some priorities around to accommodate the current economic and supply chain climate we’re finding ourselves in.
Because I have a very physical product bundle that I’m looking to create, it’ll take access to suppliers of materials and services to pull it off as well as require distribution chains that will deliver those materials and the finished products to customers. And right now, I’m not entirely sure what impact the Coronavirus will have on employment and unemployment, healthy workers and work schedules, supply and demand, access to supply chain services, costs to products and services, etc.
So, I’ve decided to concentrate on those things I can control on my end. I mentioned last week that I will have some books that are part of the product bundle but can be standalones as well. And because these books can be created mostly by my little lonesome, utilizing self-publishing channels available to me, I’ll initially concentrate on these pieces of the product.
My goal is to provide the books in digital format as well as paperback (with the emphasis placed on digital), because I wouldn’t have to worry about distribution of the books as long as the book retailer would still have its online services available to indie authors.
Therefore, having digital products available for purchase will be the primary focus with ongoing work conducted to bring the physical product bundle to life in due season (sooner rather than later, I hope).
Furthermore, I’ll be using the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How framework to guide my flexible planning for this reading-writing product for children and the special adults in their lives. I’m sure I’ll be taking the weeks to come to break down this framework so you can follow me on my new product development journey. (It’s definitely going to be an interesting, plan-as-you-go ride.) For now, here’s a brief overview of the framework:
- Who is the product’s target audience/customer (who is the product for?). The “Who” also represents the individual who will actually be purchasing the product. Whose hands do you want the product to land in?
- What represents the description of the product itself. What is it? What does it do? What is it comprised of (supplies, materials, hand-crafted and store-bought items used)?
- Where identifies the location(s) where the product can be found and purchased.
- When provides a timeframe in which the potential customer can expect the product to be available for purchase.
- Why explains the reason for the product’s existence. Why does its existence create value for the customer? Why did you decide to bring it into the world?
- How is the behind-the-scenes story of how the product came into fruition. (The “How” is the accumulation of the “Who”, “What”, “Where”, “When”, and “Why” before it.)
To end this discussion, I just want you to know that I’m not planning on going anywhere. And, I’m looking forward to continuing on this product planning course. I’m having to tweak my initial intentions here at the beginning of the journey, but all is well. I’m excited about this project and will do my best to see it through. My product’s look might roll out a little differently than I originally planned, but that’s all right. A flexible framework allows the show to go on in light of world events that change your original trajectory.
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