I shared with you, earlier this year, the fact that I was about to embark upon a new product development journey, where I would be making a physical product. This physical product would promote reading and writing development in children (in a uniquely, fun way). And, there would be handmade as well as store-bought components to the product.
I had even proceeded to buy a few things that I would need for my product at local stores and off of Amazon. You may not remember, but the product was actually going to be a bundle of products put together in a kit-like fashion. So, I was fully in — hook, line, and sinker. The product idea was real to me and I was starting to put the pieces of the puzzle kit together.
UNTIL . . .
I had a rude awakening out of nowhere that actually shook me into an entrepreneurial reality that I’ve come to ironically appreciate today.
As I was saying, I was actually on my way and making some strides on my new product journey when COVID-19 hit. Well, actually the virus was already in motion when I started building my product bundle; but at that time, the Coronavirus seemed far away from where I was and my creative aspirations seemed far removed from being touched by what was going on within another continent.
However, it didn’t take long for that virus to move out into every inhabited crook and nanny of the world and become the global pandemic that we now know it to be.
And as I sadly shut down production on my product idea, I couldn’t help but to think “CLOSE CALL” and be incredibly thankful that I hadn’t gotten too far in the process to feel like I was at a huge loss (in effort and finances), starting right off the bat.
But, I say “CLOSE CALL” to say that COVID-19 was actually a wake-up call to me in so many ways. It was that inhibitor that basically prevented me from pursuing a direction that really wasn’t meant for me at that particular time in my new product journey. I’m a novice at creating products right now. I’m what you’d call a solopreneur (with some artistic assistance from her babies), basically a one-woman show with one self-published book under her belt and little-to-no experience in supply chain fundamentals.
Supply chain is a pretty intricate beast and I have a huge learning curve to go through in this area of expertise. Seems like I have a lot of huge learning curve opportunities to explore at Degrees of Maternity, but it’s all right with me. I absolutely love it. It’s my growth potential being realized, and all I have to do is just kick my creative flow into gear and get going already. But, I want to make wise decisions, practical moves, and work within the realistic variables I’ve been dealt. And, one thing I’m fully aware of is the fact that supply chain is out of whack for pretty much every industry out there with this whole pandemic in full force.
Hence, the reasoning for my focus shift to the digital product route. And this direction seems to be the appropriate route for me to pursue in light of the times we’re currently living in. At least for now, anyway. No buying raw materials, no need for manufacturing processes, no packaging, and no shipping necessary.
I’ve been given many wake-up calls in life. Sometimes, I’m keenly sensitive to them and make the right decisions that lead to favorable results. And other times, I’ve ignored them and had to bump my head a few times and face the repercussions of some hard knocks until the old noggin finally had some sense knocked into it.
Nope! I refuse to be hard-headed this time. There’s too much going on right now in the world, and I’m going to do my best to productively and proactively move forward.
You live and learn, don’t you? And at that pivotal time, I didn’t need the warning to be repeated. It rung loud and clear: “Stop the course you’re currently taking and reroute! You’re going in the wrong direction. For your product aspirations, you need to get your family’s input, you need to get input from potential customers, and you need to work smarter (not harder). Remember: this adventurous venture you’re assuming has to be one that you can fully implement, maintain, and be of value to others.”
Here’s the thing with digital products: I’m looking forward to creating automated systems and setting them in place (UPFRONT) so that I can create beneficial product offerings that run on autopilot. For a novice solo entrepreneur (solopreneur), like myself, I think that’s the wisest route I can take in 2020. Who knows what the future holds? I’ll never say never to physical products (I still offer the print option for my self-published book), but I won’t put any further energy into them at this point in time.
So, what am I up to now? Well, I’m currently in the influx of the creative process, working with my daughter, Toodlez, and son, Little Man, on the contributions they can bring to the overall product(s). Furthermore, I’m researching the online programs and platforms I’ll utilize to set up the systems for my product(s). And, I’m also doing some market research, utilizing the platforms I’m on as well as conducting conversations with and administering questionnaires/polls/surveys to adults and children in the front-line of public and homeschooling education. (NOTE: I’m giving you a break today on the poll questions, but I’ll be back next week.)
Oh, and I can’t forget to mention the “Freebie Fridays”. The “Freebie Fridays” are allowing me the opportunity to create digital offerings (printables) and put them out into the world for others to take advantage of. It’s been great in giving me practice on a smaller scale for what I’ll be doing on Etsy in the future.
And if you haven’t already, feel free to check out the freebies and subscribe to my email list. It’s never too late with the freebies. Most of them are child-focused for at-home use but can also be used by and for adults as well. (There’s even a freebie of recipes that both you and your children will appreciate.) Nevertheless, you’re sure to find something that can give you ideas or provide you with assistance. After all, the freebies are free, people.
Furthermore, it’s never too late with the email list either. I would love for you to subscribe to it. By subscribing to my email list, you’ll be offered no spam, only access to freebies, product offering announcements, discounts and sales info, and the skinny on what Degrees of Maternity has in store for you. (Some of these notifications won’t be broadcast on the blog, so join the email list soon because I’ll be rolling out important info on the new product(s) before you know it.)
So, I’m excitedly busy. I feel like I’m in alignment with my “rightful placement” of where I’m supposed to be and what I’m meant to do with my skills and abilities. It’s a great feeling. Now, I just need to master all this technology I’ll have to utilize in order to get my product(s) off the ground. I’m sure I’ll be looking to my children for help in this respect. Young people know how to work technology. And, I guess that’s a good thing too (in only all the good ways), because online technology seems to be one system that can continue to thrive, even in a pandemic.
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