From Daydream to Day Job: A DIY Guide to Turning Your Dream into a Business
Ready to bring your dream to life? This step-by-step guide shows you how to turn your passion project into a thriving business. Let’s paint this canvas together!
Ever caught yourself daydreaming during your 9-5? Ever doodled plans on a napkin, thinking, “What if this could be my life?” Honey, you’re not alone! Today, we’re transforming that doodle into a masterpiece. We’re gonna DIY your dream into a real-life business.
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Identify Your ‘Why’:
Before you set up that Etsy store or launch that website, think about why this dream lights you up. Is it a love for painting? A knack for knitting? Your ‘why’ is your compass.
Example: I started The Ruffled Daisy because I had a passion for painting and creating wanted to empower women. I wanted to turn my passion for painting and writing into a platform that makes a difference. What’s your ‘why’? Dig deep into this because it is the fire that keeps you going through all of the “non-fun” stuff in business.
2. Market Research:
You need to know your landscape. Are there others doing the same thing? What can you offer that’s different?
Example: When I started, I noticed many DIY blogs but few that combined crafts with personal growth and business. That became my unique angle.
3. Craft a Business Plan:
Sketch out the blueprint of your dream. It can be a one-pager but make it concrete. Detail out your expenses, your projected income, and your goals.
Example: My initial plan included the cost of painting supplies, shipping materials, and website upkeep. Now it’s much deeper than that. I dig into this deeper inside our Daisy DreamMakers VIP group.
4. Get Legal:
Register your business, get the needed permits, and decide on a business structure. An LLC? A sole proprietorship? An S Corp?
Example: I opted for an LLC to separate my personal assets from my business. I also registered the name ‘The Ruffled Daisy’ to make it officially mine. Since the beginning, I have now transitioned into an S Corp.
5. Branding and Marketing:
Create a logo, set up your social media, and think about your branding voice. Is it casual and friendly or elegant and refined?
Example: My brand speaks like I do, kinda like a best friend who knows when to give you a hug or a good nudge.
6. Launch:
The big day! Whether it’s publishing your website, opening your Etsy store, or going live on Instagram, celebrate it.
Example: I celebrated my launch by offering a limited-time discount on my wooden kits. It brought a ton of new customers in the door.
7. Keep Growing:
Stay updated with trends, constantly interact with your community, and never stop learning.
Example: I regularly take online courses to improve my marketing skills, and I always listen to my community’s feedback.
There you go, my friends! It’s not rocket science, but it’s not a cakewalk either. It’s like painting on a canvas—some days it flows easily, and sometimes you make mistakes. But each brushstroke brings you closer to your masterpiece.
Your dream is more than a wishful doodle; it’s a seed waiting for you to water it. So what are you waiting for? Let’s roll up those sleeves and DIY this business like we do everything else: with love, creativity, and a whole lotta heart.
Luv this post…would luv to have a detailed expansion of each of these topics