Take a Shot!

I often hear (and am guilty of it sometimes myself) small biz owners say “I’m not a big enough business to try that” or “I don’t have a chance of getting into that”, so they don’t bother to submit articles, send samples to magazines or websites, or try to get their product into that big store they dream of.

The problem with down-playing your business and feeling as though you aren’t worthy of more, is that you are simply hindering your own growth and creating a self-fulfilling prophecy! If you don’t dream big and reach for that dream, then your business will be stunted only by yourself.

Months ago, I saw a request from the giant shopping website, RedPlum.com on HARO. RedPlum was looking for submissions for their many different holiday shopping gift lists. As someone that has used their gift lists in the past to shop for my friends and family, I immediately wanted to send them a picture and write-up on my Record Notebooks. Immediately after that, I thought to myself that there was absolutely no chance that I would actually get in their lists…in the past I’ve seen items from Banana Republic, Target and other big corporations on RedPlum. Still, I thought I should send them an email anyway. Maybe someone in the office would think my notebooks were neat and buy one, so I took a shot.

Weeks later, I got an email from RedPlum. They were interested in seeing a couple product samples to show test panels. Again, I thought “I’m just one person, a woman making these in her kitchen. I don’t have a shot at this. But maybe the test panels will like it, and I can make a few sales!”, so I sent them two of my favorite notebooks.

I was completely shocked and wonderfully surprised to then receive an email from their editor that they loved my samples and wanted to include my notebooks in RedPlum’s 30 under $30 Editor’s Choice Gift Guide! Not only was my small business included in the list, but the website would be hosting parties all over the United States for top bloggers to see the products included in that list! I was getting free exposure to hundreds of bloggers, and then through RedPlum’s website for practically nothing. I said to my husband “If only they knew I’m not a huge company, I’m just a girl working out of her home!”.

The Gift Guide came out this week. My notebooks were number six on the list, right above Demeter Fragrances. I LOVE Demeter Fragrances! I buy Demeter Fragrances! What a compliment to be right above them on this list!

All through this process, I thought it was crazy that I would be picked. That I wasn’t worthy of it, because it’s just me. No employees, no warehouse, just me. Then it occured to me… why not? What does any of that have to do with it? I make a great product, and one that a lot of people love. It doesn’t matter how small time I am, not to my customers and not to bloggers and not to RedPlum. What is important is that I make something people like. And the more people are exposed to it, the more sales I have, and the possibility of this tiny business that I have can grow.

So take that chance, even if you don’t think you have a chance in hell! Who knows what can happen, just dream big and keep telling yourself that it is possible, and work towards it! Everything that you can do and try is worth the time, and you are worthy of it!