We're used to conforming to the expectations of society, family, friends, all of the people that surround us... and so it can be difficult to actually listen to yourself. But, I've found the most important thing in building the business of your dreams is to listen to yourself. Listen to what you want, to your dreams, to your goals, to what feels right, and to what doesn't feel right.... and act on that. If you don't spend the time listening to yourself, you will only build the business of someone else's dreams and expectations, and you will never feel successful. You will never feel content and truly proud of what you've created, because you haven't created what was meant for you, what was right for you.
From a young age, we are bombarded with societal expectations, what is cool (and not cool), what is successful (and not successful), what is worthy (and not worthy), what is valuable (and not valuable); and it's easy to get caught up in trying to fit in, and live up to the ideas of the people around us. So it's only natural to bring those same thoughts, ideas, and expectations into your business when you start selling knitting patterns.
But I want you to stop and think. When was the last time that you dropped all of that and listened to what you want in your knitting pattern design business?
Is your knitting pattern design business a reflection of what you want? What you love, enjoy, and are passionate about? Or are you following the path of someone else?
Are you knitting the latest pattern from {insert popular designer} because everyone else is doing it, or because you actually enjoy it and want it in your wardrobe?
Are you running your pattern design business the way you see everyone else doing it, or are you following what YOU want?
When we start designing, it's easy to feel like we need to achieve certain levels of success:
- Publish your patterns in X, Y, and Z magazines (where the popular designers are)
-Create patterns that fit A, B, and C requirements (because that's what the big name designers are doing)
-Have a social media following of X thousand followers
-Attend all of the most popular fiber festivals and be immediately recognized by a large percentage of the crowd
-Teach classes with A, B, and C programs (because that's what the big names are doing)
And on, and on, and on... from social media strategies to design aesthetics, and even how you interact with your audience.
Whatever the expectations are that you have for your yourself... I encourage you to examine your motives. Is it because that's what YOU want, that's what it seems like you should want, or that's what you see other pattern designers doing?
The only reason to stick with something is for the first reason: because that's what you want.
So take a moment and consider: That thing you're struggling with right now? Is it because you are following someone else's heart and not your own?
Listening to yourself, and what you want for your knitting pattern design business, can be hard.
To start with, it can feel really hard. You might start to ask questions like, "How do I actually know what I want?" "How can I trust that following what I want will be successful?" "What if it's scary to follow what I want?" "What if following what I want doesn't look like anything anyone else is doing?"
It's so easy to doubt ourselves. When we aren't used to looking within for the answers, we don't even know where to start.
But, I've heard it from so many coaches, and I'm proving it myself: when you listen to yourself, when you're authentic and honest (and vulnerable!), when you do what you're passionate about.... running your pattern design business feels sooooo much easier! I'm not going to say it's *easy,* but it truly does feel so much better. And there's something inside of you that says, "somehow, this just feels right."
And, of course, people are drawn to your honesty and your passion! They love to follow you and support your work because you are you, and they can connect with you, resonate with what you're sharing, and trust the work that you're putting out into the world.
So, be courageous. Don't fit into the mold of what society tells you you should be. Listen to yourself, embrace yourself, and step forward in confidence.
Be true. Be you.💙
Finding the Balance Between Others' Advice and Following Your Own Path When Selling Knitting Patterns
So through all of this you might be thinking, "But Jessica, why do you create checklists and roadmaps, and tell pattern designers what to do in your coaching and in the Design Circle, if we're just supposed to follow our intuition?"
Or, you might be thinking, "But Jessica, I'm just totally lost if I follow what I want to do. I don't intuitively know how to run a pattern design business! I don't know any of the strategy."
And yes, I totally agree with you.
Which is why I recommend using strategies and advice as guidelines and not as set-in-stone facts.
If you've worked with me through 1-on-1 coaching or the Design Circle, or you read my blogs for designers and use the free checklists and roadmaps.... you know that I'm always recommending you adapt the information to best fit your style.
There are often certain steps that you do need to go through when designing a knitting pattern, but how you do that is up to you. Start with the advice you receive, but adjust it so it actually works for you. It'll take some time to test and adjust, but once you find the sweet spot for you, it's like magic. But it's only magic for you, and no one else.
If you're looking for help with the strategy of your pattern design business, check out my other blogs. I have information in the blogs, plus some free downloadable resources, including:
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