What are you Thankful for Today?

by

I am thankful…
the week is over.
I have a network of great people to brainstorm with, even when times get tough.
I’m capable of controlling my own happiness.

Sunset by JGoode

This week has been one of the hardest for me for a long time.
Monday I learned of a business change with my primary product provider that would affect an enormous amount of people, yet these people wouldn’t find out until Wednesday. I’ve been riding an emotional roller-coaster as if I had out of control pregnant hormones. I spent Wednesday around the web, chatting, emailing, twittering…  and on the phone talking with quite a few of these people affected by this – not a one having the ability to say “Hey, this is gonna be great!”.We’ve built businesses based on another company’s business model and they’ve changed the pricing structure. Many are angry – many are leaving – Incomes are dropping by an average of 50% without having formulated a backup plan yet and at a time when so many households have already been dealing with salary cuts and layoffs – it’s very scary.

I’m in this boat with angry, sad, scared and and sometimes just plain numb people.  I’m trying to find the positive, because there always is positive. I am sure I have a paddle, I just need to grab hold of it better. Having surrounded myself a group of level-headed, thought provoking personalities. There are many people in this situation with me that are thinking this through and working on plans – we’re helping each other make it through.

I’ve spent this week arguing with my own “What next” thoughts and every hour is a new set of ideas, questions and inspirations. Ultimately, my decision is to keep moving forward. Take change in as if it were a new found friend and work with it to create something positive come from it. The benefit here is that I have warning the change is coming.pricing doesn’t actually go into effect until June 1 and my income won’t see the change until after that.

I’m thankful I still have my skills. I’m thankful I still have control of my own business. I may not be in control of the pricing I receive for the products I sell and I may not be in control of the availability of production or anything else dealing with tangible goods – but unless I plan on manufacturing every aspect of every product I offer, this kind of control is never entirely mine. I’m glad I’m experiencing this now, rather than aftering having invested thousands of dollars with no networking of “colleagues” in the business.

I will be expanding my business to reach other areas – branch out into new product offerings, and as with any good business model, have better backups for the hiccups that come along with tangible goods.

My thoughts go out to all the wonderful people this change is touching.

Watch for new great things –

What are YOU thankful for today?

If you have been affected by the Cafepress marketplace change, I have an calculator available to help you figure out your income change, so you can plan for the future of your business.

23 thoughts on “What are you Thankful for Today?”

  1. It looks like you have a handle on the best way to plod through this. Everything you say makes sense. But I wanted to stop by when I saw your Twitter “What are you thankful for today?” because I am extremely grateful today for Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls in a refrigerator tube. I'm only ten minutes away from extreme head-in-the-sand bliss when I have a roll of them on hand. Can you tell I'm trying to type with one hand? Licking orange-flavored frosting off the other one at the moment.

  6. I always get worried when you start melting, but you seem to get a kick out of it, so I won't interfere :).

    Jen: I've tried not buying them, and it works for awhile, but I always give in again. And they come in very handy some days.

  7. I always get worried when you start melting, but you seem to get a kick out of it, so I won't interfere :).

    Jen: I've tried not buying them, and it works for awhile, but I always give in again. And they come in very handy some days.

  8. I'm thankful that I'm not living under the Taliban, or in a slum in Mumbai. I'm thankful that I still have 2 working arms, legs, and eyeballs, my mental health, and a creative mind to figure this whole thing out and start something new and better.

  9. I'm thankful that I'm not living under the Taliban, or in a slum in Mumbai. I'm thankful that I still have 2 working arms, legs, and eyeballs, my mental health, and a creative mind to figure this whole thing out and start something new and better.

  10. I second all this! I'm thankful we are in a place that we have the opportunity to make our own decision to start something new – good for you!

  11. I second all this! I'm thankful we are in a place that we have the opportunity to make our own decision to start something new – good for you!

  16. I always get worried when you start melting, but you seem to get a kick out of it, so I won't interfere :).

    Jen: I've tried not buying them, and it works for awhile, but I always give in again. And they come in very handy some days.

  17. I always get worried when you start melting, but you seem to get a kick out of it, so I won't interfere :).

    Jen: I've tried not buying them, and it works for awhile, but I always give in again. And they come in very handy some days.

  18. I'm thankful that I'm not living under the Taliban, or in a slum in Mumbai. I'm thankful that I still have 2 working arms, legs, and eyeballs, my mental health, and a creative mind to figure this whole thing out and start something new and better.

  19. I'm thankful that I'm not living under the Taliban, or in a slum in Mumbai. I'm thankful that I still have 2 working arms, legs, and eyeballs, my mental health, and a creative mind to figure this whole thing out and start something new and better.

  20. I second all this! I'm thankful we are in a place that we have the opportunity to make our own decision to start something new – good for you!

  21. I second all this! I'm thankful we are in a place that we have the opportunity to make our own decision to start something new – good for you!

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