After looking into newsletter generation, I was inspired to create Mind Your Business. That inspired me to pivot my business, too!

I knew I wanted to turn Stitched Delights into a newsletter. I also envisioned Mindful Crochet as a complementing podcast feature.

How did I know this? Well, let me tell you a story…

I have OCD brain.

I love when things feel organized. I love when everything has its place and every task is properly checked off my list. ✔

️I also love writing and hate speaking. 😂

I can write content all day long. However, nothing feels more tedious than creating a script and recording all of that content. I have a lisp and I am paranoid about mispronunciations. I have anxiety, what can I say?

I convey information much more easily in written form than I do verbally. I have more confidence in my writing style than I do when I open my darn mouth!

I am confident that the information I have to share for Mind Your Business will benefit people. I also knew that writing was the medium I would flourish in most. People could glean more from my written works than a podcast episode. Plus, they can save my newsletter in their inbox for reflection later.

You know, “I swear MYB covered this last month… let me look!“

It is much easier to scan written works. You can find the specific section you need without playing through an old podcast episode.

Furthermore, I also felt that Stitched Delights hadn’t found the content sweet spot. I was spending so much time working on my free podcast. I couldn’t really find the time to write the premium paid content I wanted to create.

Mind Your Business inspired me.

My thought process was about an accumulated grouping of quality information. Business owners lack time but value good information that can help them grow. A newsletter or podcast was a natural idea. I ultimately decided on a newsletter because I can generate plenty of content for a monthly release. It also offers opportunities for advertising down the road, maybe as a smaller free version that is fully ad-supported.

Then I wondered why I wasn’t using this approach with Stitched Delights.

The entire reason behind Stitched Delights was to create a community around the fiber arts and mental wellness. I wanted to create premium content for people and use Mindful Crochet as a complement to that service. I was just struggling to figure out the right mix.

I started with a blog approach, but it was very unsuccessful. (Oh no, a business student failed at something? Can you imagine?!) I didn’t like how it was organized anyway. It bothered me for months. It was shredding my nerves to spend so much time producing something for nothing as my primary offering. I know Mindful Crochet helps people, and it receives a lot of positive returns. The problem was that the return didn’t really help feed back into production.

In case you were unaware, businesses need money to maintain. Green is good, red is bad. Just look at any business chart ever. 🤣

My business requires very little financing. However, it still isn’t receiving enough return. This does not justify the amount of time I spend each week working on my podcast and accompanying content.

Back to the independent call center contracting I go.

I faced a significant amount of loss while trying to build a business out of information. As a result, I had to find more work.

I am really good at customer service, so I went back to my old wheelhouse. Well, as you might say anyway.

I am still working in business, but I am redirecting my skills in more than one direction.

I know the niche is underserved.

It really is. There is so much research behind the concept that fiber arts, crochet specifically, benefits mental health! I have done the research, and I have found very few options in this area outside a handful of podcasts. I knew this is where I belonged.

Business note: Do not fall in love with an idea. Fall in love with an industry.

You should do what you know in business, but that doesn’t mean every idea is a winner. I am using this knowledge to reform Stitched Delights with the inspiration from Mind Your Business. I think a monthly newsletter with considerable content, like articles and discussions, will go a lot further. It also moves most of my time away from free content and into paid content.

As for Mindful Crochet? It will still be free. However, it will share some information from just one article out of the monthly paid newsletter. Think of it as a teaser. It shares information with those who cannot afford a subscription. It also teases the true value of the newsletter. I also want to tease content on the website with weekly notes about newsletter progress.

I call this a business pivot win.

Now I nap.

Okay, so not really. I just want a nap.

I spent many hours today formatting the newsletter that will be released for April. My goal was to create an outline for Stitched Delights today. Friday, I will create an outline for Mind Your Business. Then I will fill in all that content. I will do this during the month.

The newsletter release will be on the last day of the month. I decided this should apply to both newsletters, not just one. Furthermore, Mindful Crochet will release the following day on the first of the next month.

I even have advertising campaign plans in place to promote all releases!

This woman has been hard at work for many hours. I own my business so I am wondering if I should implement a company nap hour into every workday. 🤔

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Credits (links open in new window)

1. Feature Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com