Why It's All Totally Worth It

Image Credit: Small Glow : www.smallglow.com

Etsy is famous for the constant ebb and flow of its sales. One day a shop owner may be flooded with sales, the next he or she may be pulling their hair out waiting for just one at the end of the day. It can really do a number on the nerves when Etsy is your day-job and/or primary source of income. Consistency? Smooth sailing and an even payout each Monday? Forget it!

-And let's be honest, this is only one of our troubles. Never mind USPS constantly changing their shipping prices, the constant terror or getting a bad review, the misery that comes from an unfriendly shopper, or the nightmare of figuring out your taxes each year.

That said, there are a few, glimmering high points to being your own boss and selling your own work that make all of the supposed downsides fall to the wayside.

1) I am in charge. I decide if my business will be eco-friendly, I decide what my packaging looks like, I decide when and how I go to work, and on what I will and will not spend business money on. For those of us that are driven, independent individuals with a passion for what we do, this can't be traded for the world.

2) My time is my own. The sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you are giving your precious time to you and no one else.

3) Finally, and most importantly, what I do makes other people happy. Holy wow, getting notes of "thank you" or glowing reviews fills me with a warm fuzziness I never anticipated when first opening shop. The knowledge that you have created something that someone out there (perhaps who you will never meet,) loves and appreciates shatters all the downsides. It's pretty darn magical.

I asked people on the forums of Etsy a few months back what they felt was the best and worst aspects of selling online. The best answer:

The best thing about selling on Etsy?  Being your own boss, being responsible for each success, failure, and every facet of your business. -and the worst part? Being your own boss, being responsible for each success, failure, and every facet of your business.

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