I need to interrupt our regular scheduled scavenger hunt to ask you a question:
Ever get in a rut?
I had a conversation with my husband the other day which ended up more of a rant and whine session over the business and the direction it’s going. Nothing bad, but just one of those days where you second guess every step you take. And when I start to feel down on myself I look at the many books I have lying around or peruse the informational blogs I follow and I started to notice a trend. Each asked “What’s your mission statement?” “What’s your sole purpose of doing what you do?” And for the life of me I could not get past those words.
So there I sat wondering what’s my mission in my life, my business, and even my blog? And I’m left with no concrete answers…yet. So I try to move on to the next question which was: Where do you see yourself in 1, 2, 5 years from now? Well crap! That answer is a direct result from the first, which is “what’s my mission?”
I now am constantly thinking of where do I want to be years from now? How do I want to intertwine my business with my life goal? Because Megan, author of Craft MBA, said it perfectly that you can’t be a huge corporation working part-time. This doesn’t mean I go back on what I said before about moving my business forward as I am, but just stuck. The creativity isn’t flowing. The ideas aren’t generating. Everything is just at a standstill.
Do you ever get like this, where you second guess everything you do, and need that little push to get you out of that rut? How do you handle it? Let’s talk.
Hi, I'm 
I think most people in their lives goes through this at some point. For me, whenever I start doubting myself and my business, instead of looking ahead at the future and where I want my business to go, I look back at why I started it in the first place. The answer pop out at me every time and reaffirms my dreams and goals.
You are incredible at what you do. From what I can see, you are a hard-working, creative and meticulous woman with a booming business. This is probably just a rut, and yes it will pass. We’re just so lucky these days to have a community of similar people around us to help out in these times with answers to our questions. Trust your instincts, it’s gotten you this far and will take you where you will want to be even though there’s no pre-determined route to getting there.
oh, yes, i know this so, too. Sometimes in your life everything seems to stand still and you don´t know how you can break out again. But how i wrote on twitter…the most important mission is to be happy…mostly with the tiny things…with your family, with to be healthy, with to have the possibiltity to discover something new everyday…and when i think about this, i can always break out from this circle of being in this standstill…try new things, make something untypical for me…and then the ideas come again…and i believe that everybody has these thoughts now and then…but i´m sure you will do a fantastic job and it will you bring there where your heart is at home…to yourself…hopefully this helps a little bit…have a wonderful sunny week and a big hug…cheers…i
Oh yes, yes! I’ve been there. Ha, it’s well documented on my blog. My advice? Go there. Feel the rut. A few weeks ago I thought closing up my shop temporarily was the worse decision ever, but I’m starting to realize it was the best thing I could ever of done. If forced me into looking at where I was going, what was making me happy/unhappy and a myriad of other things.
Often, when we try and force ourselves out of the rut we develop a false sense of purpose and typically land back in the same situation. Ride it out, the answers will become clear along the way. This is when I listen to my gut. Never fails me.
As for defining your mission. Don’t. If I look at the mission statement in my business plan from over 2 years ago, my “mission” has shifted and I can tell I wrote a very canned response. While the essence is still there, I’m still not able to completely define what my mission is and I’m okay with that. It’ll come. I can feel it already. I just can’t put it into words right now.
If you Google business plans for small businesses, there are many arguments to NOT do one. If you’re not in a position where it’s flowing naturally (your plan, mission, goals) etc, that’s okay. The advantage many of us small business owners have is the ability to experiment, test waters and explore new options. If that’s you and you’re comfortable with it, don’t worry too much about pigeon holing yourself into what the blogs/books and other informational outlets tell you. Do what feels right for you. You’ll find your comfort zone and the rest will come naturally.
Adele
bridgett, reading your post and reading these answers has me thinking so much!
i love the community we have here at our fingertips, for support, advice, and just bouncing ideas. i think you are an incredible talent, and are obviously passionate about what you do. I can’t wait to see where your business leads, i know for a fact there are great things in store for you. creative ruts and walls happen, unfortunately. you need to figure out what works best for you to get through, whether like adele said to feel it and let it come over you and come through on the other side, or to take a step back and reflect some more on your desires.
last night, as i packed up my sewing for the night [late!] and my husband made his way up the stairs from working all evening, he sighed and said something to the effect of ‘oh, the toils we have in our life!’. I just laughed. He was kidding, mostly. We both work every night on our own projects, all evening, except usually on the weekends where we’ll watch a movie – gasp – together! but it works for us. and i asked him –if you weren’t downstairs working on your art, what would you do instead? He didn’t have an answer, and neither did i. Despite the time + wondering where it’s getting us, neither of us would change it! Even if we had all the money + time in the world, we would still be drawing, sewing, creating, because it’s what feeds us.
I don’t know if that helps, b, but i do know that you have amazing support from your family, and your community here. anytime you need, i’m here if you want to rant!!
xo lesley
Wow – If nothing else, you have inspired a new business owner today!
I think you’re amazing at what you do! I happened across your blog the other day and in just the brief time that I perused it, I was inspired by all that you do and how well you seem to balance it. I am just starting on this small business venture and sometimes don’t know where to go next. It’s good to know I’m not the only one! I work full time and am currently doing invitation design as a “side business.” However, I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to do it full time someday. I’m just not sure how to get there. I have so many thoughts, ideas, and plans going in and out of this head of mine and I’ve yet to figure out how to pull ‘em all together and make it “work!” Thus far, I have taken the feet forward approach. However, I’m reminded by my husband on a regular basis that I just need to let things progress naturally. …but how do you do that when we live in a society of WANT and NOW! I am so not patient! I obviously don’t have wise words of encouragement, as I don’t think I’m in a place to be lending out advice just yet. In fact, I should be taking advice from you!! I just have to tell you that you have a great thing going and you should keep it up! 
P.S. the Moroccan Couscous recipe you have on your site = yum!! I’m also in the “flirting” stage! You and I must have watched the same episode of Oprah.
I watched Food Inc. and read The Kind Life. Our pantry has been transformed into a mini version of Whole Foods with all of the Organic foods we have acquired!
Sounds like you’re a little tired and need a break. Think about how many things you juggle daily: wifehood, motherhood, graphic design, business, blogging, it’s a lot! We women put so much pressure on ourselves. And why? I have been battling similar thoughts and have concluded the answer is in plenty of quiet time, spiritual time, grattitude time, and taking off the pressure.
Have you tried sitting down after you’re relaxed and jotting down a few {realistic} goals on a piece of paper? Try just three. Must keep it reasonable or you won’t do them.
I’m also a big believer that if you make time for prayer, quiet recharging time and positive visualization, you will be led toward the path that is ultimately your purpose here on this earth. It does not happen overnight – it evolves. You already create so much beauty and inspiration with your business. I can only imagine how much you have shared with your little princess and husband. Those are priceless gifts/relationships that are irreplaceable and do not involve deadlines nor mission statements – just remember those are the most valuable treasures you have.
This is such a great question and something I too have struggled with over the years – so don’t feel alone! I think it’s such an incredibly difficult question to answer…and it has prevented me from starting my business because everything I’ve read said you must have a biz plan and a mission and an elevator pitch, etc, etc. And this made me want to just give up at that point. Until I realized that almost every small business owner I talked to didn’t start with a mission or a biz plan…they just started. They just did what they loved and grew from there. So I’m trying to do the same. You’re already creating such beautiful things. Just continue and allow that to evolve and don’t worry about this question – just do what you love!!
hi Bridgett,
First of all, let me congratulate you on your fabulous designs. If your creativity and thoroughness on this website is anything to go by, then you must be awesome at your full time job and your other important jobs – ahem – mommy and wifey !
I came across your blog a few weeks ago and I have been following your posts regularly.
In my experience, when we juggle so many things, we are bound to feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. Here I am , just starting to build my business, and I am already daunted by so many aspects. ? I guess, what I have been doing when I hit a dead end, I change my focus to something else for a while . It helps me re-group and I do better when I come back to my former task.
Whatever it is that is holding you back , will soon fade away or you will find a way out of it. You are not alone in this ! Until then do what you do best and keep creating . After all, it is that creativity that has inspired so many of us
Thank you all for your sweet comments! I love the blog community and the ability to freely share how you’re feeling knowing others can relate. And then in turn to share your experiences and what has worked is incredible!
Michelle, I did do just that, took a look at why I’m in existence and wrote out a mission statement that I feel encompasses what I’d like to accomplish. It feels good to have direction again and focus – which I believe I got away from and was sort of running on cruise control, you know what I mean?
Seleta, girl I wish I knew what a break is! I try so hard to relax and unwind but I really don’t think I’m able to do it. Sad I know, but I’m working on it. Working on relaxing…now that’s a post for you!
Lisa and Lakshmi, thank you so much for vising my blog AND commenting!!! I’m thrilled that I’m inspiring others. It’s actually something I incorporated in my mission statement and hope to continue down that path.
xoxo
B
Bridgett, I happen to be in the same place… wondering where life is going. I wanted to thank you for bring us along on you life journey. You have been a great inspiration to me and my own graphic design journey. When ever I am in a rut, I ask my children ( I teach preschool) to create something. I find their creativity simply amazing. They take art in places I could not have imagined. Anyway, just wanted to say Thanks!
You’re welcome Kristen!