There’s been a rather lengthy discussion taking place over at The Creative Empire about whether you should have an online shop through Etsy or your own e-commerce site. Which transitioned into whether Big Cartel was a better choice than Shopify. While reading this thread (which does have plenty of useful information) I realized that so many of us are caught in decision angst.
And then, I had a really important revelation:
It doesn’t matter!
I think so many times we use decision making as a form of procrastination. We hold out for the perfect solution and devote countless hours researching and debating.
But when it comes to running a business, perfection isn’t the most important thing. Action is.
In any business, but particularly in the online world, the advantage usually goes to those who get there first. While you’re debating between templates for your blog, someone else is out there already blogging – and building a following. Every day that you wait to open an online shop because you aren’t sure which site to use is a day your business isn’t bringing in revenue. Successful people aren’t making pro/con lists about whether Twitter is a good fit for their business – they just dive in.
I think, on some level, we all realize this. Yet, we still let decision making hold us back. Why?
The biggest culprit is most likely fear. If you never launch the blog, you don’t have to deal with the way you’ll feel if no one reads it. Ditto for your online shop. In many ways, it’s much safer to not be making money because your shop isn’t launched yet than to admit you aren’t making money because you have a less than stellar product (or marketing plan).
So how do you get over the decision making as procrastination cycle?
First, recognize that it doesn’t have to be perfect. This is especially true in the online world, where launch and then refine is much better than perfect in secret and never launch. But this is also true when it comes to other things. Business cards can always be re-ordered. You can always launch version 2.0 of your product. The best thing you can do is get yourself out there.
Second, remind yourself that most decisions are trivial. While there may be occasional big, important decisions for your business, most aren’t the make it or break it scenario we imagine them to be. (And according to many experts, even some of those bigger decisions, like your business name, aren’t such a big deal in the long run.) Your customers aren’t going to shop on your competitors site because you chose Shopify over Big Cartel. (Most won’t even notice.)
Third, ask yourself why you really aren’t moving forward. Sometimes that lack of decision making has nothing to do with the little decision itself, and may point you towards a bigger issue or problem with your business.
Finally, if you still can’t make a decision, ask ONE person. When you ask a lot of people, it’s easy to feed the indecision. “Well, almost half of the people I asked liked this thing, so I’m still not sure.” When you only ask one person, you only get one opinion. Then, run with it.
Because, when it comes to running a business, it’s always better to take action than to wait for perfection.
Do you fall into this trap in your own business?
What decisions are you putting off as a form of procrastination?
Oh-so-true. I have been thinking about this for myself – just do it!
Awesome post Megan, and something I know I’ve struggled with in the past. Though I do often have the opposite problem of leaping into action without thinking things through… and then working out how the hell to juggle everything!
This is great! Especially the part about asking ONE person.
I have finally gotten past the procrastination (and yes, a little bit of fear) and in the past month I’ve begun advertising and launched my official website. The site still needs a bit of work, but it’s UP! Right now I’m trying to determine whether or not I want to activate the trunkt.com linesheet I’ve spent hours putting together.
Advertising hasn’t worked miracles for me so far, but it sure hasn’t hurt me either!
File this under “things I needed to hear this morning/this week/this month/this YEAR”!
So true! I think it’s good to put a little thought into decisions, but don’t dwell on them. Sometimes you just have to pull the trigger. Fear is the main thing that holds most people back. I know it holds me back and I am a pretty go-getter/secure type of person.
When I put something off or feel nervous about doing something, I have decided to consider “What is the worst that can happen” AND “What is the possibility if whatever I am doing works out according to plan?”
Usually the answer to the second question is so exciting that it enables me to push forward.
Goodness. Are you reading my mind? I have been having this exact same struggle… but I think it would be better called indecision angst.
I just opened my Etsy shop. And now I see others moving to Big Cartel. And I am ever on the tail end of everything. But I did have a friend tell me to just do it. Just list one thing. And then another, and another. There is a big learning curve I am finding. But that shouldn’t deter. Each listing will get better and easier.
Same thing with anything you do for your business. You have to jump on in and splash around a bit before you find your spot in the ocean. And it is vast, and there are so many places to explore, but you won’t find them if you sit on the shore.
Thank you for always being an inspiration and cutting to the quick.
Enjoy the day!
Erin
amen! i need re-read this every morning when i wake up. thanks =)
Soooo true. I know I have caught myself using decision making as procrastination, but I am ALSO guilty of using “planning” as procrastination. I tell myself I just need to do a little bit more research, a little bit more preparation…meh. But it’s all just stalling. The best part about your post is the advice to realize that it doesn’t have to be perfect! Something that I already *know* but that I have to remind myself of constantly. Thank you! 🙂
This is exactly where I am right now! I have my big cartel store and had an etsy shop but decided to close it for various reasons. So my decision is do I sell my drawings in my big cartel store or do I set up another shop somewhere for the drawings because everyone says it’s best to have multiple streams of potential revenue. So I’ve been looking at artfire, cargoh, and all of the other online venues, but then I think the great thing about my big cartel store is that it’s MINE, I don’t have to worry about admin making “questionable” decisions or paying transaction fees (just the big cartel monthly subscription) and all of that. So then I go back to thinking about just putting everything together in my big cartel store, which then leads to not having multiple streams of revenue.
Have I mentioned I’m the queen of snowballing a problem? 🙂
But you’re right, I need to make a decision and just go for it.
You couldn’t have said it better. I’m suffering from this sort of procrastination as we speak! What’s the perfect product? I’ve been so afraid of failing I’ve been holding off starting my online business for months now. It’s time to stop thinking about it and actually take action!
I agree totally!
Thank you…currently my procrastination is in my web site re-design. It will be a significant amount of money and I want to be sure of exactly what I want done…..I don’t want to have to re-do again for a long while.
I fall into this trap as a person in general!
I’m a perfectionist of the worst kind. If I’m not careful, I fall into the mindset that there’s only one “right” decision in every scenerio, no matter how minor. If I don’t keep these tendencies in check, I’ll stand in front of a vending machine for 20 minutes trying to pick the “right” snack. (I *really* wish I was exaggerating about that. I’m not.)
In fact, I’d mulled over starting a little jewelry business on and off for a couple of years before I finally took the leap last year. I didn’t feel like I was anywhere *near* well enough prepared, but at that point I knew if I didn’t DO something right away I’d lose momentum and it would never happen and I’d spend the rest of my life wondering “what if.”
I’m glad I did took that leap. I’m enjoying it, within my first year I made a profit (modest though it was), and I’m hoping that profit will grow over the years. I still have lots to learn about… pretty much everything. But the best way to learn is by doing, not by debating.
How did you get in my head again, Megan? This describes me so well!
yes, yes , yes!…I think the over abundance of sheer INFORMATION in our society has culture where we have developed a habit of being afraid to learn from our ‘perceived’ failures…so we ‘research the crap’ out of everything, and discuss, and inquire, instead of just getting out there and figuring out what works…for ourselves.
Oh, I’m such a dive-in-and-go type of person– I’m so glad to read this 🙂
I just launched my slippers for men, women, and youth (was only doing babies before)… and my husband, normally a great supporter of my biz, thinks it’s a huge mistake. We will see 🙂
Many of these comments resonate with me. I have just launched my jewellery collection, Treadgold, after procrastinating and ‘perfecting’ every area I could think of. I needed to just put myself out there and see what happened.
I now have a big cartel shop and a blog and am discovering that trial and error is a beautiful thing.
I think one of the most important things I have picked up from reading countless posts and opinions, is you do have to throw yourself out there and see what comes your way. Don’t be daunted by all the people that have gone before you!
Did you *ever* hit the nail on the head. I’m one of those who has to read everything and do all the research before making a decision. I’m a perfectionist with very little discipline. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is? I’m starting to learn exactly what Megan said – just make the decision and go for it!
Thanks for bringing up this topic. I find myself caught in the trap of indecision often. I have just begun to recognize that it is fear ….and what’s funny…it’s fear of success. The thought bubble through, what if it is wildly successful, this idea of mine…how will I handle it…
We launched our website and Etsy shop in March and are now updating and improving photos and listing descriptions. I’m a big believer in “just do it!” That doesn’t mean making large scale bad decisions in a hasty manner, but in terms of getting out there on the web, do so! Once your items are out there, you can go back and edit as you learn more about running a site/shop.
Um, wait… I have to decide if I’m actually procrastinating or doing something really important. Oh, I guess it’s the former and not the latter, dang. I best be getting back to work now. Thanks for your insightful words!
This certainly hit home. I have spent the last several months trying to decide on a logo and colors to use in my shop, packaging etc. I could have had an etsy shop and facebook page up at the beginning of the year if not for this crazieness. All this wasted time trying to be “perfect”.
I’ve had people say that I’m afraid of success and maybe that’s true, but I still procrastinate like crazy and keep waiting for the right time, the right weather, the right studio, instead of “just doing it”. I just don’t get the motivation part at all. Should I go to school for this or….
peace n abundance,
CheyAnne
http://cheyannesexton.etsy.com