Today in our Do What You Love series, we have an interview with the wonderful Jan DiCintio of Daisy Janie and Scoutie Girl! Jan is one of my go to ladies to ask for advice when I feel the like my business-brain is about to explode. So, I knew she'd be an excellent voice to include here as she's full of life experience and laughter, which we can all use a little more of. Read on to see how she makes her way through the sometimes crazy world of self-employment!
What do you do for a living?
Most hours of the day, I am a fabric and surface designer. I design and sell collections of my fabrics to hobbyists and other small business owners; I create surface designs to sell to manufacturers; and I work with manufacturers to print large wholesale orders. In the other “most hours of the day,” I write/manage/edit posts for my blog Scoutie Girl, which features passionately handmade items from independent artists & designers.
How long have you been self-employed? What made you decide to take the leap?
I started painting anything that dared to get in front of my brush in 1998, but I didn’t sell my first piece of art until May of 2000. It was exhilarating b/c it was truly a whim! My son was 2 at the time, and my husband, Matt, strongly encouraged me (and helped me) make more art – partly to keep me from cleaning the house twice a day while my son napped and partly b/c we both recognized the potential money-making opportunity. The deal was sealed, and it set me on a path of learning how to build a business around something I really enjoyed. There have been many stepping stones, crossroads, ‘the-light’s-not-getting-any-greener’ and ‘oh-$hit’ moments along the way (as well as a couple part-time job stints), but basically, I haven’t looked back since 2000.
Do you work from home or have a studio/office elsewhere?
I work entirely from home, with a studio/office in an extra bedroom on our 2nd floor and a big storage space in our basement. My work stays pretty confined to these spaces b/c I feel strongly that the regular living spaces in our home are not “about me” – I honestly don’t want to see my own work when I’m not working, either. Physical separation that allows for mental separation.
Do you have a partner or assistant, or are you going it solo?
I just took a quick look around – it appears as though I’m flying solo (unless dust bunnies and 2 large canines count). My dearest husband absorbs most of the goings-on via mental telepathy b/c he always seems to know what I’m talking about with very little background info. Having access to a non-traditional, non-artsy, non-blogging, non-twittering person who still ‘gets’ me is invaluable – and b/c he can load an etsy listing with his eyes closed.
If virtual assistants are permissible, I have 2 handfuls of other artists, bloggers and business owners with whom I have connected in the past 3 years who understand my struggles/successes, know my path and can advise me or assist me in all manner of business-related topics – including one Ms. Jena Coray! These women, through their accomplishments and opinions, are invaluable to me as inspiration and peers. I try to return as much as I can to them whenever possible!
How do you organize your days? At what part of the day are you most productive?
Each night, I create a to-do list right before I go to bed. In the mornings (when I am def most productive), I quickly check email to see if I have any detours to take. If not, I grab the quickest and easiest things on my list, get ‘em done and cross those babies off. That gives me momentum & a clear path in the afternoon to get the more complex and time-consuming things done. By 2pm, I revisit my progress and prioritize the list – what can and cannot wait until tomorrow, what can be done before the school bus comes at 3pm, what can be done while watching TV or while my son & husband are at soccer practice. Then, I just repeat the cycle for the next day.
How do you keep procrastination and distraction in check, and stay motivated to get things done?
Procrastination/Distraction: I close my email, twitter and blog windows. Have to. As much as I love contact with the outside world, I am acutely aware of what it does to me! The diversions and tangents are fun in the moment (and sometimes productive), but it’s not fun when you don’t get that time back. Man oh man, it gets to be crazy self-indulgence, and that’s really not fair to my family who’s depending on me to make haste not waste!!
Motivation: The drive to press-on day after day comes from within primarily. I love, love, love what I do, and it keeps me going big time. On a more pragmatic level, this is my job – I don’t get paid unless I produce and sell.
How many hours do you put in per day? Do you work on the weekends?
All told, probably 8-10. Somedays more. Yes, I work on the weekends! I try to get a lot of the Scoutie Girl posts drafted and/or edited over the weekend. I have an incredibly talented team of regular guest posters on SG, and their contributions have been a major help in getting the length of my workday down to a more manageable size. There are times of the day that are sacred to my family and me, and any work that’s pending just plain old has to wait – the world will keep turning even if I’m not hovering over my laptop!
How do you handle a non-steady income?
We live within our means and don’t carry any debt (mortgage doesn’t count). I’ve been on the other side, and the gnawing feeling of something hovering over me all the time just sucks! Our household budget (I love excel spreadsheets) does not include my income, so anything I earn is icing on the cake. I guess I’m fortunate in that regard - yet it actually makes me work even harder to feel like I’m pulling my weight!
What do you think is the most difficult part about being your own boss?
The hats! All the damn hats! They require being changed every 15 mins, they don’t come with instructions, and most are not hats I would *ever* choose for myself. Some are too tight, some are too loose, some are stinky, some are gaudy – but until I can hire someone or outsource work, I wear them all – there’s always something to be learned, right?
And the best part?
Choosing my own direction every day, every week, every year.
How do you reward yourself for a job well done and keep yourself from getting too burnt out?
Aside from a big cheesy grin, an extra-bouncy step, and a blog post with a whole lotta exclamation points, that’s about all the reward there is. It’s easy for me to be very proud and happy about my successes b/c I know I worked hard to make it happen, but I’m just not a big believer in exalted self-praise. I’d rather make a mental tally mark in the “yay for me” column and move onto the next task!
I don’t feel an overall burn out for the most part, but I DO get jimmy legs from sitting and sitting and sitting – I freak out. I have to get away from the laptop for mini pick-me-ups – a challenging workout, a great cup of coffee with a friend, a game of Spit or Horse with my son, even a load of laundry is a welcome change of pace!
Would you say you're making a living doing what you love?
In more ways than one, my business allows me to make a life I love, from the basics like the income, freedom and nature of the work….to the more complex like the rich, personal connections and the involvement/meaningfulness of my contribution to the handmade (r)evolution. I am thrilled to be at this point in my career at this moment in time. I enjoy the fruits of my labor more and more each year, and the stars are aligned for good things to come in 2009, too!
What is one nugget of wisdom you can pass on to someone who is desperately seeking to get out of the 9-5 grind and follow in your footsteps?
Plant seeds. Lots of seeds. Nurture the sprouts, thin out the bunch so they’re not too crowded…and see what begins to grow - while you still have financial stability. Like any beautiful, mature garden, your ideas will need constant TLC: weeding, pruning, watering, fertilizing, replanting. If you have it in you and it’s something you can capitalize on, go for it!!
Learn more about Jan on these sites below:
shop :: Scoutie Girl blog :: business/personal blog :: twitter
>> you may also like: Do What you Love: An Interview with Patricia Zapata
