Beehivebuzz

Fear & Failure

Posted by
Petra Geiger. Owner & Founder Beehive Co-op

Usually I spend my evening hours working...clock strikes 8pm and the kids are in bed and I get to curl up with my computer (I know many of you do this too because I'm always trading e-mails with you guys until late into the night). But a few nights ago I was flipping through the tv channels finding nothing to watch when I happened on "the Big Idea: Donny Deutsch". Well Sarah Blakely was on, the owner of Spanx (you know of slimming undergarment fame), and since she's from Atlanta and has made a fortune with her product I thought I'd check her out.

She's definitely a go-getter, lot's of energy and personality, but what I really liked about her was her honesty about the whole processes. She's definitely not afraid to say what she thinks - she comes across as supremely confident. She said one thing that really articulated how I feel sometimes. She talked about fear. That fear you get when you are faced with something unknown and scary. Where your first instinct is to back away and say no "I can't do this". But it's the instinct to recognize the feeling and know that you MUST push forward and try something new, take a risk, make a decision that makes people successful. Growth will never happen if you stick to the safe route and let your fear of failure conquer you. It was good to know that I wasn't the only one who had those fearful moments. They're pretty healthy and I think you just need to trust your instinct and know when is the time to push through them and when is the time to listen. For me, more often than not, I have to push those feelings of fear aside and concentrate on how I'm going to do something not whether or not I'm going to do it!

Spring Fever

Posted by
Petra Geiger. Owner & Founder Beehive Co-op

I don't know what to write about...except that I want spring to happen so badly! You know warmer weather, sun, blossoms, possibilities and new ideas! Corny I know, but mentally I'm craving it! The winter for me has been about adjusting to a new life and all the ups and downs that comes with that whole experience. It's challenging mentally to stay on your game and feel fresh and excited by life when you feel confused and slightly unsure of your place. And when it's dreary and cold... forget about it!

I'm ready for a new store here in NY. I have really been missing my Beehive friends and support group. What an amazing collection of people, I really had no idea how great I had it until I moved away. I'm jealous of Viviana! Working day in and day out in my home office isn't cutting it for me. So in a nutshell, I need spring! I need to rally and open a store up here and get inspired by a whole new group of amazing designers! So here's to spring and lots of exciting new endeavors!

Sales strategy

Posted by
Petra Geiger. Owner & Founder Beehive Co-op

I recently had a very interesting conversation with a magazine reporter who was writing a story about "selling". She was researching the term "sales" and trying to figure out why  it had such a bad connotation and left such a feeling of distaste with fledgling entrepreneurs. She was asking my perspective and wondering what I had encountered at Beehive.

I definitely think she had a point, there were very few designers that I came across that were natural sellers. Maybe 2 in 10. Generally, I think these were people that were very good conversationalists, were confident in their work and in their expertise, and had prior experience selling. But for the majority of designers (myself included) it was an onerous task. Whether it be the fear of rejection, the desire to not seem too pushy or fake, or just plain not knowing what to say, most people did not enjoy stepping into this arena.

Part of my vision for Beehive is to give entrepreneurs a safe environment in which to learn some of these fundamental skills. Before I started Beehive I had no experience selling, did not enjoy it, and generally felt that customers should be left alone. Well, my attitude changed quickly once I opened the shop. I realized that not only was selling utterly essential but that it need not leave a nasty taste in your mouth. It actually could be quite pleasant, you could even say rewarding, and you could be a good seller and also stay true to your personality.

I guess to make a long story short I would really encourage entrepreneurs to find your selling voice. Alot of the basics can be learned from watching how others sell, it is after all a learned behavior and something most of us are not formally taught. Practice also helps.  But I think developing a confidence about what you are designing, making, and selling and internalizing it's value is so important and something that is very hard for alot of designers to do.

Be yourself, share your experiences, listen to the customer, and don't let the fear of not making a sale stop you from doing the very thing that can take your business to new heights.

 

"A place for everything and everything in its place"

Posted by
Petra Geiger. Owner & Founder Beehive Co-op

I am so tired this morning but it was worth it. I just couldn't take it anymore! My office/studio was a pile of papers (mind you they were neatly stacked) but I couldn't find anything and it had been 6 years (since the last move from San Francisco to Atlanta) since I had reorganized. I couldn't concentrate on my work anymore. So, even though I have a ton of work to do, yesterday I spent an hour at OfficeMax getting the tools I needed (they had some really nicely designed binders and file folders). Last night, until my back couldn't take it anymore, I went through my piles, my files, boxes and bins and reorganized. It's amazing what you can find when you go through everything..but I digress!

People often ask me how I manage to keep up on all the things I need to do. I think it's 2 things. 1) staying organized 2) using time wisely. Alot of this is genetic, I mean can you grow up with a German father and not be organized? Lining up our shoes at the front door was just the tip of the iceberg in our household. But I do believe alot of it is learned and just takes practice and perseverance. That and making the time. It's hard to take a day or two out of your crazed schedule to reorganize BUT the payoff is 10 fold! Here, for what it's worth, are a few of my strategies...

1. Always find the right tools and buy organizational tools that you enjoy and will use. I will always pay slightly more for a notebook or file folder that I will get pleasure out of using.

2. Think about your work flow and devise an organizational strategy BEFORE you start. Put it down on paper, think about it, and then implement.

3. I only keep the files or items I use weekly in my office/studio area. The rest I file in a metal cabinet in the basement. That way I don't get overwhelmed.

4. Create a place for everything! Once you've established that place, train yourself to put things back in the right place as you use them - that means right away. It's easy, saves time in the long run and will help you avoid making PILES! This also goes for the files on your computer!

5. Finish what you start. Whether it's getting organized or is a specific task. Set the goal and complete it. It is rewarding and productive.

6. Make to do lists. For the day & for the week. You may have to rework these every few days but by then end of the week you should have accomplished what you set out to do.

7. BUT set reasonable goals and to do lists. You will constantly be disappointed and frustrated if you try and do too much in one day or week. Don't fight the clock, learn to work within it.

8. Don't put off for tomorrow what you can handle today. I live by this. I take care of things right away if I can. This saves energy on worry and things are less likely to fall through the cracks.

9. Be flexible and creative with your time. For instance, when my kids are doing homework, I will work on something too. But it's something that I can do while being interrupted. So find the right time for the right task.

10. Pare down what you have. For instance do you have a jar, drawer, box full of pens/pencils/markers that you haven't used in forever? Get rid of it, it's clutter. Buy a few of your favorite pens, cherish them, and put them back in the right place.

Well, I hope that was helpful! Since I'm organized again I feel like I can tackle all of the projects that I am now behind on. But it was so worth it!

Happy New Year! Here's to a fresh start!

Posted by
Petra Geiger. Owner & Founder Beehive Co-op

And to the time and energy to write again! We are happily settled in to our new digs in New York (freezing our butts off mind you), kids are back to school, and I have time to work, write, ponder all the things I want to do in 2008. Hey, I have a sunny new home office (on the main floor for once) that has a sliver of a view of the Hudson River, how can I ever complain again!

But mainly I wanted to start the year by congratulating all the emerging entrepreneurs out there for making it through another holiday season! I hope you are getting some much deserved R&R. I noticed myself, that even after the intensity of the move (the hard physical labor), just having taken 3 weeks off and not thinking remotely about work has made me so much more productive and dare I say energetic. Note to self: take some time off now and again, the world will not collapse.

I came across this article today that I thought was appropriate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/business/smallbusiness/03sbiz.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin

I think the best thing they said was to remember that January's the beginning of a new year. Regardless of how the holiday season panned out for you, look ahead, get excited for the possibilities, approach the year from a different angle. After taking some time to unwind, regroup and gain perspective, enjoy the prospect of an entirely new year! Hope it's a happy one!