It seems so obvious to us that herb businesses are special. It’s that passion we have for the plants and what Nature has freely given us that creates the need to share our enthusiasm.
But how do we convince the nonbeliever of what, to us, is so patently obvious? Or how do we share the miracles that free for the taking?
Perhaps we need to start at how our enthusiasm comes across. Do we appear welcoming to those that ask a million and one questions? Or do we take on that snobbish air of “how dumb are you?” that often comes across when talking to the newbie.
Do we take a question as an opportunity to explore together a question, or a change to vent on a subject? Your choice.
This time of year it’s expected….a pep talk on the resolutions to make….why this is a time for changes…blah….blah…blah.
My response to all this is to just make the changes you feel are necessary and get on with your life. Maybe it’s my age (almost 58), the way I was raised, or some of the friends I’ve met along the way, but there wasn’t a lot a coddling. No one wanted to hear about why you just “weren’t ready” to fix what was wrong in your life. We buy in to the “poor me” attitude too much and there’s always someone who’ll let us.
Want to change. That’s the most important first step.
Do one small thing to start. I used to drink too much. There are many who drank more, but I felt I drank too much. And I had a million “good” excuses…I lived a stressful life, how it was going to be horrid going to parties, I enjoyed it. You name it, I had a million of why I couldn’t stop. Then I read a little book by Allen Carr called “The Easy Way to Stop Drinking” and that was it. It was difficult to have an excuse after that.
And that was just one of the changes that came from not listening to the “talking heads” that allow you to be stupid.
Stop using excuses. If you’re in a rut, get out of it. If you find that people in your life are unintentionally sabotaging you, remove them from your life. Or if you can’t, minimize the time they’re around you.
And read (or reread) “Atlas Shrugged”. You’ll feel different, that’s for sure.
I can’t say much about the various types of software that are out there for editing/creating websites. OK, I admit I am a dinosaur in using FrontPage (I do have Expression but I’m too lazy to install it.) And I find Wordpress is really easy (once I read the instructions). So there really is no excuse for not being somewhat in control of your website.
I think it’s inexcusable when people say they’re being held hostage by their designer. First, make sure you’re the one who owns the domain name. You’d be surprised at how many sites I’ve helped the owner wrest control away from the “designer”. I try to make sure that even though it may be my email address that things come to (it never changes while other people’s do), they are listed as the owner. Maybe I’m still carrying around emotional baggage from the early years.
Second, make sure that you can get into your site and make changes if necessary. I spent a lot of time with clients teaching them so they could. They may never have to touch their sites, but when I had a major stroke in 2008, few people had a problem making changes and I was pretty useless for a while.
Herb folks are embracing social media at a great rate. They can tell you how their garden grows, how the kids are helping on the farm and give you their latest basil recipe. But when you ask them if their blog or Twitter increases their business, they look at you with a blank stare.
Sure all that stuff is warm and fuzzy. But does it pay the mortgage or put seed in the ground? It’s important to push your own products while you’re giving advice and teaching, in fact, you should think that way. Right now, for example, we’re offering members a free year long marketing course that’s just a bite each week. And that’s about all most of us obsessed people can handle. We’ve got to do a little each day in order for our passion to pay the bills. 
Check out our Marketing 101 course and do a little each day. Your business (and your passion) will thank you.
I’ll be at the 2009 West Virginia Lavender Festival this weekend (June 27) at La Paix Herb Farm in Alum Bridge. It’s a hard place to stay away from. If you believe in fairies, the place is filled with them. And as you suspend your anxieties and enjoy the remote surroundings, you’ll find out why people come back year after year.
This year the theme is “Keep on Dancing” and dance we will. The music will be there along with a gourmet luncheon from Chef Dale Hawkins. If you nothing but sit and enjoy the lectures it’s the best way to spend a summer Saturday that I know. For a lot more details visit www.lapaixherbfarm.com I hope I’ll see you there.
Everybody wants to get in social media lately. I’ve joined them all and what do I do now? I have a life. If I had time to sit and twitter, that means I have no work to do. Or sales made. Or a life to live. Or countries to visit.
Can you imagine going to a place like China or India and spending time on the computer chatting when you could be seeing the Great Wall? Or in NOT going to an exciting live event because you have to report on what you’ve been doing to your online community?
I think technology is wonderful. The amount of information we have available is awesome. But when twittering and spilling your life story on facebook takes the place of having a life….it makes me glad I lived through the seventies and eighties.
With all the get-rich quick internet schemes, herbs are still a growing market. When things get tight, more and more people try and sell natural products and nothing’s better than herbs.
The problem is that many are looking for anything to sell and herbs sound good. I’ve seen too many weight-loss products, herbal male “enhancements”, anything that goes after our insecurities.
The successful people sell products that work, whether for colds, cold sores or a delicious addition to dinner. They sell products that they, their family and friends use successfully. Maybe you need to reformat the design. Maybe it needs a new label. But they don’t sit on it and wait. They try it out. Get some feedback. If it’s edible, do demos and see what others think. Who knows, you may be sitting on something really special.