New Year’s Resolutions
Posted by Ali on January 03 at 01:18 pmThe beginning of 2009 already feels different than the beginning of years past. I feel more hopeful and more curious about the future than ever before. This is sure to be a year full of surprises.
For the Lima team, new year’s resolutions never seem to hold. Frankly, they’re kind of a joke. We’re determined to make this year different. We’ve decided to come up with realistic resolutions for ourselves.. things that we actually have a chance of maintaining.
Ali
Normally, my new year’s resolution is something like: “go out to eat less and use that YMCA membership more often” — but, every year these things fail. This year, I’m going to try doing those things as part of my normal life and not necessarily a resolution and see if they last longer. My actual resolution this year is going to be focusing on my family and my creative aspirations, so I hope to:
- Complete at least one piece of jewelry per month
- Take Payton somewhere new and interesting each week, like the botanical gardens, the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum, or the zoo.
- Get back into painting
- Cook at least 4 (OK, 3) meals at home each week that do not include: boca burgers, mac ‘n cheese, or Stouffer’s lasagna.
Because these are things that I desperately want to do anyway and just haven’t had time, I feel like maybe, just maybe, I can be successful this year!
Kevin
My new years resolution is to slow down. After high school I went straight to college and then started Lima Beads with Ali, so I feel like I’ve been running at full steam for 10 years. Regular all-night study sessions, 60 hour Lima Beads work weeks with Steve, etc…
I just turned 30 and now that we have Payton (our little 7 month old girl), I really want to slow down and make sure I don’t miss anything.
Steve
My resolution is to get a hobby. Right now, I don’t have any true hobbies I can get passionate about outside of work. I’d like to find something creative, handy, or fun to focus on in my off time. I have plenty of things I’d *like* to be good at, but until now I haven’t given them enough time. I hereby declare that 2009 will be different.
Matt
This year, I’d like to buy a new house so that my wife and I can think about starting a family. So, I’d like to cut down on the number of times I go out to eat and other little, unnecessary expenses that will help me save for our new house.
At Lima Beads, we work together on almost everything. As one of the leaders of our team, I’d like to have a couple of resolutions as a team.
1. As you know, we give back to charities through the Lima Beads Giving Back program, but these are huge national (or even worldwide) charities. I’d really like to see our team volunteer locally to improve the Ann Arbor community. We live here and do business here and I feel like it’d be nice to give something back locally.
2. As Lima Beads continues to grow, we need to resolve to maintain our current customer service mentality. Most people have a story about their favorite business that used to have great customer service, but as they grew, the service started to go downhill… It is our worst nightmare to become that company. We’re still a small company, but as we grow larger, we always want to feel like a small company and have great relationships with our customers the way only a small company can.
Share your new year’s resolutions with us! Just please don’t say that you’re giving up coffee. The Lima Beads team is powered by coffee 
…”
LOL
P.S. Thanks to Lima Beads for …”
On Jan 03, 2009 at 9:50 pm #
Alice P says:Happy New Year! For my business, I’d like to learn one new medium such as cold connections or polymer clay. I’d also like to try some new selling venues such as an upscale shop or etsy.
Personally, I have lots of things I want to do (including the normal exercise more, include more fruits and veggies every day, drink more water, eat out less–all of which will work about 8 weeks or less). My priority is to devote more time to family, and to scale down on material things.
Great topic!
On Jan 04, 2009 at 3:06 am #
nutmeg says:Try leather tooling, Steve. It really is exciting. Go to youtube and look it up. Hope you like it.
On Jan 04, 2009 at 12:30 pm #
Bonnie R says:Coffee power huh? That explains why you have your office accross from a Starbucks and put up with th stairs.
priorities got to have them.
On Jan 04, 2009 at 2:12 pm #
Debbi aka Sparkle Chick says:This year I’m going to venture out in my jewelry business and try home parties. I’ve got nothing to lose by trying.
I’d like to be more organized with my time. I spend waaay too much time on the computer.
I could never give up coffee! It’s Dunkin’ here in the Northeast!
On Jan 05, 2009 at 1:14 pm #
Anita QoG Funny Chick says:This year I’d like to go alittle more artsy with my jewelry, I’ve made too much normal stuff [what ever that is?] I want my things to be alot more original !!!!!
Steve, your part of a bead company what’s this about not having a hobby????? More men need to get into the business of jewelry making, by hand!!!! Try stringing a FEW !!!
On Jan 05, 2009 at 8:05 pm #
Laurie K says:In addition to my 2009 resolution to indulge more in my new hobby of designing “FRESH PICKS”,I am planning to become more involved in my painting and jewelry making.So far I have signed a lease for a studio-something I have NEVER done before, which is causing a tad bit of anxiety for me.But I’m excited and WILL make this thing happen!
On Jan 06, 2009 at 11:58 am #
Denise M says:Why don’t you add Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to your list of charities this year?
Thanks,
Denise
On Jan 06, 2009 at 1:18 pm #
CAS says:I’ve always tried NOT to make resolutions, because I rarely ever keep them for more than a month. However, that said, I do have two this year – #1. Walk more!, #2. Take the plunge, and sell some of my jewelry, instead of just keeping it myself or giving it to friends/family. Any good ideas re: #2 would be appriciated.
Laurie K – How very, very brave leasing a studio. You have all of my good wishes for luck.
Debbi C – My fingers are crossed for you, go forth and sell jewelry! Yah!
On Jan 06, 2009 at 4:15 pm #
Debbi aka Sparkle Chick says:Thank you CAS! I have had much success selling my jewelry in an open house situation. My mom & sister live in upstate NY and know what seems like everybody! I schedule it to be an all day “party”.
I have a smaller open house in my own home as well.
Two people have asked me if I would do a home party which I am very happy (altho’ anxious) to try.
When I have an open house at mom’s or my own home, I have days to set up and play with the displays…in a home party setting, I might have 45 minutes to an hour to set up! Also, it’s mostly an unknown concerning space availability. Anyway, it’s not rocket science and I’ll figure it out!
So, try an open house, invite people you know who love you and they will buy your gorgeous creations!
Happy New Year All!
On Jan 06, 2009 at 5:10 pm #
Debbi aka Sparkle Chick says:Laurie K. What a brave & courageous step you are taking. I wish you all the success in the world!
On Jan 07, 2009 at 10:22 am #
June j says:I promised myself I would use up my bead stash before making anymore purchases but guess what I just got my Bead and Button mag saw your ad and you guessed it I have placed my first order with you. I am sure it wont be the last, will spend the next few days watching for the postman. (he teases me when I get a bead package says he will bring it back the next day).
On Jan 07, 2009 at 7:58 pm #
Kevin says:CAS – I remember when Ali first started selling her jewelry. She just went around to local stores/boutiques where she thought her jewelry would fit in. Some of them bought it wholesale from her and others wanted to sell it on consignment. She also did some small and large art fairs.
Of course, there’s always Etsy. There are some other sites out there now where you can sell your jewelry, but they don’t seem to be very good. Etsy has a huge draw.
I hope this helps. Anyone else have ideas?
On Jan 07, 2009 at 8:00 pm #
Kevin says:Laurie K-
I think that is so awesome. You reach a point where you just have to do it.
I remember when we got our first office. It was only about 300 square feet and I used to lay awake at night worrying about how we would ever pay for it
You’re doing the right thing. Good luck!
On Jan 08, 2009 at 10:59 pm #
beader 2 says:I don’t like to make resolutions because I’m not very good at keeping them, but I would like to complete the beading projects for which I have already bought beads before I buy one more bead! Its gonna be tough!