Confession time: I failed, and it’s time to pay it forward
Hey there! It’s Friday and you know what? It’s time to celebrate. Wait? Celebrate? I thought this post was about failing? Well yes, it is but the benefits are for you, my readers and loyal followers, so keep reading. Remember when I told you about the “14 lessons I’ve learned after 18 months of blogging?” Or do you remember my post a while back “It’s officially Autumn and I have a few confessions” about leaving my 9-5 job to focus on my passions with blogging and art. Well yes, today I’m going to share with you what happened when I failed at trying something new. It’s confession time.
Ah hem, I should clarify first. When I say failed at something new, I don’t mean this blog overall, but rather a small part. In particular, my jewelry blog shop. Yep, I confess, I really suck at being a salesperson. I have enough self-awareness to accept that. I’m no Gary Vaynerchuk. Boy I can respect that man’s hustle, but that’s so not me. I’m just a creative gal with a talent for writing, doodling and art and have the desire to make a living doing what I love. I have many talents but being a salesperson isn’t my strong suit.
I don’t know about you but in my blogging journey, I have wanted to make it a point to try everything and not limit myself. My goal has always been to create a great blog, not just in content to help pet parents but also in variety because quite frankly life is a multi dimensional! In life there are ups and downs and everything in between. It’s not all black and white. There are plenty of gray areas to explore; hence the feature friday and monday inspiration posts on this blog.
In growing this blog there has been a lot of trial and error. Some things have worked great and others not so much. And that’s where my failure comes in. Perhaps I put my eggs in too many baskets or spread myself a bit thin when I didn’t think I was, but the memorial jewelry shop did not work out as I hoped. Sooooooooooooo….
I’m sure you’re thinking, “So what’s that got to do with me?” Well, seeing how my failures are only now learning lessons for me, I want to turn around and pay it forward for others to benefit. I know the token of appreciation is small however there is heart behind it. It means way more to me to make someone else feel good or positively impact their lives for the better over any profit. I very much appreciate the support and follows of my growing blog since the beginning and want to pay it forward. I’ve shut down the jewelry blog shop and turning it into an opportunity for you.
My failure means my Spring giveaway starts today! The rules are set forth below. There will be up to 10 winners and open to residents in USA, Canada and United Kingdom. Yes ma’am, even my friends across the pond are included. I do have a decent amount of inventory so this won’t be the last giveaway. Check out the super easy rules below!
Pin me!
Spring Pay it forward giveaway!
What will I win?
“A piece of my heart lives in heaven” necklace.
“A piece of my heart lives in Heaven” conveys perfectly the grieving feelings from the heart of a pet parent. This necklace would be a thoughtful gift to give a friend or for yourself as a memorial to your furry family member.
Item Type: Necklaces
Fine or Fashion: Fashion
Chain Type: Link Chain
Pendant Size: 25mm
Shape\pattern: Round
Metals Type: Zinc Alloy
Material: Metal
Who qualifies?
Open to all in USA, Canada and U.K. Limit of one prize per household.
Rules.
- Giveaway starts today and ends April 20th @ 11:59pm EST.
- Like and follow me on social media and share this post.
- Comment below and tell me why you’d like this necklace (other than it’s free, lol)? What would it mean to you? Is it to memorialize a pet? Or a gift for a grieving pet parent? Something else?
- I will read all the comments and select 10 winners based on the content of the comment/story provided here on the blog below.
- Winners will be contacted via email the weekend of April 21st and expected to claim their prizes by April 27th or forfeit their prize. Prizes will be mailed via first class mail via USPS on or before April 30th.
- Don’t forget to become an Impurrfectlife Insider and join the mailing list to never miss a blog post and be the first to get notified of free giveaways!
Thanks for your support of Impurrfectlife and good luck!
*Contest is now closed.*
Congratulations to the winners of this Spring Giveaway!
Carolsue
Susan
Denise
Jenise
April
Joely
Hindy
Rebecca
Stephanie
Cheryl
Kamira I went back to read one of your blogs back in April about failing. One of the things first things I learned from the great Mary Kay CEO of Mary Kay Cosmetics she taught us “fail forward to success”. I taught that to my team and that’s what we did and won seven pink cars. In life we have failures from time to time but don’t give up. You’re doing what you love to do in the arts which is very dear to your heart. Look at What Marrth Steward did. In the beginning people told her no one would buy her art projects. Look what happen to her, she’s known throughout the world. So hand in there and fail forward to success.
Thank you for the encouraging words. I like that “fail forward to success”. I’ve learned trial and error are key. Some things work and others don’t . Focus on what works and forget what doesn’t. Learning lessons in everything. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I follow you on Facebook as Carolsue Anderson and I shared this post.
And I follow you on Twitter as @BigBugsyCat and I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/BigBugsyCat/status/986856524847837184
If I won, it would be in memory of my cat named Bugsy. He was a Russian Blue. I got him at a pet shop right after we got married and I knew nothing about cats. Turns out, he was too young to be adopted (maybe 4 weeks). I had to feed him with a doll’s bottle. And to make matters worse, the apartment we lived in for the first few months didn’t allow pets. In spite of everything, Pooh thrived. He weighed in at almost 20 lbs at one time. And he died a few weeks short of his 21st birthday. He was my first cat and I will never forget him!
Carolsue,
Oh Bugsy! What a cool name. So sorry for your loss. You are spot on about his strength and ability to thrive even after being adopted so soon. I’m sure all that extra love you gave him helped him thrive to make it to almost 21 years. You always remember your first love. Thanks so much for sharing and the follows/support! Good luck and stay tuned. Winners will be contacted this weekend.
We have lost 3 of our dogs in the last 3 years. I would wear this necklace in honor of them.
Cheryl,
That’s so tough. I can’t imagine. 🙁 You are so strong. RIP sweet furbabies. Hugs.
What an absolutely delightful way to look at things. KUDOS! Good for you! really. Someone will cherish that … look forward to seeing who the lucky winner is. Well done! And keep learning.
Sonja,
Thanks and yes, I’ll share an update by month end with the 10 lucky winners!
I just love your positive outlook on life and all the adventures it brings you! You are right, the jewelry venture may not have worked out the way you hoped it would, but you take with that experience so much more. None of us are Gary V, don’t feel bad. You are a supremely talented writer and artist and God is putting those talents to work for good. I love the giveaway necklace!
Stephanie,
Thank you so much! (blush) I’m glad you are enjoying my content. 🙂
I love your belief that you need to do a bit of everything with your blog. Maybe I should follow your lead and expand. You have a great spirit and you’ve accomplished so much!
Amy,
Thank you so much. Appreciate the kind words. We only get one life so I’m definitely motivated to try almost anything at least once. 🙂
Life is all about learning, there are no failures just opportunities to learn. But I love your positive attitude, keep on working towards your goal and I am sure you will succeed!
Paroma,
Thank you.
I think it is great that you are willing to take chances! And it is also great to change your direction when you know it isn’t where you want to go. Ten people are going to be very happy with your decision!
Beth,
Thank you. Yes, I’m excited to brighten up the day for 10 lucky people. 🙂
Failing is just being one step closer to success and I am sure that’s what’s coming for you. Btw I suck at sales too. I have worked as a phone sales agent for a year and a half and I had some of the worst results of all agents. I just don’t have it in me. I much prefer marketing where you actually help people with your content and then the sales go naturally.
Monika,
It’s nice to know you can relate too. LOL I like what you said about each failure means one step closer to success. Thanks for the kind encouraging words. 🙂
Agree about dumping the word failure. It’s all a learning experience and sometimes we have to pivot in our goals and ideas. I take the downs as a way of telling me I may need to change something about the plan. Keep up the great work and blog!
Tonya,
Thank you so much. I totally agree with your way of thinking.
Ok let me just say I don’t like the word “failure” please LOSE THAT WORD. So? You tried something and it didn’t work…….(or…it didn’t work NOW). Life is timing. What might not work today, could easily work tomorrow. You DID NOT FAIL. Something just didn’t work out as planned, that’s it….also…my dear friend…….having been in sales for over 21 years….WOMEN sell too…….(ahem…..it’s “salesperson” NOT “salesman”……YOU ARE A WOMAN)…….you DO know that all of this is said out of love right? GOOD…………now lose the word failure and pick up the term “salesperson”…..(whether it is you or not lol). Good luck to all who have entered, I am not entering (although I love the necklace), because I have won here before! xoxo
Caren,
LOL I love you! Thanks for the words of inspiration and motivation. 🙂 You’re words and advice taken in love for sure. LOL Wow over 20 years in sales? God bless you. I really admire people that have that ability. LOl Good note about the “salesperson” tip too. I’ll have to tweak that. Appreciate the input and humour!
I have always been told that in start ups it’s OK to fail, just fail fast and learn from it. I would say many aspects of my journey have been failures but they always seem to lead to another door opening. I have 2 friends grieving the loss of their dogs at the moment so they would love the necklace.
Definitely good advice. Don’t dwell too long and keep going! Thanks for the wise words.
I had a difficult time finding my niche and started out wide then narrowing it too. I am sad your store is down since I LOVE this necklace and would purchase it. Harley went to the rainbow bridge in 2013 and Shasta last year. Harley was the 1st pet I owned alone, as a single person. Shasta was my husband and my fur kid. Helping us through 4 rounds of unsuccessful in-vitro. The grief was devastating. The difference between the two losses, the blog. It helped connect me with like-minded pet parents who understood the depth of my grief. I currently wear three-tiered necklaces. A dog bone with the work loved. Then sketched portraits of Harley and Shasta on sterling silver. Finally, a locket with their photos lasered into both sides. The front says “they leave paw prints on our hearts”. I would LOVE to add your locket to my necklace tiers.
Oh wow. I’m so sorry for your loss of Shasta and Harley. I really appreciate you sharing your backstory. I can relate. Dusty was with me during the most pivotal moments in my life. Moving on my own, traveling cross country to the Big City, new job, new love, meeting the boyfriend and now husband. Definitely my rock, like your Shasta and Harley. My heart goes out to you too and good (luck) vibes!
Thanks for sharing your journey. You have so much strength and determination to try something new. I don’t see that as failing at all. I like to call it “learning forward.” You will always have the insight and knowledge that you’ve gained from this experience with you and that will help you shape your next step. My sister recently lost her four-legged best friend and this would be a tangible reminder of the love they shared.
Thank you so much for the kind words. Definitely feeling more inspired. Oh, my heart goes out to you and your sister. Sending good (luck) vibes!
You tried and it didn’t work for you, Kamira, but at least you tried. I don’t see it as a fail, I see it as a learning curve and learning what you really LOVE to do. How lovely that you are having a competition so others will win from your learning! Just perfect. Onwards and upwards!
Thank you Michelle! I like how you think.
I think you have a great attitude! I’m pretty new to blogging and I agree that it’s important to try everything, even if it means we might experience failure! I think failure is just part of the learning process! Your jewelry is also lovely! 🙂
Thank you! You are right, it’s definitely part of the journey.
Kamira you have a great attitude, You did not fail you are still learing what works for you.You have great talent. Do not give up. The jewelry is beautiful.
Good luck.
Thank you.
You only fail when you give up. As long as you’re learning, improving, finding new ways … you haven’t failed.
Jana,
Thanks for the encouraging words! 🙂
I honestly think failure is important, and learning how to fail is a skill a lot of people are missing. Looks like you know how to bounce back!
JoeHx,
I try! I don’t quit easily at all, just change what’s not working. 😉
That’s a good attitude to have! I admire your energy and efforts. Just blogging takes up a lot of time and effort for me.
Thank you!! So true!
I am sorry that it didn’t work out for you but you know sometimes we just need to focus on the things we do excel at as you know.
I used to be awesome at sales but it’s SO super draining and takes so much time.
Blogging takes so much time too so I imagine you were really exhausted!
I do not see it as any sort of failure though!
When we try anything out of our own comfort zone, anything new we have already succeeded no matter how well we do at it.
If I won I would gift it to my mother.
I already have plenty of jewelry and while I have lost pets I have memorial jewelry for them as well.
My mother is the person who taught me my own love of animals, nature, and pets.
She would love this!
Followed on the only 2 I was not already following you on.
Joely,
Thanks so much for the wise words and the support of the blog! Much appreciated. Aww…I love that your mom taught you about the love of animals. Wise woman.
You have an excellent attitude, using every experience as an opportunity to learn. The necklace is stunning and so heartfelt, and I can speak from personal experience how much a memorial necklace helps with grief. The first time I ever had to say goodbye to an animal was my cat Calypso. I was devastated and had a hard time coping. Long story short, and lots of “signs” along the way, I decided to inscribe her name on a heart charm I had found. Wearing that necklace somehow made me feel better, like somehow she was still with me. I wore it for many years and it gave me great comfort.
Hindy,
I couldn’t agree more. I can relate. My husband gifted me a locket with Dusty to have with me always. Like you said, it means a whole lot. Thanks for the wise words too!