Simplifying

Now that we are almost a half a year in to having downsized to just the smaller Perry studio, I can say, without a doubt, this was the right decision.  

When you start a business, the goal is always to do more, get better, get bigger, grow, hustle.  Then, perhaps after several years of that a global catastrophy happens.  Perspectives change, debt develops to keep everything afloat, stress reaches a level of unknown preportions.  

I LOVE the service we provide, I HATED 2020 and 2021.  The excrutiating pain of running the business was overwhelming and likely permanantly damaging due to the trauma of it all.  

I am so happy to be out of the lease in Warner Robins, and at home at our smaller, cozy studio.  I feel like this studio is just exactly what I pictured for Lush Art from the beginning.  But then life happened, and got in the grind of becoming "more".

Were those sold out nights in Warner Robins with 42 painters profitable?  Hell yes.  But were they often enough?  No.  And could we do those the last couple years?  No.  

Now we top out at 15 and I like it.  I like that I have time to connect with everyone in class.  I like that keeping up with inventory is easier.  I like that keeping up with classes at one location is easier.  I like that life is easier.  I like that classes sell out more regularly.  I like that it is more consistent and stable.  I like this life of less hustle and more creating.  Less noise and more creativity.  Less bills, and more debt pay down.  And by the end of the year we should be back to being in the black.  

So if you have worried about the changes that Covid made in your business or life, but shockingly figured out some things during that time that surprised you.  Make sure you are making room in your life for the changes you want to see, and not just going back to the grind because it is what is expected.  

While there are benefits to growing and achieving there are also drawbacks.  What makes your heart happy?  Do more of that!  Make room for change.  Allow expectations to change.  Allow less to be more.  

Have you not visited us at our Perry location?  Do it!  It feels like a tree house, like an escape from the world.  It feels like a hug and I swear it has boosted my creativity!

​Cara

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