I am a small business owner. Oh dear.

"Hello. My name is Aileen and I am a small business owner."

WHAAAT?! Yeah. That's a trip. This has been a long time coming. I opened an Etsy seller account back in January of 2009 but couldn't quite muster up the courage to actually list anything. So the idea lumbered in the back of my mind waiting for a surge of inspiration. Bummer.

You see, unfortunately I'm not much of a planner. In the mind of me, things usually go one of three ways:
Exhibit A: "Woah!! This is awesome! Such a great idea! Yeah. I'm totally doing this."
Explanation A: I'm impulsive, see every reason why I can do this and it will work, and I pounce on it with insane energy and commitment.
Exhibit B: "Yeah, it IS pretty awesome. Yeah, it IS something I've been wanting to do. Hmmm, I'll just hang on to it a little longer and see what goes down."
Explanation B: I'm passive and frankly, kind of lazy. I'd like to learn and master something by downloading it into my brain in order to bypass the hours of planning, practicing and honing. Maybe someday?
Exhibit C: "Nah. No way. I'll just smother that idea before it even gets a chance to breathe."
Explanation C: I'm insecure and scared of the failure OR (here's the weird part) the success that could come from pursuing the idea. My solution? Just avoid it altogether.

That being said, the development of my Etsy shop was Exhibit B followed by a rather sudden Exhibit A. Though I opened my account years ago, I didn't actually use it until December 2011. I was sitting at a training for work innocently using my homemade lip balm when my neighbor leaned over, said it smelled good and asked what it was. I casually responded, "oh, just lip balm." No big deal, right?
"What kind?" She asked. Oh my goodness. She wants to know more.
"Creamy Coconut Vanilla..." pause, "and it's homemade!"
"Oh wow! Do you sell it?"

Before I answered her question I went through a silent debate of pros and cons in my head... let's just say that was the moment "Urth Tones" was finally open for business.

I went home and filled my orders happy as a goose in a pond. That was a couple of months ago. Now my business is officially registered in Oregon, I've made several sales, I'm researching and cramming my brain with business information, developing a vision, setting goals and, best of all, having SO MUCH FUN!!

I am so excited to see where this journey takes me and feel so blessed for all of the support I've received from those around me and some whom I don't even know!

Funny how when you finally commit to something and really believe in it the universe/God (whatever language makes sense to you) conspires to make it happen.

I am grateful.