An Experiment

This is the time of year that we remind ourselves to be grateful for what we have (Thanksgiving), to realize that it is better to give than to receive (Christmas), and to start new chapters in our lives (New Year's). It's also a good time to reinforce to ourselves that by helping others we ultimately help ourselves. You know...that whole "good Karma" thing.

I've been feeling a little down on myself for the past few weeks, and doubting my crafting abilities since my sales lately (both on and off Etsy) haven't been where, in my mind, they should be. Instead of continuing to wallow in self-pity I've decided to try something different.

I've been thinking alot lately about an idea I've been pondering for some time, and today I'm going to put that plan into action. It might seem pretty small, and likely won't even get noticed by anyone else, but that's OK...I'll know. The idea involves Etsy...specifically promoting in the Etsy forums.

Starting today, 11/17/07, at noon EST I will no longer directly promote my shop, or my items in the Etsy fora. I will still promote...but only OTHER people's shops and items. I'll still participate in the forum...but in any thread where item and shop promotion is the goal it will be a fellow Etsian's link you will see in my posts. And I think I'll make even more of an effort to visit the Promotions topics than I do today...just so I can promote even more shops. I'm pledging, here and now, to continue this at least through the Thanksgiving weekend...and maybe even through the end of the year. It might seem like a crazy idea to some, and it may mean I won't personally have as many sales as I might otherwise have had....but I don't care. If my efforts help someone else to make a sale, and make them erase their own self-doubts about their abilities to succeed, then my experiment would have been a success.

The only exception I will make to the above pledge will be to announce my weekly Saturday Night Special in the appropriate thread if I decide to participate that week.

Anyone else want to join me in this experiment?