Monday, February 7, 2011

Business Update

Finally, I am giving a business update.
Starting up a home based business is definitely the experience. Add four children to the mix that need to be loved and fed, the four bedroom house that needs to be cleaned, the four husbands that...just kidding! Anyway, all those fours equal out to be one busy mom.  Hence the day of utter laziness and relaxation that ensued on Saturday. It was wonderful. Maybe I should turn that into four days of utter laziness.
Back to the story, though (which some of you may already have read parts of on facebook)...
I finalized my logo!











I love it! I actually created this from a drawing my friend made me, then with my silhouettes that I made of my family back in December. Donovan is signing "mother" (tap your chin with the thumb of your open "5" hand).

I finally settled on a name.  I received some good suggestions, most of which were already taken, so I went with one of my first ideas.
This is the header on my website, and speaking of websites, mine is up and running! There are a couple pages I'm still working on, but feel free to check it out if you want.  Let me know what you think! www.littlehandssign.com.  I've also created a facebook page for Little Hands Sign. Since I am still learning how to use the social plugins, and since I don't know how to find them now that my get started tab has disappeared, I am going to simply give you the URL - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Hands-Sign/164550403592245

I missed some key things. Before I made my logo, I finished all my paperwork with Sign2Me and am now a certified instructor! I got my city business license, and sent in my state sales tax license application.  I made a business plan. My start up business kit from Sign2Me came in the mail! I now have all the materials I need as well as some lesson plans and a disc with all my documents for printing for handouts.
For the record, I did not do any jigs in my kitchen.  I was, and still am, feeling a bit overwhelmed. My biggest hurdle is still ahead of me - finding places to hold my classes and people to fill them.  

I hit a point where I wondered why I am doing this. I have no idea if Flagstaff will support this type of business. I have no idea if people are willing to pay for a signing class. The only thing I do know, is that signing with your pre-verbal children is a very rewarding and gratifying experience. I firmly believe in all the benefits of signing with your babies, and I want to help others enrich the lives of themselves and their little ones, who are so much smarter than we all think.
With that little pep talk to myself, I am ready to keep moving forward! :)

My business cards are in the mail!
Once I receive those, I will have my website complete, and I suppose nothing should hold me back from hitting the streets and scheduling my first class.  Wish me luck!

4 comments:

  1. Great job on all your hard work!! Once your name gets out, I don't think you will have to "hit the streets" to fill up classes. GOOD LUCK!!!

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  2. So excited for you, Keilah! We did some limited signing with our twins when they were pre-verbal & it was amazing (both for us & for them) to be able to communicate! I loved it and hope Flagstaff gets on board! Your business card looks great. I wanted to recommend a site I just found that is really fantastic with help for people starting their businesses: http://buildalittlebiz.squarespace.com/ She has also given out some excellent advice for starting Facebook pages. Hope that helps and best of luck!
    -Gina

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  3. Love the name and I am so excited for you! Wishing you lots of luck, but i don't think it will be that hard to fill up. Check if there are any community classes you can sign up to teach at. Good place to start with the teaching at and you would have a place to go teach at since they are usually held in a community building.

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  4. Thats great Keilah! I'm so excited for you!
    It always feels hard and overwhelming to start something big, but before long you will look back and say to yourself 'that was easier than i had myself worked up for' and 'I'm glad i did this'. Best wishes! You will do great! :)

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