Scrap Your Trip Extends 20% Off 7th Anniversary Sale
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When I tell people the story of how I started my business, I usually get one of two responses. First is "I’ve always wanted to have my own business! Can you give me some advice?" The second is "I’ve always wanted to have my own business! But I could never do that. I’m too (insert adjective here – old…young…broke…busy…scared…)For all of you e-mailing me asking for my advice, keep reading. And for those of you too "whatever", let me tell you this: you can absolutely do this! I’m not that special. I haven’t done anything you are not completely capable of. I wasn’t born with extra special business talents (well, I am a fourth generation entrepreneur, so maybe I’m a little less afraid of risk than you are!)
But, if you believe in yourself…if you "feel the fear and do it anyway"…if you just start and take one baby step after another…YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF!!!!!
I believer that there is no better time to start a business than now. You know why? If there’s one thing I’ve been really aware of during this mess of an economy we’ve been in, it’s that no job is safe. But guess what? I will never be dependent on another person for a job ever again. My destiny is in my own hands and that’s a very empowering place to be.
So, you want to know what the difference is between me and someone who’s "always wanted to have their own business"? Nothing, except that I took action. I did one thing and then another and then another.
Okay, well, there’s one more thing. I was so incredibly fortunate to have wonderful mentors.
On Wednesday, I told you about my mentor Dwain DeVille, author of The Biker’s Guide to Business: When Business and Life Meet at the Crossroads.
He has been instrumental in helping grow me and the business. Someone told me a few years ago that the business could only grow as much as I could grow personally. Dwain has been a huge part of that growth. (Don’t forget to send in the receipt of the purchase of his book to be entered in a drawing for a $25 SYT Gift Certificate.)
But what I learned about now to really get started in business? That I learned from Brad Fallon and StomperNet.
See lots of people think internet businesses are like Kevin Costner’s baseball field in "Field of Dreams". "Build it and they will come." Nothing could be farther from the truth.
It’s all about Google and searching and keywords and how to be where people are looking when they are looking for what you have to offer. How many of you get to page 3 of a Google search? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Okay, so why I am sharing all of this with you? Because next week on 09/09/09, StomperNet is going to start accepting new members. They haven’t done that since May of 2008 (I’ve been a member since 2004.)
If you have ever thought about starting your own internet business, they are the best to learn from. Over 100 of the StomperNet members started from scratch and now have businesses that have broken the $1 million dollar mark. Only 3% of the businesses in the whole country can say that.
And I can tell you this…If it wasn’t for StomperNet, you wouldn’t be reading this email, because you probably would have never heard of Scrap Your Trip! We’d be buried on page 999 of Google!
If you are interested, click here to sign up for their email: https://stompernet.infusionsoft.com/go/SN999/swatekj/If you’ve ever thought to yourself, "I’ve always wanted to start my own business!", look into StomperNet. Hopefully, you’ll be sharing your successes and anniversaries with me soon! Speaking of anniversaries, we’ve decided to extend our Anniversary Sale through Labor Day. Just enter coupon code ANNIV7 at checkout for 20% off your order (excluding clearance items). Coupon is valid until 11:59 pm Eastern, Monday, 09/07/09. (One coupon code per order. Cannot be used on previous orders.)
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make it custom just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html. See you on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/ScrapYourTrip
As always, thanks for your business. Julie Swatek, President
Scrap Your Trip®
www.ScrapYourTrip.com
‘cuz life is a trip worth scrappin’® http://blog.scrapyourtrip.com
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My mentor, Dwain DeVille
Me and my mentor, Brad Fallon, at a StomperNet event
7 Comments
1. Eden&hellip | September 4th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Just curious – What percent of total Stompernet membership is represented by the 100 businesses over $1 million???
While it sounds good when compared to the 3% you quoted, if they have more than 3300 members, their statistics are actually worse than those of “businesses in the whole country.”
2. Scrapin Kat&hellip | September 4th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Thanks for all your words it is always great to hear something positive! I ordered the book, do we mail or can I email I receipt
I think my Husband will enjoy this book also , we have a software businss and well Manufacturing business hasn’t been to good and we all know the effects roll on down the list … no machines ..no software .. , no jobs = less spending for many , but we keep our chins up and hope for for a good month!
3. Connie La Tempa&hellip | September 4th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I see you have several die cuts saying “FireWorks”. It would be great if you created the following 2 for Disney World parks:
Wishes & Illuminations
Also how about something relating to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party & Holidays Around the World & Osborne Lights.
Also, I have wanted to ask this for a while now. Why do you create mostly laser cuts as opposed to stickers? Stickers are more permanent & stay better.
4. Julie Swatek&hellip | September 4th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Eden-
I don’t know for sure, but I think it’s about 700. Much better stats than average
5. Julie Swatek&hellip | September 4th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Connie-
I will give your Wishes and Illuminations ideas to the designers, but Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the others are trademarked by Disney and we don’t have the license to make those.
We make laser die cuts because we have way more flexibility to design unique items than we would with stickers. Stickers are more permanent, but I think die cuts are more fun!
6. mary / hearts&hellip | September 6th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
THIS TRULY SUCKS!!!!
I SAVED UP MY ORDERS TO GET THE FREE SHIPPING, THOUGHT THIS WAS A STANDARD OFFER NOT A SO TO SPEAK “COUPON” (NOT MENTIONED IN BEGINING OF SHOPPING) AND NOW BECAUSE I USED THE “ANNIV7″ I HAVE TO PAY $18.37 OF SHIPPING COST. THIS IS NOT A BIG BARGAIN TO ME SO I SAVED A WHOPPING $9.03 ON A $137.00 ORDER “BIG _ DEAL”. I KNOW I DON’T HAVE TO BUY FROM YOU AND THESE ARE GIFTS FOR MY GIRLS WISH LIST, BUT IT IS MISLEADINGEVEN AS I’M ADDING TO THE CART IT’S TELLING ME HOW MUCH MORE TO MY FREE SHIPPING (SPEND MORE). THEN AT THE END OF MY ORDER IT STATS FREE SHIPPING OVER $59 AND NOT STATING COUPON THERE EITHER. ONLY PLACE IT SAID CAN’T USE IS WHERE YOU TYPE IN THE CODE.
NOT HAPPY IN SCRAPPY PITTSBURGH
7. Bknbone&hellip | September 9th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Julie
I think you are stronger than you realize. To put your most private details on your blog/email is tough.
I first read your email about spending 15 of your 18 years in counseling, I thought, wow, a regular person with a regular life…how refreshing. Usually, all we hear about is fantasy world where everything is perfect.
Life is not perfect, nor easy. You are not alone, and yes, you deserve to go to bed each day happy. Not perfect, but somewhat happy.
True love settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses. It is the day in and day out chronicles of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories and working toward common goals. If this is not the relationship you have, then you are right to move on. Sure, there will be tough days ahead. Some lonely nights ahead. Times when you don’t want to circle the “D” word on forms. But in the end, you are right, you must be true to yourself and your kids.
The great thing is, that you are strong and you are independent. You have made a professional life for yourself that allows you to do what you want to do for yourself and kids and you are not stuck in a life that you can’t get out of because you can’t afford it or you are not tough enough to go it alone.
You are never really alone, you have lots of collegues and friends, I imagine, and a staff that will support you through it all.
And, if you divorce and years later you feel the urge to see your ex again, you will not be the first one who does that and yes, even some get back together again.
All the emotions you have written about you will experience. Watching my kids walk out the door with another woman or even their dad and leave you at home alone, is a difficult thing. But you will soon learn to use this time for you and also for them. Once you are happier, this will transcend upon them too.
How do I know? I have been divorced for 11 years. I remarried at the age of 40 and have two new children from this marriage. Yes, late in life, two new kids…everyday an experience. Best wishes to you. You can do it.