On the left, me and Roxanne a few months before I started this blog. On the right, Roxanne sewing in my studio last week.
In the late winter of 2005 I spent eight hours learning how to use blogging software. Those were eight precious hours. They were spread out over two weeks and amounted to all of my free time away from our 9-month-old baby.
I’d read about blogs in the New York Times and although the article didn’t mention blogs about crafting I figured they might be out there. I found Craftgrrrl on LiveJournal first, and then Loobylu and WeeWonderfuls and then decided I’d like to have a blog of my own.
At that time Typepad was the platform used by all the beautiful blogs and so I signed up for an $88 year-long subscription and then tried to figure out how the heck it worked. There were so many sweaty hours in which I was close to tears feeling that I’d wasted my money and would never actually produce a functioning blog. I’d sit in our spare bedroom (we only had one child then) staring at the monitor clicking on things and before I knew it I’d hear the baby cry and go into her room to pick her up out of the crib feeling so angry that I’d wasted my most sacred resource – my time alone – fooling around on the computer with nothing to show for it. Days filled with frustration and slow progress did, obviously, eventually lead to an actual blog. You’re reading it now, 11 years later, in its WordPress incarnation, but those first posts are all still here in their blurry picture glory.
I had no idea during those two tumultuous weeks that I was starting a new career that would suit me better than anything else I’d ever done, nor did I realize that this career would involve me learning to use new software over and over again infinitely or at least until I’m ready to close the whole thing down. Along the way I’ve had to figure out how to use Etsy (back when that meant five pages to click through before a listing was ready), Big Cartel, MailChimp, WordPress, GoDaddy Bookkeeping, GarageBand, Podbean, Edgar, HelloBar, Slack, Zoom, and most recently LeadPages and Teachable. I’m sure there are more.
Running a business online that thrives means embracing change. It means trying things out. It means researching software that will solve your problems and then figuring out how the heck to use it. And you’ve got to do it over and over again.
There are many software development benefits including providing your business with the freedom needed to grow and expand alongside new technology. For instance, if you have a dental practice or a pharmaceutical business and you are looking to expand your business, then you may consider using a Cloud 9 Software or a pharmacy software, respectively, to help you grow your business. In addition, those who are looking to install git on Linux, Mac or Windows may install Git using Homebrew, MacPorts, or by downloading the Git installer package.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that this process has stages, at least for me. I begin with the, “Hmmm…what is this thing everyone is talking about?” stage followed by the, “I definitely don’t need that. It’s expensive,” stage. Then there’s the, “Okay maybe I need it. Why am I always so stingy!” stage and then I go sign up. But that’s just the first part.
One thing I did learn early on is that I do better when I pay for something. In the summer of 2002 I wanted to lose weight. I tried doing it on my own, but could never really commit. (I love food. A lot.) Then I paid for WeightWatchers and by Halloween I’d lost 32 pounds. Paying for stuff makes me accountable to myself. I doubt I would have gotten this blog going if it weren’t for that $88 I’d already handed over to Typepad.
Part two in this learning process is harder. This is when I start saying things like, “How does this thing even work? It’s too hard! I’ll never figure this out. Nobody could ever figure this out. The people who designed this are crazy. I’m so thirsty. It’s been three hours! This isn’t made for people with kids!” Sometimes this is followed by crying. Or excessive cheese snacking.
I’m in this phase right now with Teachable. This summer I’m creating an online class and after getting through phase one in my process I’ve now subscribed for $39/month and have compelled myself to learn to use it. So far I’ve:
- Clicked on the same button 20 times hoping each time it will do what I want it to do
- Read this helpful article on the Teachable blog
- Read multiple unhelpful articles that don’t actually answer my questions
- Watched six training videos
- Skyped with my friend Meighan
- Felt like I wasted two whole days while my kids were at camp doing nothing and I’ll never have time like that again
- Eaten a lot of cheese
But I’m making progress. And, perhaps most importantly, I know that this is part of what it takes for me to learn new software. There’s always this moment when I’m ready to abandon the whole thing and then another moment when I see how it all works and I’m filled with excitement about all the new possibilities.
I’m getting there.
Kate Pietschman says
Great post! Thank you!
I learned from one of my co-workers a few years back to think like a kid. For instance, a kid learns by pressing all and any buttons until they get “someplace”. I chuckled and breathed in the advice – I am less cautious now.
I have a long way to go and I am loving the journey.
PS I agree that paying for a service is motivational. It does take me way too long to justify an expense but once I do it usually proves to be useful.
Abby says
Think like a kid and press every button. That’s good!
Leslie says
Wonderful, wonderful post. I find myself having these same thoughts. I was there, too, when Etsy took forever to upload a new post – and I was making unique aprons – one at a time. I ate a lot of cheese back then.
And, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would learn coding, Photoshop, graphic design, and (recently) ConvertKit!
So, any thoughts on the cheese thing. When I’m overwhelmed, I go for the cheese every time.
Jess @ Quilty Habit says
Cheese is my choice snack food, too! Good luck with Teachable. You’ve inspired me to look into it more.
Bernie says
Love this post Abby. I appreciate your insights as they make me (all of us probably) feel better about our trials and tribulations! I remember when my (four) kids were small how much I coveted any bit of time that I carved out for myself. Nothing worse than feeling like I wasted that gift. Then, in a blink of an eye, they are grown and I have lots of time to devote to my blog and etsy shop. You are so right tho. There is always something new to learn. Today I have been fussing trying to make a button for my blog. I finally asked for help from my son and I know he will make it work. (I got the graphic done but am stumped by the coding.)
Hang in there – the kids grow up so darn quick. Sounds trite but it is really true.
Cheese? That seems a whole lot healthier than chocolate, or wine – there are worse vices!
Finally… I have been reading your newsletter joyfully each Wednesday morning and love it. Today, however, I finally tuned in to your podcasts. Oh my! I love them. I listened to you and Malka Dubrawsky today (she is one of my favorites) and also you and Alisa Burke. Both were excellent and I look forward to working my way through more of them! Great job Abby.
Sarah Heredia says
We must be on the same wavelength. 🙂 I’m having similar thoughts right now about my business and life in general.
Lately I’ve been feeling stuck, as if I’m not making any progress in life. I always keep a notebook to jot down everything that I learn and to brain dump my ideas, dreams and goals.
About once a year I review these notes just to refresh my memory and just see what was on my mind over the past year. Well it’s that time of year and I am happy to say that I wasn’t stuck at all. I set some audacious goals to learn the Adobe programs and plan a trip to Hawaii. These things weren’t easy to accomplish (probably why I felt stuck) but I did it!
I’ve learned that you’ll always end up in the direction your head is facing. Just keep moving forward.
To our success,
Sarah
Gayle says
Abby! I am where you where at 11 years ago. Its so frustrating! I told my husband last night when we both were trying to figure out how to work with my new theme, that I am wasting time with this IT stuff! I need to be writing articles and posting and emailing and, and, and. Your article helped me to think “I will conquer this!” so Thank you! g
Rebecca Grace says
This really struck a nerve with me, Abby. Since the start of summer, I’ve been struggling to create a professional looking web site for my interior design business using Dreamweaver and Photoshop Elemets, both new software purchases for me. I’ve got four books on my desk (DIY Web Sites for Dummies, Dreamweaver: the Missing Manual, Photoshop Elements 14 for Dummies, and the Photoshop Elements 14 Book for Digital Photographers). I’ve searched the web, watched video tutorials, read the books, tried to stay positive but it is SO DISCOURAGING to blow an entire day and the only thing I figured out was that I couldn’t find my web design template files because I put them in a subfolder of the folder where they belonged… I am definitely at Stage Two with this, having invested so much financially and even more importantly invested so much TIME with so little as yet to show for it. Here’s hoping that we BOTH come out victorious on the other side of our software battles — you with Teachable, and me with my Dreamweaver and Photoshop Elements!
Leanne Parsons says
I love this post, Abby! Today I’m trying to get the Hello Bar to work on my site…it’s telling me it installed correctly, but I can’t see it and I had a friend check and she didn’t see it either. Grrrr. However, I figured something else out the other day for my pattern writing and felt like doing a happy dance! Also, I’m incredibly stingy about spending anything on my blog, so upgrading to something I have to pay for always feels like a huge deal.
Leah Day says
That’s super cool, I’ve been checking out teachable too! It’s really just like any new thing – the first one is going to take a million years and be a pain, but at sets done you’ll have learned something terrific and very beneficial to your business. Just stick with it!
Sara says
All these things are difficult to learn because no one provides an a-z manual. The thing that software inventors are least good at is communicating how their product works. With most software I use I am always aware that I don’t ever know most of what it does because nowhere tells me. And so then I can’t look up how to do it. Most stuff if it has any info at all, is online or on videos which are of course very useful but it is hard too juggle windows in order to be in two places at once to both see how to do it, and then be set up to actually do it. Learning is needlessly difficult in many instances, and it doesn’t need to be/shouldn’t have to be that way.
Ebi Poweigha says
Thank you for writing this post! I’m ramping up my sewing blog to be ‘better’ and having to learn lots of new things. When I struggle, I worry whether it’s right or whether I’m behind the curve. It’s so refreshing to see that, at some point or in some way, we’re always behind the curve if we’re growing and stretching beyond our comfortable boundaries. Reading this, and knowing that even a rockstar blogger and newsletter-writer (seriously, yours is the best I’ve ever seen) has to make a concerted effort to work through things, is really helpful and inspiring.
Abby says
I definitely have to work through learning so many things! It’s an ongoing effort and sometimes it’s not pretty 🙂
Laura says
I love this post.
Learning SketchUp in the last 3 months easily set my business production back by two months this spring and summer. I know it’s worth losing two months now to increase productivity in the long run while experiencing thirst and cheese cravings and shedding one or two tears. It’s worth it and this post found me with curiously spectacular timing. Click on to new software with perseverance and fearlessness. Thank you.
3D Basecamp SketchUp User Conference, attendee June 2016
Reinventing Nadine says
I am in the process of learning Adobe illustrator myself. I spend 2-3 hours a day while my daughter is at camp. I honestly love it. I did a lot of research on the classes that I wanted to take to achieve my purpose (because I had my share of bad tutorials) and I am alternating between two classes : one on Lynda.com that teaches illustrator in theory with no creative project in mind and the other on skillshare on how to design a repeating pattern. It is draining, I need a chocolate/coffee/IG break every hour or so, but I know that it will open up great opportunities for me to finally design and launch my product. I am very lucky to be have the time to do this, not only for my career, but also for my body. I frankly feel the neurons in my brain working hard. Both my parents are college professors and all my life, I saw them sitting down and reading or learning something new, or doing research. They ingrained the love of knowledge in me and I am extremely lucky that my husband is also the same.
Cheryl Brunette says
Yes. To all of the above. Except for the cheese. I choose chocolate.
Abby says
I’ve had a good deal of that, too 🙂
Anne Beier says
Great post.
I can so relate. When social media became so popular, one of the librarians where I work started group where we had a lesson a week, online only, and it did help make us less afraid of technology. Actually some of us, (yes, me), actually started embracing it.
And through it all, I ate lots of cheese too!!
Diane says
So it isn’t just me! I dislike the learning curve but very much like getting through them. That means I never want to start the new thing but am almost always glad after I do and make progress. Just need to find the right motivator to get through the initial frustration and give permission that “learning” is not “wasting time”!
Great post!
Abby says
Exactly. Learning is not wasting time! Even if we learn that we don’t want to or need to learn something we thought we did.
Aurore says
Such a great post! It made me chuckle a lot I must admit! I have been doing that with my blog recenly, and I think Mailchimp will be next. Maybe I should stock up on cheese. Or chocolate biscuits.
Shelly Stokes says
Love the way you put the common experience with new software in words, Abby. I can soon relate to this!
I will post a link to your blog to my students. They are in the middle of learning to use the software for their Silhouette cutting machines, and I expect most of them can totally relate to your post right about now.
Laura Murray says
Reassuring to know there are so many kindred spirits out there sharing my struggles with the mysteries of software!
Carolynn says
Great post! I completely understand that feeling of having wasted precious “no kid time” while learning new software. I started my blog about a year ago and those moments where I get sucked into hours of figuring out how to make a certain plug in work right can be so frustrating! For me, lately it has been Google Analytics. I watched the Craft Industry Alliance webinar recently and have been trying to get a better handle on it. It is always a struggle to decide – should I sew and dye fabric with my “no kid time” or stare at the computer!
Abby says
That was a super informative webinar! I need to go back and watch it again.