Never in a million years did I think I could sell something on Amazon. Or create a book. Or design images. Or get any sales. Or get awesome feedback from successful sales. In fact, I was absolutely convinced I wasn’t capable of much. I don’t have a creative bone in my body. Or so I thought.
For those who don’t know this about me, my 15-year IT career came to an abrupt end in 2016 when I officially became ‘disabled’. My boss wasn’t willing to help me out (it required going up 4 flights of stairs with no lift), I was working 50-60 hours a week and sat in the same position at a desk with a keyboard. It was mind-numbing, but I was good at it. I gave blood, sweat and tears to that company. They threw me away like a piece of trash.
As you can imagine, it hurt like hell. It was all I’d known for such a looooong time and I didn’t know what to do with myself. I’ve been a lost soul for a long time. I was told I needed to resign or they would fire me, so I had no choice but to quit. And since then, I’ve brought no money into this household. A year ago, I decided I needed to change that.
I never imagined that something as simple as creating and selling colouring books online could bring me such joy and fulfilment. It was a leap of faith for me to even attempt to start an online store, but I am so glad I did.
I had always dreamed of being my own boss and having a creative outlet, and launching these books was the first step towards that dream. It was a way for me to showcase my passion for art and design, while also testing my abilities to run a successful online business.
The process was not without its challenges. I spent months researching and designing the books, figuring out the logistics of setting up an online store, and promoting my products on social media. There were moments of self-doubt and frustration, but I persisted and eventually saw the fruits of my labour…well, kind of.
Seeing those first sales come in was incredibly rewarding. It showed me that I was capable of turning my life around and creating something meaningful. It gave me the confidence to continue pursuing my passion and expanding my online business. I finally feel that, after 8 years of wasting away on my sofa, I have a sense of purpose. I will keep going until I can’t carry on!
So, the books! So far I have published two colouring books, both of which are ‘Gothic Kawaii Mythical Creatures Volume One and Two’, as well as two Gothic Cottagecore style notebooks:
It feels so surreal to not only see things I made on Amazon of all places but to see my name…it’s unreal!
I am excited to see where this journey takes me and am grateful for the opportunity to explore my creativity and entrepreneurship. For now, I am content with my small but mighty £2.14 profit and the knowledge that I am capable of achieving my goals.
On to the next adventure…….ETSY! Stay tuned for more updates
