I don't know about you but it's not often I stop and deeply question my abilities and motivation. I mean in a critical type of way. You know when you feel all wobbly and feel like you have been gently nudged off your perch?
It happened to me this month.
I won't go into the specifics but it made me think really hard about the little business that I have started. To be honest it was actually the first time I had thought of A Plot in Common as a business. That may sound slightly ridiculous but it has just been a cute name up until this month.
A Plot in Common's workshops basically started organically. It wasn't something that I had planned to do. There was no business plan.
A friend came to the farm one day and was talking about her part time work as a Ceramist and how she was looking for a workshop space.
"I have the space", I said.
It didn't take long to find other artists and makers in the area to share their skills too.
My number one motivation for hosting these workshops has always been about supporting the local artists and makers. Helping them build their exposure and to make a little bit of money so they can keep on creating. That won't change.
After giving The Old Girl some work that opened up more ideas and opportunities for the space. The space was cleaner and warmer. We could do more than just workshops...
We pretty quickly decided that we were happy to open her up for other uses as long as they were of significance to us and the building. Sentimental I know, but it's about being true to ourselves and what we are doing here. And that is something else I have thought a lot about.
With the 'gentle nudge off my perch' I thought really hard about A Plot in Common as a 'business' AND being true to myself. How do I create that balance? Can I create that balance? Can I build a successful business? Can I build the audience that we need? What is my audience? The questions kept on coming. And I certainly haven't got all the answers yet and maybe I never will but that uncomfortable time spent off my perch made me realise how important it is to REALLY stop and question what you are doing, why you are doing it and how you are doing it...What I do know is that I love what I'm doing and I'm going to give it my best. For myself, my family and for my little community.
It's been an amazing lesson and one I am very grateful for.

Tash xx