If You Had To Make A Living From Leatherwork

[Denise]

Here is a link to an interesting blog post pointing out the positive aspects of how you run your business if it has to support you rather than just be a secondary income, and how you can incorporate those into your business even if it doesn't have to support you. .Lots of good things to think about there...

http://www.craftmba.com/2011/08/15/business-income-mindse/#comments

[reddevil76]

Making a living from leatherwork would indeed be a dream come true.

I have tried to streamline my process all the way down to pattern making.

My biggest stumbling block today is still the very basics, buying leather. Till I can get around paying $70 in shipping for a 24 sq ft 3-4 oz light weight side of leather, it will always remain a dream.

[pacopoe]

I took the big plunge from hobby to full-time about 7 years ago and it's a totally different mindset. You have to love business as much as your craft, if not more. Be prepared to strip down your offerings and make the same thing over and over. Your focus must be on growth and the future of your business years down the road as well as today, and wondering how you're going to eat tomorrow. Yes you have to take risks, but they need to be educated risks, you can't just throw all of your eggs in one basket and hope it works. For anyone seriously considering the jump, you should read "The E-Myth" before doing so... I can't tell you how many SBA business classes were half full after break time as people, arriving with dreams of doing what they love for a living, left after the cold hard truth. The flipside is there is nothing more rewarding than forging your own path, but you have to undergo a major paradigm shift in order to make it (and sadly, the part we love, leatherworking, may have to take a back seat).