Alright folks, settle in. We’re talking 2019. Man, what a year that was for me. I had this wild idea, see, this big, gnawing thought that I just had to get out of my head and into the real world. I figured, “Why not try to make something happen for myself?” So, I decided I was gonna try and launch this little side hustle, making and selling custom-made wooden stuff online. I called it my “Virgo Monthly Predictions” because, like, every month I had these grand plans, these expectations, right? And, let me tell you, life had its own predictions too.
January, man, that’s when it all kicked off in my head. My big ‘prediction’ for January was simply to get planning. I pictured myself with a fancy notebook, sketching designs, looking up wood types, maybe even ordering some tools. What actually happened? I spent most of the month just staring at a blank wall, scrolling through Etsy, feeling totally overwhelmed. I bought a few beginner’s carving tools, watched a bunch of YouTube videos, and mostly felt like an idiot. The sheer amount of stuff I didn’t know? Brutal.
Then came February. My ‘prediction’ for February was to actually make something decent. Something I wouldn’t be ashamed of. I thought, “Surely by now I can carve a simple little trinket.” Nope. I chewed through so much scrap wood, splintering pieces, messing up cuts. My hands were sore, my fingers were taped up from all the nicks. I ended up with a bunch of oddly shaped lumps that vaguely resembled what I was going for. It was humbling, to say the least.
March rolled around, and my expectation was to start thinking about the actual online store. You know, setting up a shop, taking some photos. I’d finally managed to churn out a couple of small, not-too-shabby keychains and coasters. The ‘prediction’ was easy-peasy website building. The reality? I wrestled with a really basic e-commerce platform for weeks. The photos I took looked like they were shot in a cave. My lighting was awful. Every attempt to make the page look ‘professional’ just ended up looking worse. Seriously, I almost gave up right then.
By April, I figured, “Okay, the shop’s live (ish), now for the sales!” My ‘prediction’ was to get my first order. Maybe a few! I dreamt of packaging up my little creations and heading to the post office. What did I get? Crickets. Not a single sale. I tried telling friends, posting on my personal social media, but nothing. It felt like all that effort for absolutely zero return. The self-doubt was real, guys, truly real.
May, I told myself, “Time to refine, learn from the silence.” My ‘prediction’ was to improve my products and actually figure out how to get people to see my shop. I spent hours reading about product photography (yes, I bought a cheap ring light) and trying to understand things like ‘hashtags’ and ‘SEO’ (still mostly a mystery to me). Slowly, painstakingly, my photos started looking less like a crime scene. And then, finally, towards the end of the month, a sale! Someone I didn’t even know bought a small coaster set. I almost fell off my chair.
Come June, my ‘prediction’ was to start seeing some consistent movement. Not a flood, but a trickle. I got a few more orders, mostly small stuff, but it was enough to keep me going. I focused on making my process faster, trying to avoid mistakes. I learned how to package things better so they wouldn’t get dinged up in shipping. It wasn’t glorious, but it was progress.
July. My ‘prediction’ was expansion. “Time to offer more variety!” I thought. I started experimenting with slightly bigger items, more complex designs. A couple of small custom orders came in, which was exciting and terrifying all at once. I got some good feedback, and even a repeat customer. That felt pretty damn good, let me tell you.
For August, the ‘prediction’ was dealing with increased demand. Ha! “Increased” being a relative term, but for a one-man show, any uptick felt huge. I was working late nights, trying to balance my regular job with carving and packing. I ran out of a specific type of wood, panicked, and had to scramble to find more. It was a good lesson in managing inventory, or, well, trying to.
September, it was all about gearing up for the holiday season. My ‘prediction’ was getting ahead, stocking up, planning promotions. I started making extra pieces, trying to anticipate what people might want for gifts. I even convinced my wife to help me with some of the sanding! We actually had a few early bird shoppers, which was super encouraging.
October. The ‘prediction’? Full-on holiday rush prep. I imagined myself as Santa’s busy elf. My workshop (aka, a corner of the garage) was piled high with wood and half-finished projects. I practiced my packaging routine until I could do it in my sleep. Customer service became a real thing – answering questions, making sure people were happy. It was a whirlwind, but a productive one.
November, that’s where the real ‘prediction’ for a sales boom was. And man, did it boom (for my small scale, anyway). I was shipping packages every other day. There were late nights, a few minor shipping hiccups, and the stress of making sure everything arrived on time. I learned quickly how important good communication with customers was, especially when things didn’t go perfectly. But gosh, the thrill of seeing all those orders pile up was awesome.
And finally, December. My ‘prediction’ was a peaceful wrap-up, reflecting on a successful year. And it was, mostly. I was utterly exhausted by Christmas, but also incredibly proud. I looked at everything I’d made, all the mistakes, all the little wins. It wasn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, not by a long shot. But I actually did it. I started from nothing, learned a ton, and built something with my own two hands. It was a crazy ride, full of unexpected turns, and way harder than I ever ‘predicted’. But worth every single splinter.
