How Tracking, Manifestation, and Gratitude Can Fuel Your Business Growth
As a handmade seller, balancing creativity with running a business can be overwhelming at times. That's why I created a journal designed specifically to help handmade business owners stay focused, stay positive, and attract the growth they want. Whether you're tracking your goals, visualizing your dream business, or practicing mindfulness, this journal can be your go-to tool for success.
The idea for this journal came from my own wild ride as a creative entrepreneur. I needed something more than just a boring old to-do list; I wanted a space where I could track my wins, dream big, express gratitude, and plan out my next big move, all while keeping things fun and inspiring.
I needed something that reminded me to actually enjoy the journey and celebrate every little victory. So, I whipped up the Joyful Journey Journal (though I’m all ears if we can come up with a catchier name!). I just call it JJJ or J³—it’s a mashup of gratitude and goals, part tracker, part manifestation magic, part vision board, Law of Attraction vibes, and a dash of mindfulness. It’s like having your own personal cheerleader on paper.
There’s nothing like a mom. My mom’s encouragement was my number one cheerleader, and now that she’s gone, this journal has taken on even more meaning. It’s my way of holding onto her love and guidance—a reminder from heaven to keep going, to celebrate every win, and to stay grateful through the journey. The Joyful Journey Journal has taken on new meaning since her passing; and I like to think it's my way of keeping her close, cheering me on from above. ❤️
Imagine having a space where you can track your business growth, manifest your dream customers, and practice gratitude—all in one journal tailored to your handmade business.
What if the simple act of journaling each day could shift your mindset and bring you closer to the handmade business of your dreams?
Here’s how I use the Joyful Journey Journal to keep my business grounded, creative, and growing.
What is the Joyful Journey Journal?
The Joyful Journey Journal is a multi-functional tool designed to help you track your progress, set goals, and stay aligned with the vision you have for your handmade business. It combines the power of:
Tracking: Keep tabs on sales, customer interactions, or milestones that you’re working towards.
Manifestation: Write down your dreams and goals as though they’ve already happened. This taps into the Law of Attraction and helps you focus on what you want to achieve.
Gratitude: Take a moment each day to write down what you’re grateful for in your business, big or small. Practicing gratitude can shift your mindset and keep you motivated.
Vision Board: Use pages to sketch, write, or even glue in images that represent where you want your business to go—be it financial goals, product ideas, or dream collaborations.
Mindfulness: Include mindfulness exercises that help you stay present and connected to your business journey, even on tough days.
It’s not just a journal—it’s a holistic way of approaching your handmade business.
Why I Created It
When I first started my business, I felt so scattered. I had a spreadsheet for sales, another for ideas, and I’d try to keep a gratitude journal separate. None of these were connected, and I found myself feeling disconnected from the bigger picture of my business. That’s when I realized I needed something more—a single place where I could track progress, set intentions, and reflect on the positives.
One of the things that helped me grow my business was embracing the power of woo, as I like to call it, aka manifestation and gratitude. There were days when I felt overwhelmed by self-doubt, difficult customers or things I botches, or even things out of my control (like a $3500 packaging order for private label clients, done missing), and I needed a place to remind myself of what I’d accomplished and what I was working toward. That’s why I combined all these elements into one journal that serves as a tracker, gratitude practice, and vision board in one.
How I Use It
Here’s a glimpse into how I use the Joyful Journey Journal in my business:
Daily Tracker: Every day, I track my wins, any milestones, and customer interactions. This helps me stay accountable and see the progress, even if it’s just a little bit at a time.
Manifestation Practice: At the start of each week, I write out my intentions as if they’ve already happened. For example, I might write, "I’ve hit my sales target for the month and my customers are loving my new fall fragrance line." By writing in the present tense, I visualize the success I want and stay focused on making it a reality.
Gratitude Entries: Every night, I write down at one thing I’m grateful for in my business. Some days, it’s a simple "I’m grateful for my supportive customers," while other days it’s "I’m grateful that I created time to design my new product." This daily practice has shifted my mindset from worrying about what’s not working to appreciating what is.
Vision Boarding: I dedicate a page each month to sketching or writing out what I want for my business. Whether it's expanding into new markets or collaborating with other brands or influencers, this page serves as a visual reminder of my goals.
Mindfulness: On stressful days, I flip to the mindfulness exercises I’ve written down—simple breathing techniques or reminders to take a moment to reflect on my journey. This keeps me grounded and present, no matter how chaotic the day gets.
Tip 1: Start Small and Be Consistent
You don’t need to spend hours journaling. Start small—maybe with just a few minutes each day. Consistency is key, and over time, you’ll start to see the benefits of tracking your progress and staying intentional with your goals.
Real-World Example: When I started using this journal, I noticed I became more focused on the goals I set for myself. Over time, I realized, I stopped feeling like I was “winging it” and was actually intentional. Tracking my goals and writing down my wins helped me celebrate progress, even when the day didn’t go as planned.
Tip 2: Use It to Stay Motivated During Slow Periods
Every business goes through slow periods (hello 2024, you can leave now), but that’s when journaling is even most important. Use the gratitude section to focus on what’s going well, even if it feels small. Celebrate every little win and keep your eyes on the bigger vision.
Real-World Example: In slow months, I use the journal to remind myself of the customers who loved my products. Writing down even the smallest sale or positive feedback kept me motivated and pushed me to keep going when I felt discouraged, mad or sad. You are not alone, it happens to all of us no matter where you are in your journey.
Tip 3: Manifest Big Goals
Don’t be afraid to write down big, bold goals in your journal. Whether it’s launching a new product line, landing your dream wholesale account, or hitting six or seven figures, getting in a magazine, working with your favorite influencer, putting it out there on paper helps you stay focused and believe that it’s possible. Because it is, my friend. This works.
Real-World Example: When I was just starting out, I wrote down that I wanted to sell 10 sales on Etsy in a month—a number that felt huge at the time. I had over 10 sales the week & over 1000 my first month! I kept writing it every week and started making small adjustments in my mindset and marketing. A year later, I smashed my goal with over 20,000 sales, and I know it was because I stayed focused, believed it was possible and put in the work. 👇
Balancing the “woo” with the “work” is essential. While the Joyful Journey Journal focuses on mindset, manifestation, and tracking, it’s important to understand that real success comes from combining these practices with action.
Here’s how to blend the “woo” with the “work”:
Actionable Goals: Use the journal to break down your big dreams into actionable steps. Writing them down is the first part, but the next step is executing those tasks. Manifestation works best when paired with a clear plan.
Daily Accountability: Instead of just envisioning success, track what actions you took each day. Did you launch that new product? Did you engage with customers on social media? Seeing the concrete steps you’re taking makes your progress tangible.
Progress Tracking: Celebrate your wins, yes—but also track the work you put in to get there. Reflect on what’s working, what isn’t, and what you can improve moving forward.
Tip: Pair your manifestation with specific, actionable tasks that get you closer to your goals. It’s the blend of intention and hustle that really drives growth.
The Joyful Journey Journal is more than just a notebook—it’s a tool to help you track your progress, stay positive, and manifest the success you want for your handmade business.
Question:
What big goal would you write down today if you knew it was possible? How could using a journal help you stay focused and motivated to reach it?
By integrating tracking, gratitude, mindfulness, and manifestation into your daily routine, the Joyful Journey Journal helps you stay grounded and inspired as you build your handmade business. Remember, it’s not just about the destination—it’s about enjoying the journey every step of the way.
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