This week marks 100 consecutive weekly stories!
I’m not sure that I thought about this moment when I launched Empty Mess nearly two years ago. I had a meticulous three-tiered business plan, a detailed marketing strategy, and spreadsheet after spreadsheet … but I have to tell you, nothing has gone as planned. Thank you to my subscribers who have been with me from the beginning. I most certainly would have quit if not for your likes, comments, and shares of encouragement.
Two weeks after my launch on September 10, 2021, I had a serious bicycling accident. Shoulder surgery was terrifying to me. My Pollyanna attitude went straight out the window when I was the one going under the anesthesia. What if I didn’t wake up? What if the surgeon operated on the wrong shoulder or had to amputate my arm? Extreme thoughts, I agree. I had never been injured before and managed to live fifty years without a single visit to the emergency room. For weeks, I found it very difficult to write and stay positive. My daily routine changed dramatically. No more bike rides, no more exercise … period. But I could still write—so I did.
The “about” section on my website says that I started writing to deal with how lonely I was feeling without kids in the house, which is true. What it doesn’t say is that I needed to remind myself of the good times. One of my first stories, LOOKING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW, is about the fact that fifty percent of the couples we know are divorced. From the outside looking in, it was hard for me to understand why.
But then, having so much time together was a new thing. It was just the two of us—all the time! And it was easy to notice all the things I thought my husband did wrong and point out all the things I thought he could do better. The thing is, he hadn’t changed. I was feeling lonely and sorry for myself, so I picked fights with him, which in time could have led somewhere we didn’t want to go. I needed to remember the smart, funny, supportive man I married. Writing our shared memories has been the way for me to do that.
When I started Empty Mess, I planned to have an online store, filled with my favorite things and my signature product Shine. What I’ve learned is that the private label skin care arena is vast and convoluted. I’ve spent these two years and thousands of dollars working with the lab to scale my formula and bring it to market. It’s not quite there yet, but—
The third leg of my business plan was to record “how-to” videos on health and fitness and home improvement. I have many videos in the can, but I’ve been hesitant to upload them after a lawyer friend pointed out that I could be sued if someone tried one of my projects or recipes and hurt themselves or was not happy with the results.
Unsolicited business advice has come in many forms. Some has been helpful—advice I’ve needed to hear —and some has been crippling. I found a wonderful editor, Carol, who makes sure the stories I have in my head make sense when I put them on paper. Thanks to Carol, you don’t have to endure my bad spelling and poor grammar.
Year Three has me feeling optimistic. Teresa, my Boss Lady friend, says that if I announce my goals out loud, I will be much likelier to achieve them. So, here it goes.
This year, I will launch my online store, with or without my Shine Cream Oil formula. I have a great list of so many tools, gadgets, and fun gift ideas. I can’t wait to share them with you! My friend Vickie said she would teach me all about something called an affiliate link.
This year, I will launch my “how-to” videos along with the umbrella liability policy recommended by my insurance agent Debbie. Coming soon there will be healthy recipes, gardening tips, home improvement, maintenance, and design ideas. For example, a friend of mine once told me she didn’t know how to use a power drill. Power tools are my specialty. Everyone should know how to use a drill.
My vision of an Empty Mess community is not possible without you, my friends, who have given me advice and encouragement. I hope my stories will inspire you to remember your good times, and my videos will convince you to try something new. A community is not possible without conversation. Thank you for your support.
To get my weekly stories delivered to your email inbox or on the Substack App, please subscribe! Subscriptions are free, with the option to upgrade to “paid” if you want to support my work. You can subscribe at newsletter.emptymess.com. You can see my weekly teaser video on Facebook @EmptyMess or on Rumble.
Very soon, my online store and videos will be available on my website at EmptyMess.com.
Thank you again for subscribing, sharing, caring, and commenting.
I love hearing from you,
~Stephanie
HGTV doesn’t even do “disclaimers” on their projects! I think your lawyer friend was “borrowing trouble” for you! Lol! The only thing YouTubers routinely put out disclaimers on is financial and medical advice. Other than that it’s like swimming in a lake without a lifeguard… “At Your Own Risk!” 😉🤣. Happy 100!!! 🎈🎉🎂