January 23, 2012

art to inspire: thoughts about luck

"Believer in Luck" from Sacred and Profane - click for info

A few days ago, I was with a friend of mine at a conference and we were talking about our lives and our careers. Eventually, towards the end of our conversation, I said something about how I felt lucky to be able to do something I love full-time, especially since I realized that not everyone has that luxury.

But the real word I was searching for was ‘grateful,’ not ‘lucky.’

So I quickly corrected myself, and we moved on to some other topic; but as I was sitting there, I realized something.

Often times people, myself included, get luck confused with something entirely different.

Has that ever happened to you?

Is it just easier for us to identify our successes as luck as opposed to the results of hard work and dedication? And if so, why?

Well, I don’t have an answer for why we do this, but I do know one thing. For the large majority of us, the following is true…

Things happen because you make them happen.

You don’t wait for someone else to stroll across your blog and website. You go to them. You work for it. And you deserve the credit, not luck.

And when someone seeks you out ‘on their own’ it may seem entirely random. And sure, you’ll think that luck is on your side when an editor approaches you about being featured in their magazine. But is it really all that random? How much luck is truly involved here?

After all, you are working hard day after day, getting your name out there, and producing something of value. So naturally, you are going to start drawing a crowd, and not just any crowd – a crowd that will tell their friends about you and share your articles and products. And that is how your success starts to spread – through tweets and blog mentions and emails and Facebook shares.

It may seem random at first, but when you stop to think about the bigger picture, it’s actually a lot more intentional and a lot less ‘lucky.’ Don’t you think?

This article is not the end of the conversation. It’s just the beginning. So it is time to share your thoughts…

What is your opinion on luck?

Leave your response in the comments below.

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December 12, 2011

better together: sailing away from your lonely island

image by Man vs Ink “Let’s Network Together” - click for info

One of the biggest challenges of working for yourself is that bootstrapping your business and getting started often means working alone to cut costs. And unfortunately, working as a team of one frequently leads to that feeling of being on a lonely island all by yourself with no support.

Of course you have family and friends, and that is great, but they don’t always understand what you’re going through. So what do you do when you need feedback or a little interaction during work hours? You hop on twitter or facebook of course, and get your fix before heading back to your cave.

But is that really what you need?

Don’t get me wrong, I love twitter as much as the next gal, but sometimes social media just doesn’t cut it. The reality is 140 characters or less is great, but nothing beats an in person connection.

If you’re running a business you need a support system. And not just a virtual one. So let’s start with making those initial connections.

Here are 4 ideas for sailing away from your lonely island and building a support system of meaningful (in person) connections…

1. Networking: Sure, you’re versed in the social media game, but connecting with people halfway around the world is going to present a challenge or two. So start in your own backyard. Joining a free service like Meetup is a great way to meet people in your area that have similar interests. There are so many organized events you are bound to find at least one or two that meet your needs (I found more than 1,000 options in my city).

2. Coworking: I know what you’re thinking – This sounds great in theory, but why would I pay to sit around an office with a bunch of people I’ve never met before to work on completely separate things? There are plenty of advantages to coworking, but at the top of the list for solorpreneurs is simply being around other people. And if you’re still unsure of the idea, try it on a smaller scale and invite a friend to work with you at a coffee shop for the day. Since I moved to Seattle, I’ve done this a few times and it is a huge motivator for me. It gets me out of the house AND gives me a little inspiration. A new place and a friendly face never hurt anyone, right?

3. Conferences + Events: One of the best places to reach out to like-minded business owners is at a conference or event. I’ve met so many wonderful people that way. And the connections you make at these types of things will last long after the conference is over. Remember: The people who are sitting next to you at these events are just as important as the ones up on stage. So make fast friends. You never know who you’re sitting next to.

4. Your turn: Share your own suggestions for combating that “lonely island syndrome” in the comments below.

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November 28, 2011

art to inspire: good things grow

print by slidesideways - click for info

You’ve probably been overwhelmed with an endless supply of turkey, stuffing, and sales over the long weekend, so I am going to cut right to the chase for today’s art to inspire…

If you’ve ever compared yourself to someone else, maybe compared your shop/small business/blog to someone else’s, I think you need to hear something:

Good things grow.

Its true. Good things do grow.

BUT not all things grow at the same rate.

Sunflowers begin to sprout from a seed in just seven to fourteen days. Gerber daisies produce a 4-inch plant from a seedling in around twenty-four weeks (that’s almost six months). And growing roses from a tiny seed can take years to reap the rewards of actual blooms. Different flowers bloom at different rates, at different times of year, in various conditions.

So what does all this mean for you?

Think of your business, blog, or shop like a flower. One that starts from a humble beginning: a mysterious seed outside of its packaging, that you can’t identify as one such plant or another.

Give it plenty of water once it is planted. Take care of it. Nurture it. And don’t give up. You never know what you have until it blossoms into what it was always meant to be – a sunflower, a daisy, a rose.

Every flower is different. So how can you compare your “seeds” to someone else’s?

Give it time, keep at it, and stop comparing because eventually, if what you are creating is good, it will grow into what it was meant to be.

- – -

image credit: Good Things Grow. Over the weekend at a holiday show, I met Scott and Jacquelyn Scoggin (the duo that started Slide Sideways) and this is a print from their shop.

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November 14, 2011

art to inspire: the guide to getting anything done in 3 simple steps

You have a laundry list of goals and ambition practically oozes from your pores, but are scratching your head when it comes to actually getting things done?

“How can I possibly get to where I want to be? Am I good enough, smart enough, passionate enough to accomplish what I set out to do?”

Yep! You are. You just need a few guidelines to motivate you. So here are the 3 simple steps to getting things done and accomplishing your dreams…

Rule Number 1: If you want to be… be!

If you forget the other two rules, fine. But remember this one! It sounds simple and really kind of “duh,” but are you doing this? Are you practicing this simple rule in your life right now? Because if you’re not, its not quite as “duh” and certainly not as easy or simple as it sounds.

Sitting around complaining about why you’ll never amount to anything special is easy. Quitting with the excuses and the feelings of inadequacy is hard. But you can absolutely do this!

If you want to be a huge success in the indie-preneur community, get to work! Let people know what you are doing and why they should care. Don’t retreat in to that dark corner you feel comfortable in – you know your products are awesome and soon others will too – because you are creating a presence for yourself online and off.

Rule Number 2: Turn the page.

The battle is practically over once you open your “book” and turn the page. It’s like this… Remember back when you were in college and you were cramming for tests at the last minute? Once you actually made the commitment to sit down and get started, it felt much easier. Before you knew it, your wheels were turning and you had been studying for hours. That’s when you realized that “it” (whatever “it” was) wasn’t as hard as you thought it would be.

That’s exactly what you need to do right now. Take a seat and focus your mind on the tasks for the day. How will what you do today help you accomplish your goals in the short-term and the long-term?

Rule Number 3: Let it flow.

Feeling stuck or at a dead end? That’s okay. You’re not alone. I’ve been there. Heck, we’ve all been there.

Don’t fight it. If you’re having trouble moving on to that next phase, take a break. Do something you really enjoy and clear your mind. When you come back, let things flow naturally because small things can turn into big things if you let them.
Take it slow if you need to and things will flow eventually. You just have to keep at it.

So that’s it: the guide to getting anything done in 3 simple steps!

What’s the next step?

Share your struggles when it comes to getting things done in the comments below.

—

all images c/o ConiLab

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October 17, 2011

art to inspire: finding your zen

print by Fresh Words Market - click for info

Have you ever said something like this outloud or even just thought it quietly to yourself? “If I can just get through __________, everything will be so much better.”

Or maybe it was… “If only I didn’t have to worry about money, I would be so much happier. I could do whatever I wanted with my life…”

Or maybe it was more like… “Well, of course _________ is successful, he/she has had a far less difficult path to travel than I have.”

Or maybe… Well, I could go on, but do I really need to?

Surely, you’ve looked at your own future (or someone else’s present) at one point or another and made an excuse as to why you are not where you want to be (happy/more successful/whatever) in this very moment. That you are living in. Right now.

Running a business can be difficult, being a mom can be stressful, having to work 40+ hours a week at a job that you hate sucks, BUT I have good news:

You can change it. You can make your life exactly what you want it to be.

BUT (yep, there’s a but) there is a catch: YOU have to do it.

Someone else is not standing in the corner waiting for you to tag them in so they can make your dreams come true.

Nope, it’s on your shoulders. So in order to get where you want to go, you might just have to work hard, stay dedicated, be passionate, and remain positive – even when you don’t want to, even when you don’t think you can.

Because the only zen you will find at the top of a mountain is the zen you bring up there yourself.

How will you bring zen to your mountain today?

 

Filed Under: art to inspire, brittni {paper n stitch}, creative thinkers Tagged With: , , , , , 5 Comments