May 1, 2012

living with – not by – our mistakes

This post was originally run in June 2011.

Flying in Spite of Everything mixed media painting by Liz Kalloch

One of my favourite songs that’s come out in the last few years is called Someday by Mike Errico. One of the lines goes:

… past the smiles that crack like frozen lakes,
under children’s figure skates
well I am going
past all of my own mistakes,
a thousand more I’ve yet to make,
but I am going,
I am going.

His song is about getting where he wants to go, now matter how long it takes, no matter what stands in his way, no matter what anyone has to say about where he’s going or what he’s doing and no matter how many mistakes he makes along his way. He obviously knows himself well, and knows that he will make mistakes along the way, but off he goes, for he knows he’s going to get there, he just knows it.

The paths that we traverse on our way to where we are going are fraught with potential mistakes, and yet, the majority of us hope to never make a mistake. Realistic? I’m pretty sure we all know it’s not.

The question that we all might ask ourselves is this: if we are on a path to where we want to go (and often we know not exactly where this path will lead us), how is it possible that we won’t make a mis-step, won’t falter and decide incorrectly, or won’t make a colossal error in judgement. We don’t.

Perhaps the better question is: Once you’ve made a mistake, how do you move on and learn from the experience?

Truth be told, I hate making mistakes, I am relentlessly hard on myself when I make a mistake, and yet, when I look back, many (if not all) of my mistakes have taught me an important lesson that has helped me to better define my path, better illustrate for myself the twists and turns in my road, and to better understand myself and my ultimate goals for my life as an artist, a writer and an entrepreneur.

So here was my question to a few friends and colleagues:

How we recover, deal and move on from any mistake can end up being a huge benefit to us and sometimes what results from a mistake can end up leading us to some of our best work, our best ideas and a better understanding about ourselves and our work. Can you talk about a mistake you made in your work/business/life that led you to something new, something better or something surprising?

A favorite adage of mine is that you can never gain truth by avoiding error and although I wish it were otherwise, some of my best bits of wisdom come on the heels of disastrous failure.

I once got a job I thought was my dream job. In fact, I shouted from every rooftop, to everyone who would listen—“oh my god!  I just landed my dream job!”

Oh, the irony.  That position turned out to be, hands-down, the worst job I ever had in my life— it was the first time in my life I had ever experienced anxiety and after 10 months I had gained 8 pounds.  However, it will always stand as a true learning experience for me.  One, the work environment could only be described as an “emergency room”—every day a new emergency cropped up and despite my best efforts, I could never bring consistency or predictability to the job.  What I learned:  (if I am to follow with the medical analogy here) I am an internist.  I like calm, focused one-on-one connections and specific, linear structure to my day.  I loathe chaos and thrive within a well-grounded structure.  And, no matter how lovely or kind a boss may be—if she is impulsive, thoughtless and reactive—we will not work well together.  On a more pragmatic level—I gained skills that serve me today.  In that job, I learned how to contact artists and book events—today, I run a small enterprise where I must regularly contact artists and plan four-day workshops.

So, it may not have been my dream job, but it was a significant and important misstep on my path—one that I can’t possibly regret since it led me further along my true path.


Elizabeth MacCrellish is the founder and director of Squam Art Workshops.

* * * * * * *

My company had committed to employing an intern from France for two months of the summer. I admit it: I hired the specific intern because he was so cute.  By the time he’d been with me for about two weeks I realized I’d made a big mistake. Then, this incredibly handsome 6 foot something walked in late, yet again, because he’d missed his bus. His navy blazer was hanging off his hand and he asked if I had a needle and thread.  As I nodded yes he handed me the button which had come off, along with the jacket.  Yes, I saw red and the rest of the summer went very s-l-o-w-l-y.  But, I did learn from it. After a summer with the glorious Gregoire I never again hired someone because he was cute or she seemed sweet.  Never. Ever.

Carolyn André is a strategic marketing consultant

* * * * * * *

Mistakes are so scary, aren’t they? When I make one it feels like I have wiped out all the good that I’ve done in life, in business, in my creative work. But I’m learning that mistakes are so necessary in putting me in the moment and forcing me to truly look at what I’m doing, what is important, what is not important. And they really challenge me to dig deep to tap into the very best of who I am and what I can do as I try to turn around whatever “mistake” that has been made or to accept and deal with the consequences, if I can’t change the outcome.
Mostly I’m finding this to be true in my artwork. Some mistakes lead me to creative places I would never have gotten to on my own. And it surprises me every time that happens. I’ve blogged about this in a couple of posts here and here.

Sandy Coleman is an artist and jewelery designer.

* * * * * * *

Every single story I have to share about my mistakes ends the exact same way:  ”I didn’t follow in my intuition.”

But I can also share that any mistake that led to a monumental disappointment always inspired the following in me ~ to believe that the loss I was experiencing must mean there was something better on the horizon. Even when I didn’t really believe it, I put my trust in it anyway, and it has always turned out to be true.

Every single time.

Christine Mason Miller is an artist, writer and explorer.

* * * * * * *

When I was creating the Sparkles e-course, I made a decision that felt wrong as soon as I hit “send.” (Ever have that moment?) I was worried sick about it, so much so that I couldn’t sleep. In the wee hours, what finally shifted my attitude and let me sleep was telling myself, “Hey, if this is a huge mistake, at least it would be a great story for Chris Guillebeau’s “Small Business Disaster Series!” That made me laugh and also reminded me that I was not alone. There will be mistakes on the journey. The funny thing is I wrote to Chris to share my experience and he invited me to be a part of his Emperor Spotlight series! What a delight. You never know where mistakes are going to take you!

From coaching to workshops, from podcasting to blogging, Jamie Ridler helps women find the confidence and courage to discover and express their creative selves so they can be the star they are.

* * * * * * *

We all make mistakes, it’s just a fact, and however much we wish we didn’t, sometimes a mistake (if we can let ourselves get past it) brings us unexpected gifts. I know for me that some of my biggest growth spurts and best learning curves have been the result of dealing with and coming to an understanding with a mistake.

So how do you deal with mistakes you’ve made?

What unexpected gifts have come to you through a mis-step or an unfortunate decision? How have you gained a deeper understanding and respect for yourself and for others as you navigate a course through cleaning up and moving on from a mistake?

Filed Under: creating action, creative thinkers, Dialogue Tagged With: , , , , , 3 Comments
April 17, 2012

how do you do spring cleaning?


Right now I am in the thick of cleaning out cupboards, closets, and looking at what’s been pushed to the back of those shelves. I am weeding out clothes I haven’t worn in more than a year, and asking myself, do I really need all those sets of sheets or can I donate them somewhere? I am looking at the windowsills and the table top surfaces seeing the things that are of sentimental value — things I won’t get rid of — and differentiating them from the things that are clutter and can be passed along, tossed, or donated.

Spring cleaning isn’t limited to physical stuff.

This is also the season for taking stock of how I am treating myself and making some re-adjustments. Am I eating as healthily as I could? Am I talking to myself in a good way or in a mean way? Am I remembering to do all the things that I know will keep me focused and as balanced as it’s possible to be in this human body on this planet? There are usually quite a few ways I can find to clean up my body and my soul.

Sometimes I hang on to things for so long, that I don’t see them anymore.

Does that happen to you, too?

Things that have been sitting on my desk forever, that I pick up and dust off when I’m doing a cleaning, but never really look at and wonder, what the heck am I holding on to that for. And ways I’ve been dealing with things, or thoughts that I have about what I “should” be doing, that are old, outdated, and no longer serving me.

I don’t think I’m a hoarder, but I do like my stuff, and this is the season to look at all that stuff and decide: stay? or go? serving me? or holding me back?

Do you do an annual spring cleaning of your home, your studio, your office?

Do you do a metaphorical spring cleaning where you are taking care of the clutter in your own mind and body?

I’m not quite reliable enough to say I do it once a year, but ‘every now and then’ I give a different aspect of my life a spring clean. I’m definitely not a minimalist. I think there is real value in recording and archiving our lives through books, objects, and photographs (I’m not a memoirist by accident) and I take great pleasure in beautiful things, but I do enjoy clearing out anything that has started to feel more like a burden than a pleasure.

Marianne Elliott is an author, human rights advocate, and yogini whose life is an experiment in cultivating courage, compassion, and clarity.

* * * * * * *

I’m not a big spring cleaner in my house or studio, but I do find spring a great time for change and moving forward with plans. The lighter days and warmer (hopefully) weather give me so much more energy to do things. I always find January – March a dark period and come April it’s like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I can suddenly move forward with things I have been working on. I do find, though, spring fever can get the better of me and I run around half starting things, but not finishing them, so I usually have deadlines set for myself to keep me on track.

Claire Brewster is an artist who makes intricate and detailed paper cuts.

* * * * * * *

I am more of a when-the-mood-strikes me kind of organizer. I probably give my studio a deep cleaning 2-3 times a year.

{A literal and metaphorical spring cleaning} are definitely connected. Most of the time the mood to de-clutter, unload, clean, and purge comes during periods when I am wanting to simplify. Some part of my life feels like it is getting too complicated, and a great way to channel the ensuing confusion or frustration is to get my studio in order.
Christine Mason Miller is a writer, artist, and explorer.

* * * * * * *

As the calendar was changing from 2011 to 2012, I took a 30-day digital sabbatical. The experience of getting offline for 30 days was such a valuable one that I’ve now put a few offline weeks into my calendar, during the year (so if you can’t take a long offline break, start with one day, or a weekend). It’s a great opportunity to notice where I’m living life on default, and the experience never fails to reconnect me with myself if I’m feeling disconnected, or spark some new idea — these breaks create a lot of beautiful space. One of the biggest things that I learned from my 30-day break is that a lot of the things that I thought I wanted when I was busy were not the same as what I knew I wanted once I got some quiet. Since we’re all on the journey of connecting to our personal truth, I can recommend a digital break of some length as an essential practice that nourishes that, whether it’s part of a spring break or otherwise!
Kate Swoboda is a life coach, speaker, and writer.

Please share with us how you do your spring cleaning. What are the things you purge, and what are the things you keep?

Filed Under: creating action, creative thinkers, Dialogue Tagged With: , , , , , , , 8 Comments
April 3, 2012

are you doing those things that make you happy?

In our work to get where we’re going, sometimes it’s the simple things we leave off our list, the things that we tell ourselves we’ll do later. And sometimes doing these simple things — the things that just make us plain happy, and remind us why it is we are doing whatever we are doing – are just the things we should be doing, for our well-being, for our health, and for our success.

So every day:

Do those things that make you happy.

Do those things that make you want to get up and do a little happy dance.

Do those things that make you feel five years old all over again. Remember bringing home a drawing that you spent an afternoon making in kindergarten, a drawing you loved making from start to finish, to give it to your Mum.

Do those things that make you grin so wide, that your eyes get squinty and your face feels a little stretched out afterwards.

Do those things that you put at the bottom of your list, because there’s more important things, like balancing the checkbook or picking up the dry-cleaning, sweeping the kitchen floor or meeting a deadline. Turn the list upside down, and do the *fun* things that might be at the bottom of it, too.

Do those things that you wake up thinking about.

Do all of those things because they feed every other little thing you could possibly have on your list of must-dos, to-dos and need-to-dos.

Do those things that you are moved to do because they feed your soul, your imagination, your spirit, and your chi.

Just do those things that make you so very uniquely You.

We’d love to know what some of your “do those things” are. What are the things in your life, in your work that fill you up to the brim and keep you going?

Filed Under: creating action, Plot Notes Tagged With: , , , , , , , 1 Comment
March 20, 2012

more pinning: an interview with kal barteski of link with love

another real-life pin board

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post for Scoutie Girl about Pinterest and my growing concerns and unease about copyright infringement and image use. The Scoutie Girl* community showed up in a big way to discuss this, and there are comments, thoughts, and opinions that cover all sides of the issue. {You can read them here.}

There were a few themes that repeated throughout the comments: people who feel torn between wanting to respect the work of others and also their love for Pinterest; people who have either quit Pinterest or are leaning towards quitting; people who feel like it’s not really a big deal but who are also making a serious effort to link back to the original source of their pin; creators who are both flattered to see their work pinned, and utilising their visibility on Pinterest to promote their work; and others who feel that having a few images used or copied without permission is just the cost of doing business in our internet-driven world.

I, for one, hope the dialogue continues as we sort through the ins and outs of intellectual property rights and fair use, versus outright stealing and profiting from another’s work. Whether the conversation is centered around Pinterest, Tumblr, personal websites, etc, it’s all at issue and it’s all important as we move forward in a world that is largely dominated by the internet and how we use it.

- – -

One person has been working for while now on just this topic, and this week I interviewed her. So without further ado, Kal Barteski: designer, illustrator, writer, poet, photographer, entrepreneur, and founder of Link with Love.

Liz Kalloch: What motivated you to start the Link with Love campaign, and how long has it been around?
Kal Barteski: I was inspired to start LINKwithlove.org in June 2011 after I found a series of my own pieces (as well as other artists’ pieces) being used inappropriately and for profit after being posted on Tumblr and Pinterest — without proper credits or links.

And let me be clear, when I say “used inappropriately” I mean they were posted one and a half million unlinked times on Tumblr, and being sold as prints, as t-shirts, as necklaces, as advertising. One image was even being used in porn. It wasn’t a matter of one piece being used one or two times — it was shocking and it was a wake up call for me.

There’s a person behind every photo, painting, word, recipe, poem, etc, and that tends to get lost in an age where the internet seems like a black hole of anonymous, easy, free material. Reckless sharing of intellectual property online is dangerous and unkind and we can make it better if we work together to remind each other of that.

The idea behind LINKwithlove is this: link to the creator/origin + spread the word that by being respectful + kind we make a better online experience.

LK: Without all the legal-ese and starchy lawyer talk, could you tell us what your understanding is about intellectual property rights?
KB: I’m not a lawyer. I’m an artist. My best understanding of intellectual property is this: if you didn’t create it, it’s not yours.

A good general rule is this: if you didn’t make/write/photograph/paint/create it, get permission before you use/share/post it. Creators are nice people who generally like to share and love to be asked. It creates relationships and connections. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we treated each other with respect and love?

LK: A little while back you started The Pinterest Project. What was its purpose?
KB: The Pinterest Project was simple: get an image optimized for the Pinterest visual scheme to be pinned enough times to create a conversation.

Image theft and misuse didn’t start with Pinterest but CHANGE needs to start somewhere.

I started with Pinterest because Pinterest is run by real, likeable people that seemed to me would have an innate understanding of how the wild sharing of images online affects real people. It affects different kinds of intellectual property in different ways.

I had the chance to meet Ben Silbermann at the ALT Summit design conference in Salt Lake City and he was genuine and kind. He listened to my case and stated that it was something that they understood to be a priority and were currently working on possible solutions.

The purpose of the Pinterest Project was to bring attention to the fact that Pinterest has a captive audience and could reach + teach + change the way people think about sharing. And linking. And being kind. However, the Pinterest Project ended up educating in an entirely different way — it brought the Pinterest Terms Of Service (TOS) to light and the discussion escalated.

It turns out that linking to the origin is incredibly important, but getting permission first is even more important. Pinterest TOS states that you can only post what you have the copyrights to, but you shouldn’t pin your own work because that’s self promotion. Which means there’s nothing you can pin without permission. But there’s a “Pin It” button next to nearly everything on the internet. So what the heck?

Also, it’s incorrect to assume that everyone wants their work to be shared in an environment like Pinterest. What about images under license agreements? Copyrighted work? Stock images? Photos of your children?

Pinterest’s TOS also states that when you pin something, Pinterest collects a full-sized copy and reserves the right to:

“an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, adapt, modify, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, stream, broadcast, access, view, and otherwise exploit”.

And if lawyers get involved it’s the original pinner who is responsible and who will be held liable. The Pinterest Project opened a whole bunch of eyes — especially mine.

LK: With all your work on LinkwithLove and then the Pinterest Project, did you ever try to speak with anyone at Pinterest about your concerns? If so, how did that go?
KB: Yes. I met briefly with Ben and he is very nice. I don’t feel like he understands the impact something like Pinterest is having on artists, designers, crafters, writers, etc. Or maybe it’s just not as big a priority as the new profile design, advertising, clicks, and company growth. I can’t answer for him.

LK: How would you respond to those people who say that if you put something on the internet it’s fair game, it’s open access and free?
KB: I’m not sure how to respond to that statement anymore. I’m pretty sure that copyright lawyers would disagree. I disagree. It is something I hear all the time and I wonder how we have gotten to that point. Is it fair game to walk into a book store and take books? To an art gallery to take paintings?

LK: As an artist who makes her life and her living with her art, how do you respond to people who say that a few stolen images are just the price you pay for getting exposure on the internet?
KB: Sadly, I would say that I understand and live the idea that a few stolen images are often the price you pay for being on the internet.

Pinterest has changed the game. “A few stolen images” has become a few images stolen hundreds of times. It has multiplied misuse. So, no, I don’t believe that giving art for free is the price you pay for being on the internet. The internet is made up of people and I believe what Maya Angelou said: “When you know better, you do better”.

It feels like there has been a shift in thinking. Not only are intellectual properties like art and ideas more accessible, but they’re being shared in ways that overlook the fact that there’s a creator behind the work. It’s misleading. It’s a clicking war for hits and dollars, which says to me that obviously, art must have value — otherwise it would not be shared at the rate it is being distributed.

But, what does this say about how we value creators of the images we so readily pin?

At the end of the day it makes my heart heavy to think that just because something has been shared on Pinterest, it is no longer in the owner’s control. Its fate is now in the hands of 11 million people and a corporation. That makes no sense to me and that’s why I deleted my Pinterest account. It doesn’t feel right to share like that.

LK: If Pinterest made some changes and did a better job of protecting creators’ intellectual property rights, would you re-join?
KB: No. If Pinterest made changes to their Terms of Service and took strides to educate people, I would feel optimistic. But so far, they’ve done little to engage the concerns of the community. They have a captive audience that spends big blocks of time on their site so they are in a prime spot for spreading the word and helping to educate people. But they’re not.

I am, however, encouraged by sites like FLICKR and Snapwidget who have responded promptly to the concerns of their users by taking the “Pin It” button off copyright protected materials.

LK: How is life post-Pinterest?
KB: Busy, beautiful, and full of new paintings.

Kal Barteski is an artist who paints, designs, photographs, and writes stuff. Every day and in all sorts of media. At the moment, she’s enthralled with the dramatic scripting of her sumi brush. But when she’s not painting letters she mixes it up with wildlife, abstract, and whatever else her heart desires. She’s an award-winning illustrator + graphic designer. She sees the bright side + finds it very beautiful. She won a Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award, published a book, and found out you don’t need much to live the life you dream. She’s a painter, dog-walker, mom, poet, and in her spare time she drinks too much coffee. You can find her on Twitter here: @kalbarteski

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*I’d like to thank the Scoutie Girl community for leaving comments and responses to each others’ comments on the post “Are We Pinning Yet” that varied deeply in opinion, yet were written in the spirit of true and respectful dialogue.

The dialogue continues!

We are planning a virtual panel discussion on this issue for next month. Keep an eye out; we’ll announce the details soon!

Filed Under: Dialogue Tagged With: , , , , , , 10 Comments
March 7, 2012

are we pinning yet?

a real-life pin board in my studio

Imagine you are in a lovely, airy, high-ceilinged room. The lighting is perfect, not too bright and not too dim. There are comfy places to sit: couches, chairs, plush and cushiony rugs underfoot, pillows to recline on. There is tea and coffee, sparkling water with lime, the occasional cocktail, and snacks of every kind for every want and every taste. Every available wall space is covered with a pinboard. Each pinboard has a name and a reason for being. And each board is filled with beauty and colour and words and stories. All the stories I’ve ever wanted to hear, all the stories I’ve ever wanted to tell.

Yes, that’s how I’ve felt about Pinterest. It’s been lovely, like a dream. Beautiful in its clarity and its immediacy. It’s been lovely like the first days and weeks of a new love. Everything looks brighter, and better. Senses are heightened and aware. Happiness is everywhere.

And then, well . . . and then, things go back to the everyday, and though there is still immeasurable beauty and love and happiness, there are also some disconcerting feelings beginning to form around the periphery of my vision. Feelings like: Is he really for me, are we as compatible as I thought we were last week? Is he who he said he was, because his walk and his talk are feeling just a little bit out of step.

I accepted an invite from Pinterest sometime in late 2010 and didn’t really do anything with it until well into 2011, and at that point I fell. And fell hard. A dream, a hope that I never knew I had, was being answered: a place that I could keep track of favourite artists, favourite words, colours, design ideas, and clothes, anything and everything on the internet that inspired, provoked, healed, blossomed, and cultivated a feeling inside of me.

Pinterest is a place that is so richly visual, and functions like my own brain does {in pictures!} — so much more beautiful and inspiring than ye old Bookmark list on Firefox.

I started compiling ideas for my studio, for future changes in our home, pieces by favourite artists and illustrators and designers and photographers, colour, pattern design, and on and on and on. After the first of this year I started sharing some of my favourite Pinterest finds once a week on my blog.

And all the while I was feeling less and less sure about what I was doing, and less and less sure that all this pinning was really and truly OK.

I told myself that it was okay because I only linked directly to the original site, AND I typed the artist’s name and/or credit in the description field. I told myself that because I whole-heartedly support Kal Barteski’s campaign to Link {and pin} with Love, that people would know that my motives were pure and I wasn’t looking to steal work or infringe on anyone’s copyright.

But the thing is, that once I pin something, I have no control over where it goes, no control over where and how someone else will re-pin, and no control over what Pinterest does with the image.

And the thing is that if you read Pinterest’s Terms of Use section, they have set it up so that they have no liability for copyright infringement, but we the pinners do {memories of Napster anyone?}.

If I had that airy, perfectly lit room, big enough to house all the pin boards with places to sit and look over what I had pinned, and gather and talk with friends about what was inspiring me today, I think I would still be as deeply in love with Pinterest as I was at the start.

But my boards are not set up in the privacy of my home, and they are visited by lots and lots of people that I don’t know, and I have pinned the work of other artists and writers and creators and not gotten their direct permission.

So, what to do with my Pinterest account?

One option is to keep my account but take down all the boards that show other artists’ work and thereby use Pinterest as a “shopping” board.

  • Pin only things found in online catalogues and sites that are selling their wares {because I’m hoping that places like West Elm aren’t going to mind that I pin one of their couches}.
  • Pin things that my friends are making (after asking them), and, of course, never pin anything that I make since that is not condoned {per Pinterest’s Pinning Etiquette}. Though come to think of it, that’s ironic since my stuff is really the only stuff that I have any legal rights to pin.

Or, keep my account as it is and:

  • Spend a fair amount of my time tracking down and contacting artists and artist representatives to see if they are OK with me pinning their stuff. And, honestly, given my lack of extra time, that is probably not going to happen.

Last option:

  • Delete my account altogether.

And that’s where I feel torn. I am still in love, and yet, my love is not feeling like all I’d hoped he’d be. If I take down all the inspiration, then that defeats the purpose of my account, ‘cuz really, do I want to spend time making visual shopping lists? It will lose its appeal pretty quickly.

Quite a few people have publicly discontinued their accounts with Pinterest, and some talk about their reasons why, and how they came to their decision.

People have written about copyright infringement and some deeper issues that involve easier ways to steal because Pinterest is storing full size images of everything that is pinned, on their servers. Full sized, not thumbnails.

I have also had conversations with friends who are coders and web developers and their stance is that the internet is all about open access, that if you put it up on the web it’s fair game, and that is one aspect of how the internet started.

So, how are you feeling about Pinterest?

Are you feeling that it’s fine and don’t think all the current hoopla is going to amount to much? Have you thought about what you’re pinning and where it’s sourced from? Have you had your work pinned and not credited to you, OR credited to someone else, OR printed from a pin and sold at a profit by someone else? I’d love to hear how you’re feeling about this one, because it affects all of us who have content on the internet these days.

Filed Under: Buy You, For You, creating action, creative thinkers Tagged With: , , , , , , , 40 Comments