changing the game

Currently I'm reading Gary Vee's book "Crush it". The man is an inspiration, and what he does well too is being so genuine. He connects naturally, even in writing, and his book is very readable.


One of the questions he asks is: why start growing a personal brand and leave our current employment/situation? I'm sure many of you would like to do what you love doing 24/7, instead of having to go through the treadmills. I guess things come to us too when we're itching to change what we're doing, but more so in what format we are able to do what we want to do. The weird part for me is that what I love to do is taking off like a goat on crack and the "I have to but don't quite love to" bit is only mildly humming along, not being very impressive. To me this is unhealthy and I feel painful about the fact I know I can do much more and much better. So I'm doing my homework and am changing what I can about it.


My husband is changing his game and I'm very proud of him. It's not easy for him to do so. He's been wrestling with it for years. It takes guts and effort to change direction. It also takes simple doing. I realized that our attitudes determine greatly how well or how badly things go for us. I've been somewhat grumpy for weeks (trying my hardest not to be). Something wasn't right and I knew damn well what it was: me. Still, there is a time to whing zhing around and there is time to just maturely fluff along. Or so they keep saying. But I don't believe it. As you can tell, the just carrying along is not my passion. I decided I have to make a decision and change the way I go about things. Surely there is a different way to improve matters, before I'm taking "the plunge".


So how can we change the game of Now?
First we assess what it is we LOVE to do. (the Goal)
Then we look at our current situation and ask ourselves: can I change anything to improve where I am now? (the Now)
Then we make a link from the now to the goal and devise a 'transit' phase: the in between and thus draw a timeline:
from "the Now" to "transit" to "Goal"


If we don't put a time frame on it, the now we'd like to change could drag on too long which wouldn't be fair to ourselves, and neither to others. (This is what I have noticed quite fervently.) Realizing what it is specifically in the now that we'd like to change will give us peace of mind, and allows us to accept how we feel enabling us to move to "transit" more easily. I discovered that aspects of the now can actually work as a springboard to where I want to grow to. A vision board can come in handy here too, to remind and help us. This is a great practical tool. (Learn how to make on here.)


Like Gary says: "Do what makes you happy. Keep it simple. Do the research. Work hard. Look ahead."


Indeed Gary! Truer words were never spoken.
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Point of difference

Communication, whether online or off, can be altered to suit the writer. We all make our own truths, create our own private vision of the world. Now why would our view -generally speaking- be so different from someone else's? Because it will be like reading the same book, but told by a different person. Other highlights here, deleted paragraphs there. That, I find interesting. The whole concept of uniqueness and yet of sameness. Things may look similar, but are not.

I was going to write about my fabric today. That I'm working on morphing the Cows & Couches cushion design into a full blown upholstery pattern, how exciting this is, as it's to be printed for a cow rancher in the US. I was going to tell you about my Highland girls Kate and Elsie who inspired me. A lovely story about personality and fuzzy vavoom with horns. So what happened? Something else did of course: I got another idea to write about. (Apologies to the lovely Kate & Elsie.)

You see, (financial) planning is not my strong suit, organizing things I can do. I wouldn't say that I always 'wing it' in what I do, but I go with my inner compass which has worked brilliantly thus far. Thinking and planning of course has its merits. We don't jump into something we should think more about, like marriage, buying a house or whether to get used to eating pizza every Friday night. Then I realized something while reading 'Industrial Design Portfolio Advice: Back to Basics', an article by Designdroplets. Instead of following their excellent advice straight away I thought: sometimes it can be just fine to run with an idea and continue to work on it while you're running instead of waiting till it's all ready. Why?

You miss out on the fun of learning, meeting new people and finding new clients while not experimenting but wanting to do it 'right'. Even if they find you on your imperfect website, they at least find you. Naturally this could give you the image of being premature or unpolished as it's clearly in transition. To be honest: does it matter? Whether someone likes what we do or not, it's about carrying out our own ideas and seeing if they come to fruition. I'd rather not wait till I'm all properly prepared but just go for it. Maybe that is silly. Heck it could be. I know it takes time to perfect a website and get an online store up and running. The trial and error phase is definitely an essential part of the process IMHO.

And the truth is: we are never ready. Even if you finally stand up to get started: whatever it was that spun your wheels before, it may have ceased to matter. It's like saying: ok we will have a child now only to find out you can't have them anymore (because you waited too long to decide and your ovaries went on a permanent vacation or your partner's sperm has stopped swimming uphill and the whole IVF is not what you want to get into).

We can think too much, get too worried, always planning to conquer life. (Whatever that is.) For what? They don't say for nothing: We plan our lives and God laughs. It's great to learn, lets' not start by limiting ourselves or dictating an essay about how it all should be. Life is now, just have that coffee and smile to your neighbour or the strange lady passing in the street.

Start on your project. Write your own story as it comes to you. Do what feels right. You know best. And yes if that means you do want to plan it all then go for it, research does have its benefits, just don't wait too long to reach "Stage Perfect". It may not happen. You may regret the wait later.