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This Self-Employed Life: At a standstill

So, about those new products. While technically I could go ahead with them, I’m having a hard time navigating the pros and cons of going ahead now vs waiting. If I go ahead and print them digitally, I CAN’T wholesale them, BUT I can test them. If I go ahead with off-set printing so I CAN wholesale, I run the risk of having a large inventory that I CAN’T move at a reasonable rate. Of course, they aren’t the only pros and cons, but they are the ones weighing most heavily on my mind.

My biggest goal here is to set myself up for wholesaling. Realistically, I can’t justify running modernemotive another year without it. This isn’t just for financial reasons but also a need for me to justify why the heck I’m here. I feel as though I’m losing that vision with each week that passes.

While some may argue I’ve already seen some success, I can’t sustain myself or my business at the rate I’m going. I say some because in the grand scale of things guys, let’s face it, it’s minimal. In part, this is my fault. I’ve been in and out of my business since January 2009 for personal reasons and I need to either commit to it 110% now or quite frankly, get out.

While I am looking at a Plan B, I invested so much time and energy into these new products I can’t see it. Did someone turn the lights out? I was already nervous about introducing these new products and this spanner in the works is allowing the self-doubt to take on a stronger hold. I’ve barely done a thing in the last few weeks. My tip of the day – this isn’t how you move a business forward.

Ugh, it’s days like today that I regret being so honest about the “behind the scenes” of modernemotive. I feel as though I’ve built such a “buzz” around my relaunch and I’m not sure how to move forward. I stepped away in January promising “big things” and 4 months later I’m at a complete standstill. I’m none the wiser than I was back then. Ugh, there I go being honest again.

When you’re at a standstill, how do you get yourself moving again and keep yourself looking forward?

Photo Credit: B Tal

May 17, 2010  //  Filed under: This Self-Employed Life  //  Tagged: business, business goals, life, professional growth, self-employment  //  5 Comments

All I got is fruit and veg

Hey ladies and gents, the photos below are from a trip to St. Lawrence Market earlier in the week. Sadly, most of the photos didn’t come out as I’d hoped, so all I got is fruit and veg. But hey, it’s better than nothing right?

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market

I had planned to share an awesome salad I make constantly throughout the warmer weather too, but alas it was consumed before I got a chance to take pictures. Yep, it’s that good! I’ll share it one day I promise.

I hope your weekend is going well. We’re having such a beautiful Sunday over here. I’m trying to relax as much as possible as tomorrow I’ll be embarking on Operation Plan B. I have no clue what it will entail so wish me luck. Trust me, I need it.

P.S. For the Toronto folk that go to St. Lawrence Market, I highly recommend Upper Cut Meats for your local butcher. Ask for Bob (guy pictured in the link), he’s awesome. Oh and we tried the Chicken Parmigiana sandwiches from Carousel Bakery. Delicious and FILLING!

St. Lawrence Market

Are you ready for Monday? What’s on your agenda?

May 16, 2010  //  Filed under: Etcetera  //  Tagged: life  //  1 Comment

This Self-Employed Life: Self-Doubt

Aaaah, you gotta love that wee emotion called self-doubt huh? There you are blazing along, confident in the path you’re taking and then – BAM! – self doubt rears it’s ugly head and pays you a visit. It’s like the friend or relative that overstays their welcome yet their presence forces you into silence and you just roll with it.

Thankfully my moments of self-doubt are few and far between as of late, but oh it’s there, it’s there. In business, heck in life, self-doubt can be debilitating. So severe it can stop you in your tracks and force you down paths that are not true to your heart. It can be hard to overcome. Hard to ignore as it can be so loud that the “what ifs” consume you and it becomes an exhausting one-way conversation with yourself.

Of course, I expect my self-doubt to be rampant over the coming weeks. With my launch approaching I can’t help but think…. will everyone be disappointed in my new products? Will they be expecting more? Is re-launching with 8 products enough? Should I wait and make it 16? What if nothing sells? What if… what it… what if?

See what I mean about that one-way conversation? With so many questions running through your head it’s often hard to hear the answers. The answers spoken from your gut. Your inner confidence telling you it’ll all be okay. Eventually you begin to hear them, but damn, someone needs to tell self-doubt to leave already. It’s noisy in here!

How do you deal with self-doubt?

Photo Credit: Daniel Y. Go

May 5, 2010  //  Filed under: This Self-Employed Life  //  Tagged: business, life, professional growth  //  7 Comments

This Self-Employed Life: Customer Service Manifesto

Hello?

So outsourcing my printing is proving to be harder than I thought. While it’s still early May, I’m getting slightly nervous about hitting my June 1st deadline to have them all ready for retail. If I have to shift my deadline, so be it. While not ideal, I’m not willing to just  “get ‘um printed” for the sake of hitting that deadline.

The printing world is hard to navigate. It’s a whole new world of terms, specs, paper options and sometimes limitations. It’s making my head spin. Throw the ecofriendly requirements in there (FSC Certified, 100% post-consumer content which I’m pretty rigid on) and say hello to even more headaches.

Anyway, I’m somewhat digressing here as the above really isn’t the point of my post. I just had to vent it out loud briefly. Over and out on that one. :)

So, my point… I’m really surprised at how unresponsive I’m finding some printers. I’ve had printers not respond period and some drop off the face of the earth during the quoting process. Obviously, this means that particular printer is not for me, but it’s still quite surprising. Do they not care about new business? I realize I’m probably small fry to some of these guys but you’d think they’d at least respond.

It is so important for me to find a printer I can grow with. I’m looking for a partnership. Someone that gives a shit about my products and sees the potential for BOTH of us. You’d think it would be easy to find, it isn’t. Perhaps my expectations are too high.

As a result, this has really made me look at my own customer service. I’m sure it hasn’t been 100% perfect. So, I’m thinking of putting together a little private manifesto surrounding my intentions for great customer service. Even small things (such as acknowledging an email even if only to say you’ll be in touch within x amount of time) really do make a difference. I don’t want interactions with my company (regardless of who you are) to feel automated. I want/hope to provide a service that feels personal. In a nutshell, I want anyone that interacts with my company to know I give a shit. Yah, I probably could of written that last sentence with a bit more class, but sometimes you just have to throw an expletive in there. ;)

Often, especially when things are hectic, we can easily let those small things slip to the wayside and the impact on your business (and how it’s perceived) can be greater than you realize.

Anybody there?

May 4, 2010  //  Filed under: This Self-Employed Life  //  Tagged: business, life, professional growth, self-employment  //  2 Comments

I take it back

I mentioned some time ago that I wasn’t a fan of roses. That said, every once in a while, James will pick me up a single rose from a chap that sits outside the subway station close to our home. Typically, I shamefully do nothing with them. This week I did and do you know what? I love looking at that single rose.

A Single Rose

Funnily enough, much like roses didn’t do it for me, neither did the photo above. Yet when I accidentally opened Adobe Bridge and there is was, I realized it wasn’t too bad after all. Is it perfect? No. But what/whom is?

May 2, 2010  //  Filed under: Etcetera  //  Tagged: life  //  2 Comments

This Self-Employed Life: Where’s your fine line?

There are countless blog posts talking about the fine line of blogging when it comes to sharing personal matters on a blog that is also considered a communication outlet for your business. It’s a topic I mull over in my head often.

I’ve been pretty honest on my blog and if were to put it a sliding scale, I’d say some of it has slid towards the very personal level. I consider myself a pretty open person, though obviously I keep some cards hidden and wouldn’t consider myself an open book either here and in person. Yet as the “author” and “editor” of that book, the content is mine to write. Like any book, it evolves with each chapter and it’s characters.

Though for the most part my opinion on this is clear to me, like anyone, I sometimes sway and re-evaluate that opinion. But for now, here’s mine as it stands today.

Would I ever go on a public rant about a customer? No. A client? No. A copy cat? No. I’ve personally drawn that line for myself and my business. The saying “If you’ve got nothing good to say, don’t say it” comes to mind.

But am I afraid to share my ups and downs of starting a business? No. Do I wonder if sharing that I’m unmotivated, confused, going through self-doubt either personally or professionally will be read by potential or existing clients/customers and viewed negatively. Of course. Yet that’s the risk I’ve chosen to take for the sake of wanting to be true to myself and not being afraid to share that truth. It’s these truths that are the building blocks of both me and modernemotive.

Now some might argue that the saying “If you’ve got nothing good to say, don’t say it” comes into play again here. Yet based on the feedback I’ve received via comments/emails, the sharing of my up and downs has resonated with others. It’s given them hope. Made them feel less lonely in navigating their road to self-employment and business ownership. This “connection” in return empowers me and is one of the reasons why I chose NOT to close myself up and put a smiley face on everything.

With each experience I go though I always try and look for the positive spin or lesson. I view them as way to learn more about myself. With this I garner the confidence to keep pursuing my dreams, make better decisions and build some cushioning into any falls that I will inevitably make. Why would I hide that if it can help someone else?

Where’s your fine line?

Photo Credit: Yukon White Light

April 24, 2010  //  Filed under: This Self-Employed Life  //  Tagged: business, life, professional growth  //  5 Comments

Beep!

Even with the best intentions, to-do lists haven’t been cutting it for me lately. The main reason is because, well, I haven’t been making them. Yah, I know, putting pen to paper is super super hard Adele. What can I say, I can be my own worst enemy at times.

Rather than succumb to my procrastinating ways, I enlisted help. A project manager if you will. And that PM my friends is my oven timer. Yup, you heard correctly, I’m managing my time via my oven. Have your giggle for a second and then keep reading.

I’m sure I’m not the only one that lets life and household chores slip to the wayside. Well, now my oven is reminding me to just get them done rather than scramble at the end of the day. I’ve said before that a messy/disorganized environment crosses over into my thinking, yet quite often, I still surround myself in the messiness and disorganization. See, told you I could be my own worst enemy. Anyway, let me tell you – this method works!

Sure, I’ve only been doing it for the morning, but in 4 short hours my increase in productivity and focus is very noticeable*. Knowing that I have 15-60 minutes (this is the min/max minutes I have for each block of time), my focus is more driven and distractions are less attractive. Oh, and trust me, when the beep goes off, you know. Oh yes… you know. You can’t just close your notebook on your to-do list or exit a computer reminder. You’re getting up to turn that damp beeper off!

And if you think you’ll walk away and sit right back down to work – you won’t – because a little tingle of guilt will eat at you and before you know it, that small task is done. Let the pats on the back commence.

Now please excuse me, I have 15 more minutes before Sergeant Oven reminds me to make the bed.

What about you? Have you enlisted any creative methods to manage your time/procrastination?

*A prime example is this blog post. I can sometimes spend far too long putting together a post and then even more time searching for the right photograph. However, knowing I was on a time constraint (I work best under pressure) I whipped out this post in under 20 minutes.

Photo Credit: csiknor

April 21, 2010  //  Filed under: Etcetera  //  Tagged: life, self-employment, time management  //  5 Comments

Breaking Patterns

I’ve been reading a lot lately (okay, actually scanning, I have terrible A.D.D. when it comes to reading online) about breaking through slumps/creative blocks and one tip that consistently comes up is to “walk away and do something entirely different”. While that may seem obvious and relatively easy to do, I often find myself sat at the computer hours later no further along emotionally or in terms of progress. Oh, it’s a seedy web I can weave over here folks.

Yesterday, I broke that pattern. The sun was shining, James had the day off work and I just wanted to get out. So, when he suggested we head down to The Beach, rather than offer my usual “No, I have stuff to do”, I said “Screw it, let’s go”. And off we went.

It was gorgeous down there. I typically head down there over the weekend when it’s full of hustle and bustle, but the quietness and solitude yesterday offered was just what I needed. James and I walked along the beach, talked about random things and just reveled in the moment. I put a ban on talking about work, money, things of any responsibility and we just lost ourselves in the view and quietness. It was bliss.

Though this shot was taken yesterday on beautifully sunny day, when I played around with it in Photoshop, I loved the result. I think it reflects my thoughts yesterday perfectly. There’s a sense of calm and peace I wish I could bottle up and drink as needed.

The Beach

April 15, 2010  //  Filed under: Etcetera  //  Tagged: life  //  3 Comments

Silence

Forgive the silence over here as of late. Truth be told, I’ve got nothing to say. Nothing much has been going on in terms of moving my business forward and I’m somewhat at a standstill. I keep hitting these walls which I’m going to guess are built from fear, procrastination and other emotions. Damn am I having a hard time knocking them down.

I can’t help be wonder if closing up my shop temporarily was a mistake. I almost feel as my sense of direction and purpose closed with it too. I keep writing these posts sharing what I’m doing and where I’m going, yet somewhere along the way, I fall off the ride and I feel as though I’m left standing in the dust.

If I look back on my life, I have a habit of doing this and perhaps it not the best route to take. I can count many times when I’ve believed that “starting over” would result in a “better way” yet when I think about it, all it seems to do as make the path I’m on feel even longer and all the more tiring.

Why do you keep repeating the same mistakes over and over when we know ourselves well enough to realize they’ll never reap the benefits we hope for?

Photo Credit: RaRa photo

April 14, 2010  //  Filed under: Etcetera  //  Tagged: life  //  2 Comments

Are you doing what you love?

If you’ve been feeling passionless or confused about your business/art/craft as of late, I really recommend you watch this video with Sharon Montrose of Sharon Montrose Photographs.

I can really identify with how Sharon felt when she was no longer digging her career. I’ve been there. For those that don’t know, I used to be an Art Director in the agency world. After 10 years, I was completely burnt out and the last thing I wanted to do everyday was design. The resentment/bitterness that had built up was too strong to ignore, yet I felt completely lost as it was the only sellable skill I had.

It wasn’t until I started designing for myself again that I began to feel I had a place in design once more. I wasn’t sure if people would respond to it, but I had to try and I’m thankful that they did. I’m still not entirely sure where I’ll go with this and hey, one day I may wake up and realize I want to do something else, but I do know that I’m in a place right now where everyday is driven by a passion you’ll only ever feel if you’re doing what you truly love.

I hope that you’re able to do what you love too. Are you?

April 3, 2010  //  Filed under: Etcetera  //  Tagged: life, professional growth, self-employment  //  3 Comments

What I did do

So I was going to write a post about how little I did in March and how I’m no closer to opening up my shop again… but screw that, why let self-induced negativity into my life? We’re riding the positivity train over here people so let’s look at what I did do this month instead:

  1. Secured two new clients – one for a whole rebrand of their corporate identity and the other an interactive project (both should lead to more work)
  2. Created the modernemotive icon.
  3. Started the groundwork for the new direction of modernemotive and began the process of rethinking my tagline (thanks for all your input everyone!) to reflect it.
  4. Began designing my business collateral.
  5. Shared my first free downloadable PDF. Did you get yours?
  6. Updated my blog header (will redo it again once I finalize the tagline).
  7. Made a pact to get myself healthy again.
  8. Started the designs for some new products (have 3 on the go).
  9. Got the ball rolling on a potential new blog series I’ll be co-hosting with a great online friend.
  10. Finally pushed my procrastination aside and replaced my lost iPhone. I’m on my third. Please don’t ask about the other two. I’m mobile again and that’s all that matters.

Sure there’s a lot more I could of done and possibly stuff I’ve overlooked on my list, but I was working on something way more important, myself. Without that, the rest means nothing.

How was March for you?

Photo Credit: chara*coco*

April 1, 2010  //  Filed under: Etcetera  //  Tagged: life, self-employment  //  5 Comments

My new coworker…

… Guitar Hero! We’re only a few weeks into the partnership but we’ve been having a blast.

Allow me to boost my own wee ego too and say I’m pretty damn good as well. It’s the perfect distraction when I need to break up the day, have a creative block or otherwise. Hmm… I wonder if I can write it off as a business expense?

I love this thing!

What fun things to do throughout the day to help you break through creative blocks or give yourself a wee break from the norm?

March 29, 2010  //  Filed under: Etcetera  //  Tagged: life  //  6 Comments