The Motivational Flow of the Creative Entrepreneur

walnuts - pauline mak

In the middle of one of my coaching sessions, I stumbled across a concept I think is worth sharing with you all. My client and I were discussing how ideas become actions and how sometimes our heads tend to get in the way of our progress because we think ourselves right out of the idea.

It’s going to get a little messy after this, so if you have delicate sensibilities, it’s probably best to check out now. I don’t want anyone getting offended by a little tongue-in-cheek references. However, if you can handle a little wit with your wisdom, then let’s continue.

Motivation is a funny thing, as powerful as it is fleeting. One second you can be pumped up from a really great idea, and within a few moments, the luster has worn off and you’re already talking yourself out of it. From my experience, the best way to go from idea to action is a process of letting your mind take a breather while other parts take over. It’s about flow, from one part to another, a process I call: Head, Heart, Guts & Nuts

Head First

All your ideas are valid, but they may not be viable for you. We need to keep our noodles working in order to maintain a steady flow of creative ideas. The more ideas you even consider, the more creative you get with those ideas as you work.

Write everything down and compartmentalize the thoughts into  groups so that you can easily reach out to them later. I use Evernote for this, and it works wonders for all kinds of idea generation. The problem with having tons of ideas written down is filtering them later, but Evernote is pretty good with that too. If you haven’t guessed, I highly recommend Evernote.

Heart Felt

The mind is great for ideas, but it’s also notorious for buzz kill. Your brain will steal your thunder in a hot minute if you let it. Once you have an idea you believe is worthy, it’s important to get your head out of the way and start focusing on the emotion behind your idea. Your idea needs a soul, it needs life, and it gets that from your emotive side.

Take a second and dwell on the possible success of your idea, where you’ll be when the success hits; how will you feel in that moment? Or how will others feel when they get a glimpse of your idea? Imagine a better world because of your idea and hold onto that as further motivation for progress.

Gut Check

Your instinct has almost assuredly already kicked in here. Sometimes your gut instinct works in conjunction with your heart and/or your mind but occasionally  you need to really put it to some true test of intestinal fortitude.

Your idea might scare you. Others might tell you that it will never work, but dig deep into your instinct and try to glimpse what feels right. Sometimes you just know that something is going to work right. Other times you might get the feeling it’s not a worthy effort. You may not want to listen to your gut instinct every time, but if you’re like me, more times than not, your gut is right about things more than your head.

Grow a Pair

None of this idea generation is worth a damn if you’re not willing to put it all on the line and act on that idea. Some ideas are scary as hell, and will test your will, so you need to step up or shut up.

Having the nuts to act on an idea is an exhilarating experience. Do it once and you’ll crave that buzz again and again, testing your strength more each time. Also, don’t think for one second that this is a solely male experience; women can enjoy the feeling just as much. Of course they can’t grab their own pair in triumph once they conquer their idea, but a ceremonious clutching wouldn’t be out of the question, ladies.

The Process in Action

It’s easy to talk about this process, but not always easy to do. Here are a couple examples of how I put this process into action on my own ideas, starting with the plan to write a new book.

  • Head – I have an idea to write a new book about Etsy, but with a straight-forward, no BS approach.
  • Heart – I’m passionate about Etsy, on many levels, so it makes sense I would write about it and share stories with others.
  • Guts – I have a lot of book ideas, but internally, this feels like the one I should be writing first
  • Nuts – Got to put the plan into action. I started writing yesterday, and I will continue writing a little every day until it’s done.

A more relatable idea I had was this blog post. The idea came to me, but I wasn’t sure if I should post it.

  • Head – As I mentioned, the idea for this post came to me while helping a client. When people heard the phrase, they laughed in amusement.
  • Heart – The process, even before the catchy name, is something I’ve done for awhile and I am certain it is a key to my success
  • Guts – Writing this post here was questionable, but something told me inside that said this was going to be a very worthwhile idea.
  • Nuts – Proof is in the pudding.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, the point of this post is to share this process so you an implement it as well, but also to get my ideas formulated for what I think will be a much bigger picture later on. I can’t really expand on that just yet, but as soon as I get a better handling on the concept, I’ll let you know what plays out for the future.

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Filed Under: Knowledge Base Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Most Important Post I’ve Ever Written

UPDATE – The irony of this post is almost laughable now, and I toyed with the idea of deleting it, but for the sake of posterity, I’m going to leave it in tact because it’ll get a good laugh at some point. Enjoy.

Ok, maybe not the most important post ever, but definitely the most important business post I’ve ever written. Sit back for awhile, get a drink maybe; this is going to be a long one.

To those who know me well, it’s no secret that I try to do too many things at once, or rather, I take on projects and bog myself down with them before I’m fully invested. Anyone who has followed my comings and goings over the past few years will tell you I am doing WAY too much. The truth is, I’m not doing too much; I’m not doing enough toward any one project, of which there are many. In short, I am unfocused; that is my own self discovered analysis.

So it shouldn’t be of any surprise or consequence when I tell you that I have a new project I’ve started, but before you roll your eyes allow me to give a little backstory.

I work with paper. It’s the core material in just about any piece of art or design I have created over the past 15+ years. It’s safe to say that paper and print work is the center of my professional universe. However, that universe steadily moving more toward a digital black hole with each passing day… or is it? I have conversations almost daily with people about how digital design is the future and I need to get with the program, but those same people are also the ones talking about how an ipad will never replace the tactile aspect of reading books or magazines, and they are right. Digital is a reality, but I would never be so bold to say that print is dead. In fact, it is my opinion that print is thriving, just not in the ways we may be accustomed.

Due in some part to those digital aspects of our world, paper is actually flourishing. Because of marketplaces like Etsy, ImageKind, and eBay, artists and designers have a way to get their art or design projects into the hands of people they never would have imagined before. Web resources like Lulu and Magcloud are giving would-be publishers a voice in print publishing regardless of available space on the local newsstand. A new rise of “hip” art and craft shows are popping up in every major city showcasing the works of local artists, and giving them a whole host of new customers, from neighbors to tourists.

The massively large head of the traditional print world might be moving toward digital because the economics of doing business are making it inevitable, but the tail portion is surviving. More and more of my friends who work with paper goods are quitting their “day job” and going full time. It’s inspiring to me and I believe it needs to be celebrated. This is where my new project comes into play.

One thing I’ve learned about myself recently; I’m a facilitator—a pimp for my friends and their wares. I love sharing cool stuff with others, and I love seeing someone get a little more popular or successful in part through my efforts. That makes me happy and I want more of it. If I combine that facilitation with my passion for paper goods, the result is Fresh Rag, where design, art and paper come together.

At the moment, Fresh Rag is a blog only, but I have plans, big plans for awesome things. Before I get to those awesome things, I want to make Fresh Rag the go-to joint for all things paper related. I wish Fresh Rag to be the Design*Sponge or Cool Hunting of paper goods, but then go the next level. I want to hold events and have a marketplace and maybe even a community unto itself. Sure, its a lofty goal, but I believe there is value in it and I’m pushing forward head on.

“But Dave, you already have so many other things on your plate”

Yes, I do, which is something I plan on rectifying immediately. From this point forward, I am simplifying. My priorities family first, then Fresh Rag and everything else comes after that when and if I have time. I’m putting on my networking hat and strapping on my boots and I’m ready to go out and kill it in the name of paper.

Forget what you know about what I’ve done. Fresh Rag is what I am from here on out. Want to help or have me showcase some of your cool paper things, hit me up: dave[at]freshrag[dot]com. Bring your friends—we’ll make it a party.

 

Filed Under: Business and Entrepreneurship Tagged With: , , , , ,

Moving Beyond Social Media

There’s a commercial out right now. I have no idea what the commercial is actually selling (a conversation for another time), but the scene is a young girl at home who is concerned for her older parents because they only have 19 “friends” on Facebook, while the daughter has over 600 so-called friends. The irony of the commercial is the parents are actually out of the house hanging out with real people while the daughter sits at home in her virtual world; first world problems.

I spend a lot of my time on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr and soon Google+. They are essential tools to both interacting with people I probably would never have the chance to meet, as well as solid business promotional vehicles. I can attest that a good portion of my sales have come from social media contacts, and I’m appreciative of every single one. However, social media is only social to a point. At the end of the day, there’s no commitment to these relationships beyond 140 characters. You’re also not getting a true sense of these folks because we’re only putting up the things we want people to hear from us. There is little to no nuance in these friendships unless you’re willing to dig a little deeper.

The first “tweetup” I ever attended was a bit of a stretch for me. It was a local group who just wanted to put real faces and real names to the avatars and call-signs. I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this meetup because I didn’t really know much about these folks at all. This was before I started using Twitter as a way to promote my work, so there wasn’t any apparent value in the meetup to me. I know, I was lame, I’m sorry. Despite my reservations, I went, and I dragged my wife along as a security blanket.

A funny thing happened at this event: I actually had a good time and met some nice people. I know it sounds crazy, but people can actually be nice, fun and friendly in environments beyond the pixelated screen. I don’t go to these events often, but when I do, it’s never a bad time. Props out to my Twitter homies, Michelle, Jonathan, Denise, Oakley and Annette.

Jump ahead a few years and now I’m working on building a business of my own. Twitter and Facebook have a whole new meaning to me, but still allow me a reasonable amount of anonymity. I have made sales and made a few friends from my Etsy contacts, but still stayed a bit at arms length to it all, again lame, I know. The cure has definitely been the craft shows I’ve attended and participated in. The more I go, the more folks I meet and the more openly social I’m obligated to be. Apparently, you won’t burst into flames if you shake the hand of the vendors you know through social media outlets. It’s not a matter/anti-matter situation, I promise.

Recently I’ve had the chance to hang out with a few new friends I’ve met through these shows, and I can honestly say it’s been the best hang-out sessions I’ve had in a long time. Big props to my new friends, Jeanette, Kat and Adam for being good inspirations and even better friends. We trade stories, experiences, learn from each other and grow as humans, artists and business owners.

Long story short, I love all the folks that I’m able to interact with through social media, but it’s the connections I make beyond those avenues that really make for memorable experiences and friendships. In other words, get off your but and go hang out with some real people you’ve met online. Go on, do it, you can thank me later.

Photo by Edart on Etsy
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The Brand of Me

Cattle Brand by Sarah KorfBeing a graphic artist with a background in marketing, branding is pretty much the cornerstone for my whole professional career. I eat/sleep/breathe branding, and for nearly every design decision I make, the brand of that project is always considered at least in some small way. So why do I have such a difficult time getting my own brand in check?

Designers are a crazy lot; as much time and effort we put into our work for others, we hardly take time to concentrate on personal projects. When we do put time into our own projects, we’re so burnt from doing work for others, we don’t want to tap the creative well one more time for our own sake. Or maybe that’s just me.

More Than a Logo

Back in the day when a brand was still a hot piece of iron pressed into cowhide, your logo was your statement. Connect a D and a C together in the middle of a circle and I’m telling you, “This is my cow, bitch. Don’t Touch”, but something tells me that’s not the end of the story for cowpokes.

I’m not a cowboy from the 19th century, but I can make an educated guess that even with that brand on the cow, you still ran the risk of people not taking it seriously. Your reputation for how you back up that brand probably carries more weight than the symbol itself. Steal cattle from the wrong rancher and it could be your hide that’s sizzling next.

The Brand is Everything

Every little thing you do regarding your business becomes part of your brand. The quality of your work is just as essential as the quality of your logo design. Your customer service does more for your brand than your marketing collateral, but the collateral counts too. It’s not about how much you spend or how much time you take, but how well you execute ever aspect of your business that defines your brand.

Ironically, with social media being the main source of information for many folks, you don’t get to control how people perceive and talk about your business anymore. You can’t stymie the bad press and you can’t push the good P.R. more than your public will allow. The only thing you can do is provide the best products and/or services you know how all while staying consistent with your message.

A Chink In The Armor

Everywhere you see me online, I am consistent. You can type my name into just about any social media outlet and you’ll most likely hit my profile first. I’ve tried to stay consistent with that since I started focusing my energy toward building up reputation in those arenas. I am uniform everywhere … except one place; the one where I make my money.

Beach Cities is doing well. I’m not killing it yet, but it’s working and since I just started showcasing my work in art and craft events, I’m spreading the message to new crowds. I also just got a note from a local boutique that asked if I’d be willing to put some of my work into their shop on consignment. All of this is very cool and I am stoked beyond belief, but as I approach the precipice of success, I can’t seem to decide which direction to take my brand.

I feel there is a disconnect between the Dave Conrey Art brand and the Beach Cities brand. To those that interact with me regularly online, there is no separation, DC and BC are one in the same, but go to my Dave Conrey Art page on Facebook and the main image says Beach Cities. That is a failure on my part and I need to fix it, but I’m not exactly sure which direction to go.

The Beach Cities brand is a good one, a strong one, but I wonder if I’ll be able to maintain my direction for long term. I love the beach/surf theme and will always use it as inspiration, but I have other subjects I want to explore (figurative, abstract, etc.) and I’m not sure that it would be a clear derivative of the Beach Cities brand. I still have my Dave Conrey page on Etsy where I could post these derivatives. Or I could take a page from my friend Liese Chavez and create a separate identity altogether, promoting each equally, crossover as needed. The last option is the most flexible but also bring about the most work trying to manage. Do I really want to create a whole new set of brand elements (logo, business cards, banners) just to post up a different type of work?

I’ve also considered the idea changing the BC shop to be Beach Cities by Dave Conrey, but that just sounds so douchey, I’m not sure I could pull it off. Whatever direction I go, I need to decide soon. If I’m not careful, as my list of fans grows on Twitter and Facebook, I risk a disconnect on a much larger scale.  I could be overacting completely, assuming people won’t be able to follow along, which is kinda ludicrous considering some of the brilliant people I interact with daily. Still, it’s time for me to put on the big boy pants and turn this hobby into the business brand it deserves to be.

Cattle Brand Photo by Sarah Korf

 

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The Magazine & The Fence Rider

What do you get when you put 2 magazine editors and 2 art directors of varying age and experience and ask them about the future of their craft? The answer: uncertainty, because no matter how much any of these men think they know the answer, the truth is that none of them have ever experienced anything quite like what is going on in the magazine industry today.

On the Wire by thejonoakley on Flickr

One editor has been around long enough to have seen and done just about everything, but isn’t the most tech savvy. The other editor is well-versed in technology, but hasn’t been an editor long enough to know what makes readers tick. One art director is idealistic and hopeful, but unsure about anything related to new media and how to reach people, and the last guy can see all sides of the sorry, but can’t make a decision to save his life (guess which one I am).

The big problem with magazines is the self-fulfilling prophecy of planned obsolescence. Fewer mags are sold, less people are reading. Advertising pays off less, if at all, so advertisers pull their ads. Less ad revenue means smaller budgets and fewer pages per issue. Lesser quality editorial means even more people stop reading. Of course sales ebb and flow based on the economy, but since the advent of the Internet, the long term trend is a long fall into nonexistence. It’s entirely possible that the magazine stand at your local bookstore will cease to exist as you know it within a few short year, and that’s the fear these four guys have as they pontificate on their futures. [Read more...]

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