It Starts, Again

Frank Herbert said “beginnings are fragile things.” But there’s strength too.

2024. The future. Well, it was the future when I was walking home from school in the 80-90s. With all those Stranger Things, small-town vibes I just regarded as everyday life. On TV, the commercials dripped with optimism about the future. In 2024, everything would fly and or be wireless. Clean lines and slick threads would dominate fashion. Food would taste better and be better for us!

So, what do you think about where we are? Right.

Strength to begin

If you’re starting something new this year, give yourself some credit. It’s tough to start stuff. Especially the things that matter a lot. On October 31st 2023, I waved bye to my day job to focus on my creative studio. Who knows what 2024 will bring. I’m feeling strong so far and have reasons to be optimistic about my business.

But I also know some days will be better than others. Cause that’s life. Here’s what I’m doing to stay ready for opportunities and make some of my own.

1. Invest time

When I don’t have a client project on the desk, I’m actively developing and making products of my own. Digital products, tabletop game experiences and print-making are key areas of focus. I’m also recalibrating my time to minimize social media distractions.

2. Promote connection

Speaking of which, social media is not connection. I truly believe most people know this, but we’ve got to come to terms with the time we’re giving away to Instagrub, Facebark and all the other channels. So, curating is in order. Virtual calls can work, but I’m favoring experiences that bring us together. In-person collaborations, in-person chats with clients and friends and tabletop gaming too!

3. Build community

As creatives we need to encourage each other to keep growing and keep going. Mentally, we’ve all been through “extra” these past few years. Listening to others tell their stories, being a resource for them and offering perspectives is top of mind for me.

4. Make ideas happen

In prior years, I allowed distractions and procrastination to sneak into my mindset. I struggled with taking on too much stress and falling prey to myths around “multi-tasking” as a creative. No more. Getting anything done that matters to us, is a choice involving work.

We have now

Real quick, I tried running my business full-time before. Yup. In 2009. It went ok, but not well. After a couple years, I accepted another in-house design job. What happened? Well frankly, I still needed time to collaborate and learn from others in a business setting. I needed to pay off more debts and establish a greater network as well.

It’s 15 years later. The future is here. Now. It’s a sorta strange, upside down or inside out world. But regardless, we can’t spend time being too concerned about the future. Or the past. We have now. And that’s the best time to start again.

–E