. . . preach the blogs that talk about how to engage audiences.
They all say your content has to be special, informative, potent, beautiful, relevant.
Well, I’ve been studying . . . and learning.
Because I really do want this blog to be different, creative, personal, artistic. I want it to be able to stand by itself as its own creative endeavor.
“Show the real you,” they say. "Be shocking. Be vulnerable."
Well, I have.
You just haven't seen what I've written, yet.
Sourced via: Plenty of Colour
I wrote a piece that was shocking, personal and kinda scary . . . for me. But I just can’t muster up the courage to publish it.
Why?
Because I haven’t “made it” yet. I haven’t crossed over into “real success." I haven’t yet made my “mark.”
When I’ve made it. When I’ve reached the pinnacle of my career. When I’ve arrived. When I’m looking back on my successes.
Maybe then I’ll have the courage to publish it.
That is, of course, IF I make it.
(Sigh . . . "IF" I make it. Why does there always have to be an “IF?”)
I recently read the article pictured to the left (click image to visit) from an amazing blog titled: The Middle Finger Project.
(Warning: There's a lot of strong language. So read at your own risk.)
When I read it, I felt like I wrote it. Its words defined me, where I am, every day.
And everyone who knows me -- interns, family, sales reps, peers -- will tell you...
“Oh yes, that’s Carla.”
One day, I’m up, ready to conquer the world.
The next day I’m wondering why the heck I’m working so hard.
The next day I’m ready to expand my office into the space next door (...that is, by the way, sitting there empty, just a few pieces of sheetrock away, calling my name, pleading for me to start hiring so I can move closer to my dreams.)
Then, the day thereafter, I’m back to square one: my emotions telling me I should just taper off and call it a day.
“Go sell pillows at a retail store, Carla,” says the devil speaking over my shoulder. “Make someone else’s dreams come true.”
Sourced via: Deadfix.com
Being a small business owner feels like riding a roller coaster.
A BIG ONE.
You climb to its highest point, feel strong and envision that the sky’s the limit.
Then the downward slope arrives, and you’re free-falling, doubting yourself, doubting your dreams.
If you read the article mentioned above, you'll understand why it was therapeutic for me. It helped me snap back to reality and remember that I'm not alone, there are actually a lot of others out there who are piled into the same roller coaster cart I so frequently strap myself into, knowing good and well that it will inevitably cause me to scream throughout each and every terrifying turn it makes.
Sourced via: WeHeartIt.com
Ultimately, I suppose there's one secret ingredient that -- if mixed in with my design skill, excitement for business, entrepreneurial determination -- would cause my dreams to materialize:
Strength.
I know I have it, yet my weak moments tend to make me feel like it's ditched me, unavailable to be flexed when I need it most.
Thankfully though, I’ve proven to myself time and time again that if I simply exercise a little bit of positive energy, I can find my strength.
So, in an effort to try to feel strong, I'm going to focus my next few posts on masculine design - not because men have greater strength than women, but because its style always seems to be able to naturally make a bold statement about the person whose life is beautified by it.
And you know, when you really think about it, no matter whether you’re male or female . . .
Isn't that really what all of us are trying to do with our lives?
Aren’t we all just trying to make a strong statement to the world and -- more importantly -- ourselves about who we are through our life's passions? You know, leave a legacy? Matter? Make a difference?
