Category: inspirational

Stop being afraid to ask for money

Moey, wild tiger cat.
You may be thinking asking for money that is not a hard problem for me to do. When we as designers no matter what profession people will think they can get us to do whatever for free. Honestly if you are upfront with them about payment you can find out who is serious and who is not.

Because you should be feeling as if your work is good enough to have people pay for it. This is one of the things that has to be learned through trial and error. The other thing is to be able to sell your work to a client. If you have a client and they say they like your work and are trying to get you to work for free be honest with them but not an asshole about it. You are a professional so start acting like one.

Another thing is asking for more for the amount of work you are doing. If you are low balling yourself and not being able to continuously make a living and even more then you have to start knowing how to ask for more money for your time. Of course over time your skill set will improve. Then you increase your prices a bit. So stop being afraid to ask for money when your doing work with a client or whomever.

Elle Luna on Finding Your Must

Last night to be exact I watched this while having fun using my dip pen. Elle she touches on something that I feel we all should be doing and that is going on an artist date. Which she described as doing whatever you feel like doing artistically. For example whenever I am lettering I feel like using a dip pen instead of a cartridge pen while doing calligraphy.

The continued amount of play with work will allow you to enjoy the process even more.  Whenever you are working on a project and you get the urge to draw or maybe not even draw you get the urge to drink lemonade while designing do it. Learn to listen to your inner self and to not kill it by ignoring what it says to you.

Happy ThanksGiving

When you make the decision

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Whenever you make the decision that you want to be a designer or whatever you have to dedicate yourself to it. Meaning you have to become a person that wants to be the best. This could not be the case for some people or it could be. You have to find out where you want to end up in your chosen career/life.

Because once a person makes the decision that they are going to do whatever it takes, (not doing anything illegal) you will see how much better they will become. Being a designer it requires a great amount of self discipline. For example you have to basically do what you are telling a client. You have to send emails when you say you are going to and meet deadlines.

All of this is not hard to do. You just have to believe that whatever you are dreaming is possible for you. Remember if you are not believing in your dreams someone else is believing in theirs.

If you have a vision follow it

Belief

Whenever we have a vision I know that it can be hard for some people to take action. Then a month or so later they still have not made any change. The same thing can be said for someone wanting to be a freelancer and never contacting clients. When honestly its easy and also easy not to do.

You may sit at work or in class and have ideas for products to create. The question I’m wondering is why have you not made them? Now this day in age its so easy to start a business or learn something you do not know quickly. There is also no problem that you are having that someone else has not had. Stop being a consumer and start being a producer.

There may be at times people that want you to do the normal thing. Which is getting a Job and then live a normal life. Not saying doing so is bad but you have to be honest with yourself. This is not for everyone to do because honestly not everyone could deal with what comes of this.

So from now on if you have a vision of something that you want to create stop wishful thinking and take action. Taking action simply starts with setting goals that will push you in the direction you want to go. You can do it if you believe.

Build the company that you wouldn’t sell – Zach Klein

 

I came across this video a couple of days ago and felt it would be a good thing to share with you all. Whenever we build something depending on the person there are different motives behind it. Some people on want to build a company or products to just make money. Then there’s others who build products and companies that help improve people’s lives.

When you are designing whether it be for a client or yourself stop and think what kind of impact is this going to have. Because whenever you put something out it does not matter what the excuses or problems were.

Doing Whatever It Takes

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You may have been going through some hard times or dealing with someone who does not believe in your dreams. Whether it can be in designing or something you want to do. Well you have to make a pledge to yourself that you are going to do whatever it takes. Which means you have to do this daily.

There’s no time for playing (unless its to celebrate an achievement). I for one have started waking up at 4 a.m-4:30 am for the past couple of days to get more out of the day. When you wake up early the quietness is at first a different feeling. Then you can’t just wake up early and not have a plan for the day. Because its so easy to just wake up early for the hell of it.

After you start waking up early plan your day. Meaning you can either right a schedule or things to do for the day. Then after you finish them you can take a nap. I work a part time day Job and design at night or before going in so there is no excuse for someone else not being able to do the same. Making the transition from wage slave to working in a profession that I went to school depends really on me and my dedication.

So to bring this post to an end believe in yourself and do whatever it takes to achieve your dreams (nothing illegal). Because as we all know trying to cheat or take a shortcut will not really last for a long time or have the longevity as if you took the honest path.

Amazing Marching band Performance from Ohio State

This has to be one of the most amazing performances that I have ever seen. Honestly I would actually stay and watch the performance and not get up to go walk around until halftime was over. I applaud Ohio States marching band for this.

How to avoid wasting a day

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When you wake up its very easy to let the day just pass you by. Meaning its easy to just do whatever you feel like without having any purpose. Because if you think about how much you could accomplish if you had a structured day.

I am not saying its a think to do everyday if your life does not call for such a thing. But if you want to try it out and see then I recommend it. The night before you have to make the decision the night before that you want to do such a thing. The practice of scheduling you day requires discipline.

Steps to avoid wasting a day

  1. Realize what you need to get done first
  2. Figure out what is most important
  3. Write it down your daily goals/tasks
  4. Focus
  5. Make yourself do what you have set in your schedule
  6. Recap at the end of your day and reflect on other days when you did not schedule your day

Scheduling your day can help you do more accomplish more then other people who do not schedule their day. You may already be scheduling your day and just lack structure and managing your time better. If I for one someone who used to wake up whenever I felt like it to waking up at 5:00 – 5:30 am and having no structure to my day then so can you.