The Eggs of Possibility: Part two

by Julie


What are the qualities of your ideal work?

The confetti that’s inside these eggs represents the qualities of my ideal clients and work situations. It’s about a certain kind of connection, energy, flow, stimulation (intellectually, emotionally & financially) and good partnering.

It has to do with the energy in the room when people are growing and changing. Holding that space for magical things to happen. Sharing and confronting ideas. Dreaming and scheming.

I’ve been getting clear about my ideal work (and in some cases landing jobs that confirm it for me) so I know that having an intention, and being specific about it, works.

My superpower

My superpower is being able to see where you are and where you want to go in TECHNICOLOR. Helping you formulate the steps needed to get there and being able to plot the progression in a simple, do-able way. That’s what I do and love to do.

I’m essentially setting up the strategic and energetic framework for my client’s journey. Giving them the map. And showing them the treasure at the destination in all its fabulous lushness.

I don’t sell myself as an artist, illustrator or graphic designer because the art is only one small piece of what I do. It helps to illuminate the insights and the strategy. But it’s not the thing.

The thing is the clarity. The energy. The strategy. The vision. The steps.

A practice of saying “no”

In the process of getting clear about the qualities I want in my work—the things that bring me joy—I’m also getting clear about the qualities I don’t want. And I’ve learned the practice of saying “no” so that I stay open to all the things I do want. Because they are out there and making their way toward me.

A friend recently gave me some ideas for directions my business could go. In responding to him, it helped me further clarify my sweetspot. Here are the suggestions he made and my responses:

~ Could you offer a program/process that uses visual mapping for slideshows?
No, not interested–though I did help illustrate a PowerPoint for a good friend who’s a partner at Accenture, but that was a very special case as I was using it to land work with them, which I have.

~ Visual mapping for conveying info on your client’s website?
No, doesn’t interest me. If someone wants to get clear about their thing and doesn’t know what it looks like then I’m interested in helping them tap into their essence and figure out how to express it but if they already have their info I don’t want to illustrate it. (At some point, this could be something I could contract out and just project manage.) And I should say I have done some work like this but it’s not my sweetspot.

~ Visual mapping for your client’s strategic planning sessions?
Yes, I do this and it’s a significant part of my business, and a juicy part. I enjoy doing this work more than conferences. I love being part of the team that designs the meeting, essentially setting the container for juicy stuff to happen that the meeting. Creating and conducting a meeting that rocks.

~ Using your services for your client’s new ebook?
Gah, No. Seriously no.

I’ll be adding to this list so that I stay very clear about my mission as more Eggs of Possibility show up at my door.

Hear me talk about my sweetspot and superpower

I’m doing an interview on Monday, May 17th at 10:25 EST with the fabulous David Cohen of Equation Arts, LLC, a branding expert and fellow artist. He recently mentioned me in the same sentence as Gary Vee the “wine guy” who is now the official wine guy for Virgin Airlines, so of course I’m a huge fan of David’s. *grin*

We’ll be talking about branding or my definition of it: finding your sweetspot and conveying it through how you talk about yourself and how you walk your talk. Join us for a fabulous half hour of branding banter.

Related posts:

  1. What’s your sweetspot?
  2. The Eggs of Possibility
  3. Mural as living document keeps your ideas handy
  4. In search of cartoon people with expressions
 
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Dave May 15, 2010 at 8:55 am

Hi Julie,

I love the process you go through here. It can be so difficult to say no to some suggestions or opportunities, but it’s a great discipline to develop to help you stay in the ‘Sweet Spot’ (love that term).
.-= Dave´s last post … The Goat King Sits On A Golden Throne =-.

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Fabeku Fatunmise May 15, 2010 at 2:23 pm

Another brilliant post. And more of those gorgeous eggs!

This part?

The thing is the clarity. The energy. The strategy. The vision. The steps.

Totally rang my bell.

I think it’s so easy to mistake our superpower for how we rock that superpower. When, really, our superpower is so much bigger than the way we rock it. It’s really the core of who we are. It’s that thing that just shines out of every nook and cranny of us.

And, really, it’s the magic behind our work.

You’ve got a lot of magic cookin’ here. And it’s so awesome to see it.

Have fun chatting with David on Monday!
.-= Fabeku Fatunmise´s last post … In The Fight Or In The Flow? =-.

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Julie May 16, 2010 at 8:54 am

Dave, yes saying no requires some practice and faith that the good stuff will come.

Fabeku, wow, I love how you explain what our superpower is and that it’s more than how we rock it. Yes. Exactly.

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