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.