Janurary 2012 Career Mantras from EB and MP

In chronological order:

EB - "Having faith in my instincts and passions will lead me to success and fulfillment!"

MP - "Align yourself for the next step by pursuing your interests and informing yourself about those fields of interest -- Who are the big players? What are the trends? How do you fit in? -- With this prep, you will be ready when an opportunity presents itself - and it will, just be patient."

EB - "I will not allow myself to be bogged down by an under-stimulating environment! I will make time for my interests and nurture my passions!"

MP - "Do not be undervalued or taken advantage of! You are a flower, don't be bulldozed."

EB - "Living for my passions, even if my next step is not directly aimed at my end goal, will be right for me and right for my path."

MP - "Focus-Focus-Focus on the big picture and aim yourself at your goals. If you want to be a hippy for the summer, only do it if you know it is aimed at your long-term goals."

EB - "Don't get overwhelmed, things will fall into place as long as I am creating, learning and pushing my boundaries. Think clearly and think for myself!"

MP - "THINK BIG-DREAM IN COLOUR-IN 3D AND IN MOVEMENT-STRIVE TO ALWAYS BECOME BETTER IN ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE - BE HAPPY IN  APPRECIATING LITTLE DETAILS - IT IS IN THE DETAILS OF THE DETAILS THAT YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN YOUR LIFE! IT IS CALLED BEING "AWAKE & AWARE" - IT LEADS YOU TO ATTITUDE AND ACTION!"

Hannes Beer: http://alldaysgoby.tumblr.com/

Big thoughts to have only 1 month into the year... but sometimes tough love is what's needed.

This transition has been trying for me - from student to worker - attempting to figure out what's right for ME. I won't lie, I've been stressing. It's hard enough that my thoughts are all over the place and I feel that every decision I make will either make or break me. But, on top of my own insecurities and indecisiveness, my mentor is putting pressure on me to be the "best" me I can be. It's revealing, overwhelming, frightening and freeing to have someone hold a mirror up to you and make you consider who you truly want to be. I'm coming out of the other side of all of this pressure - more aware and realistic. The tough part is realizing the hard work that needs to go into becoming a big player in any field. And, ya, my ultimate goal is definitely that! 

So, next step?

- Patience

- LESS AGONIZING

- Active research

- Me time

- Art time

- More stuff like Hannes Beer is doing: http://alldaysgoby.tumblr.com/

Words to help me visualize my yearly goals -- steps towards the future!!: 

- DEEP-UNIQUE-PERSONALIZED-DESIGN

- SEEK OUT INSPIRATION

- LESS EATING OUT

- SAN FRANCISCO

- SUN YEAR ROUND

- $10,000

- TRAVEL

- ART DIRECTOR

- GRAND CANYON

- JAN 2013

A bumpy, slow start to 2012... & my necessary resolutions

(The fact that I'm posting this 12 days into the new year just shows how detached I am from my motivation and personal creation.)


So.... I've been out for a minute. Several minutes, infact. Getting lost in the numbingness of the job and searching (lacklusterly) for who are am as a creator in the midst of all of this. 

A new year but this one feels... different. For those of you who are still in school, soak it up. I'm jealous of you. The pending semester always laid out the beginning of the new year so clearly - your path is right there in front of you. All you have to do is keep going about your student-life day-to-day. Studying, learning, expanding the mind in the process. You are preparing yourself for the next step and it's virtually effortless; the professor tells you what to do and you do it and VOILA, you have learned something new, and in the process, you have shed a layer and gotten closer to who you will become.

I don't know. I'm just missing school. Feeling stagnant for the first time since I took a semester off between CEGEP and university.

Who am I as a designer and creative person when all my work is produced for others? It's tough to stay in touch with yourself. You loose track of time, loose track of the passion that you had during school and before you know it, you haven't created anything for the fun of it in months.

God, listen to me, I sound like I've been in this business for years. During the holiday vacay I was honest with myself and attempted to reconnect with my seemingly lost conviction. Having faith in your gut and stepping out of something comfortable and into something new has become difficult for me - it never used to be. Hence my need to reconnect with my self-confidence. Maybe it's an attitude change that I need, maybe it's a change of space.

But I am where I am and I want to feel balanced and fulfilled even though I not entirely satisfied with my present employment; it is the perfect season for a kick in the ass. The resolution season.

I was inspired by my friend, Phil Ha. Witty blogger, sharer of cultural-musical-interesting-fashion&faux-pas tidbits. He attempted to challenge himself with 10 attainable resolutions rather than the regular "go to the gym" b.s. 

I'm jumping on the bandwagon. 10 realistic resolutions to center me, keep me creative and allow me to evolve spiritually.... Or something along those lines.

1 - Trust my instincts and act on them:

Sidenote to this one: Don't feel ashamed or guilty for being honest when it comes to my career and future path. Open my eyes, speak what I see when necessary and proudly display my emotions and thoughts on my face (i.e. cover pic)

2 - More Yoga:

Otherwise I'll be hunched over permanently by the end of 2012. And also, to give my mind a few moments of peace during the week.

3 - Live more organically:

Food, karma, give/take with the earth, have plants/possible garden, follow the weather, dress for the seasons, cultivate the good and avoid the aggressive, more local support

4 - Do more drawing for leisure

5 - Pass on my positives to others:

Passing on my good moods, absorbing the benefits of t.a.ing and passing on my knowledge, offering drawing classes to children... holding the door for others, and so on.

6 - Earlier rising

7 - More baking bread:

With my whole self involved. Leaving the thoughts behind and kneading with love and energy.

8 - Actively budget and budget the loans away

9 - One big trip

This song makes me want to visit many places at once:

10 - No electronic devices in bed

And as with every other year, so it doesn't need to be numbered, more tea and more quebec cheeses.

And hopefully, more blogging....  :)