Tuesday, September 12, 2006 4:07 pm  <|>
<252> All Directions: I just got back from two meetings today that left me feeling rather upbeat and hopeful for things to come. One was with a new potential client and the other is with a budding artist collective that I think I could become really excited about, not to mention it might offer me some great opportunities down the line. But we will see how it all pans out. The point, really, is that it feels great to take on and obtain your own work, my own clients, entirely of my own doing. Yes that's how searching out jobs goes too... and to some degree there isn't a big difference, but at the same time, when I am pushing Metatative, I am really pushing myself, yes like I would for any 'regular' job, but at the same time I'm also pushing my own style and state of mind... more so than when you apply for a regular job. For an interview traditionally, you get in your best 'business' outfit and try to say all the right things, have all the right answers. When you are applying for a project with a possible client, sure you are looking your best and still trying to say all those right things, but you are selling a style and personality too - at least that's how I feel when I'm meeting with people about my company. I'm trying to be really honest in my approach and be really open about the personal touch I want to shine through the design that I do. I am looking for fun and creative projects that I'm actually going to enjoy doing somewhat. I've moved passed feeling that I might take on too much... I'm being cautious about that, but I'm still making sure I'm moving forward all the time. If I take on a major project or client I'm going to have to be careful not to take on too much else, but there is nothing wrong with that I suppose. I'll still have room for some smaller projects on the side and all the while hopefully this is building my experience, contacts, and oh yeah the portfolio too. This is all the business side of my life. It's one I didn't know if I would have a chance to really expand upon until recently these opportunities have come about and I'm thankful for that... so I'm just sort of going with the flow and I'm going to do my best to hold up to any expectations that have already begun to form around me. I just feel like if I stay on top of it and stay true to myself and honest about the work and what I can handle, I should be ok. We'll see how this approach goes, but really, isn't that how most things should be approached anyway?

I've been really excited to be moving forward with Metatative, yes but I also want to do a million other things as usual and I'm trying to keep myself from taking on too much at once. I know that things will be busy in the near future and that's fine... but all the while I have to make sure I keep myself in check and remember what is ultimately important. I think I can do it though. I'm sure that I can. As I've said before, it's just so nice to feel that things are moving in the right directions and that I am directly having a fair amount of control over these outcomes (or at least the processes that start to get me to outcomes). At any rate, I just have to stay on top of everything and keep feeling good, which shouldn't be a problem as long as I'm enjoying myself too, right? I am feeling that my creative side is really going to be able to shine in my business endeavors, but I'm not forgetting that my actual creative side also needs to start getting its butt in gear as I am currently in my semester for school and have a project and paper to be working on as well. I'm not extremely worried about these though - because I have already gotten a lot done on the paper and the project, although it's changed recently a bit, has been getting worked on. I just need to start talking with my mentor more and see what new directions it too might be taking on. So much going on, but again I'm ready for the challenge, it is what keeps me going and alive. I'm meeting new people, some could prove to be great people, and it feels like what happens now is all coming together with a purpose. What that is I might not fully be able to see just yet, but I'm just taking it day by day, moment by moment, and enjoying what I can along the way. Until next time!