reflective focus

Technically, these buttons have nothing to do with this post except they provided yet another distraction today when I bought them at a local op shop. After I went to the bank to enquire about business accounts. Action item 17 on the to-do list. And, you can't have a blog post without a photo. Its just not the done thing.

Thirty-six hours ago we were unthrottled. Yay! Mr greenolive also increased our download quota to some huge amount of gig for good measure. I think he was relieved when I assured him I could claim part of the cost as a business deduction. (I can, can't I?)

Anyway, I could hardly sleep Monday night, I was itching to get online and upload and post. I spent almost four hours on Tuesday morning doing just that. And leaving comments left, right and centre! (A tad obsessive, even I can admit that!)

I'm also finding it very hard to focus on creating anything while I have all these loose business ends lying around. Almost two weeks ago while buying some Jo Sharp wool, the lady from Coach House Furniture told me to bring my stuff in to show her. A potential stockist and I still haven't been to see her! (I blame it on not having finalised my labels or having the business bank account set up.) I must see her before the weekend.

Subconsciously, I've been going back to my to-do list, wanting to cross off action items 8, 17 and 18 as done. Hopefully by tomorrow I can cross out numbers 8 and 17. But 18 is proving more difficult. Rather ironic don't you think given that I'm a graphic designer?! When I cross them off, I hope my brain will switch from business start-up mode to creative mode immediately.

I've been reflecting on the market stall decision. While disappointed, I think that it is probably a good thing. It has forced me to focus on what exactly greenolive will do. I mean, I can make and do lots of things (not painting or illustration!), but that's not the point. What is it that is uniquely greenolive? At this point I'm not really sure, I'm a work in progress...

Comments

[greenolive]

You know me too well! I was trying to compress the essence of completely utterly me! I had my GD hat on but I am a little out of practice. And yes to the obvious.

Did anyone tell you you are a structured and logical thinker? Just what I needed right about now.

[flipsockgrrl]

Couple of thoughts that might help with item 18...

First, for creating the design, it may help to do a bit of role-playing. Wear your Graphic Designer hat, and treat yourself like a client. Focus on solving your client's business communication problem, not on compressing the essence of "Completely Utterly You" into a small piece of cardboard.

Second, business cards are usually distributed in person -- you hand a card to someone in a physical context where either (a) the person can see some of your work nearby or (2) you have the opportunity to say, "This is what I do [blah blah]. Let's talk about what I can do for you..."

In this context, the card itself is simply a memory prompt for your potential customer: she needs your name and phone number or web address. That's all. This means the design of the card can be quite abstract, provided it's eye-catching and -- above all -- legible.

Finally, the obvious question -- are you at least considering a design involving a green olive? :-)