Here's one exercise that I have found to be very valuable. It's really simple, but so revealing. Lisa suggests you do this once a week if you can. Eight questions to help you take your own pulse (repeat frequently):
- What gave me joy and energy this week?
- What was a hassle, boring or just a big pain?
- I would love to try ____________.
- I would like to work more with ____________.
- I would like to limit my involvement with _________.
- What area of my business needs the most support or direction right now?
- I need to figure out a way to do ________ differently.
- I am noticing _____________.
- I found joy and energy in sending work to clients that I knew fit their needs perfectly.
- Resizing what seemed like a bazillion photos for a web project was definitely a hassle, boring and a big pain.
- I would love to try to do more work by hand before jumping on the computer.
- I would like to work more with advertising campaigns.
- I would like to limit my involvement with projects that aren't strategic, or come from a one-time client.
- Bookkeeping is the area of my business that needs the most direction right now. (Thanks to my accounting-major-holding husband, it is heading in the right direction!)
- I need to figure out a way to do my backup drives differently.
- I am noticing that as the holidays approach and work gets hectic, I am happy. I'm noticing that the Portland creative industry is totally flooded with really fantastic people. I'm noticing that my time-management skills are improving ... until I procrastinate. I'm noticing that in this digital age people are craving things that are tactile and real. I'm noticing vintage color schemes. I'm noticing pre-Helvetica advertising (thanks to the film). I'm noticing that blogging is reaching a new level of quality, consistency and creativity. I'm noticing weddings being branded (some well, some not so well). I'm noticing the font Papyrus being used inappropriately. Everywhere. And I'm noticing that it makes me angry.
Smiling at the "all" that this says about you, Lisa and God's delight in your heart, work and hands!
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