Over the last couple weeks I was finding myself looking towards tomorrow, and the next week, and the week after that... more than I should. Planning out work projects, scheduling new timelines, and of course looking forward to our summer travel plans. It seemed like I was drifting into the future and skipping over the present.
My hope is that July's free screen download will encourage you to take a deep breath, and press into whatever is "your present" (instead of glazing over it)...and enjoy it. After all, you will never have that moment again.
Friday Nights of Summer
What If...
This phrase from Sean Wes has been on my mind all week…
“Consume - devour, ingest, gobble up, wolf down, guzzle, feast on, snack on, use up, utilize, expend, deplete, exhaust; waste, squander, drain.”
Yes, in context this phrase is more in vein of work - creating work, taking advantage of other's work, not creating because we are too busy consuming... and so on. As a graphic designer, that is enough to chew on for a while. However, this morning I was spending time in the Word, reading some in Romans and thinking about this phrase at the same time. The gist of the passage was, you are saved because you have heard about Jesus through someone sharing with you, and you have believed. But there are people who don't believe because no one has shared with them, so they haven't heard. It made me think about how when we are good and comfortable (we have what we want and need, whatever that looks like), we can easily take advantage of that. In this case, I have believed, and I know Jesus as my savior. I "consume" His word. I "consume" His presence. I "consume" the gifts He provides through blessings and the body of Christ. But do I share that? Do I create a place for others to have that?
When I got up to head into work, the thought ran across my mind, "You just "consumed" this passage, but will it stick? Will it change you? Will you remember what you "consumed" in this moment tomorrow? Will you utilize this for the better, or will it be wasted?
Think about it. Every day, all day, we consume whatever we want - good or bad. Will the objects, experiences, and resources that are in front of us and at our finger tips each day be simply depleted, or ingested? Will we remember tomorrow what we created, read, made, felt, or gave today?
Thinking about the time I spend consuming rather than "creating", or "sharing", or "giving", or "reading" or "dreaming" ...what will that look like one day? Will what I have to contribute be full, or empty? Maybe today I will challenge my self to sketch for a hour instead of viewing all the beautiful work someone else has created.
Who inspiring and challenging you these days?
If you are a creative entrepreneur, and you’re not listening to Sean Wes on his weekly podcast, you should check it out! Not only does his creative and business experience cause me to think about work differently, but it also bleeds over into other areas.
— Surround yourself with people that make you want to be better —
Free graphic download
It's JUNE - and I am so excited! The sun doesn't go down until 9 (which means staying up/out later), you can go swimming everyday, and grilling out in the backyard becomes a weekly activity! Im Looking forward to all that this summer has, and all that this summer can be. New design projects are rolling in, keeping me on my toes - the "Summer Blooms" card sets have almost sold out, and there is a bit of traveling ahead - these are the good days!
It's time to explore - so get out there and make some memories!
Let your summer inspiration begin!
A Honest Truth About Running a Small Business
I enjoy meeting and getting to know other small business owners. In this industry, there’s an amazing amount of inspiration and collaboration to be found talking to other creative individuals. Specifically, I love sharing and hearing about the journey to owning your own business. Everyone’s path is different but I truly feel that there’s something to learn from each of them. Today, I wanted to share mine with you. Many of the people following this blog already know some of it, but for those who don’t (and for those who want to know a little more), read on!
How long have you owned this business?
I started Cedar Gandy on January 1, 2014.
How did you decide to strike out on your own?
After 6 years of working for an amazing graphic design firm, I found myself wondering and dreaming about the possibility of something more. Something new and different. Specifically something a little more handmade, a little more broad, and a lot more me.
At the time I was making this decision, my husband Jordan and I were 10 months into marriage. My brother (who also happens to be my closest friend) had just moved across the ocean. We were talking about adding a fourth UPS Store to the three we already owned. To put it simply, transition was in the air and I felt it. After months of prayer and wise counsel, I stepped out of my design position and stepped into the world of a self employed designer entrepreneur. I’m going to be honest here: this whole thing felt like a huge risk! But I wanted to have faith and trust what I felt like God was calling me to.
What is the best part of running a small business?
The sense of having more freedom. As an entrepreneur, I get to have more say in the types of projects I work on. I’m now free to take on work that inspires me, which is an incredible blessing. I also have the chance to pursue the kind of clients and jobs that interest me. Now, I get to work on a wide variety of projects that include designing visual marketing pieces for larger companies and creating smaller custom projects for small businesses and individuals. Practical “freedom" is a huge part of why I started Cedar Gandy. I can easily take my work on the road and spend time with my husband while he travels for work.
What is the hardest part of running a small business?
The hardest thing about it is that I don’t get to design all day, which I would love to do. One of the common responses people having when they hear I run a small business is the classic, “Must be nice that you can do whatever you want!” Of course, that really is true to an extent! But people underestimate the huge responsibility that comes along with that well, especially if you want to grow and be successful. For now, everything is on my shoulders—at least until Cedar grows a little more.
I split my time between creative meetings, corresponding with clients and vendors via LOTS of emails, accounting and invoicing, creating quotes for different jobs, keeping up my website and social media, growing the business, continuing to learn and grow technically and creatively, and staying fresh and innovative with my design as much as I can. With that comes the daily pressure of starting work at 8 and not stopping until it’s done. So getting up, taking breaks and moving around can be a challenge, which is a bummer—most days I eat at my desk while in the middle of responding to clients!
What doubts or resistance have you had to face?
If I’m facing resistance, it’s usually coming from myself. It’s often the resistance to put myself and my work out there more, resistance to dreaming big, resistance to being totally confident in my work and where I’m at in this journey. Even though it can be a tough thing to admit, I love being able to share my story and be honest about the obstacles that I face. Even in the moments when I find myself worried about growing my business, it really is my clients (both new and regular) that keep me going. They don’t give me any reason to doubt my creativity, ideas, design aesthetic, or business. At the end of the day, that is one thing I am so grateful for!
What advice would you give to someone just starting out on this journey?
Come up with a plan that involves your dreams, but also your mission and goals. For me, that is the key to sticking to your vision and staying motivated. Ask people that have gone before you for advice and wisdom. Pick their brain and expertise. Listen to their stories. Work really hard and ride the waves of highs and lows that come with owning a small business. Also, know who your support team is– whether it’s a business partner, parents, spouse, or close friends. Talk with them about expectations, goals, and even how starting your own business will affect the relationships in your life. Ask yourself: what am I willing to compromise? What am I not willing to compromise? Then have someone to hold you accountable to those decisions.
CLIENT STORY : Prism Logo Inspiration
A big part of my job that is always exciting, challenging, and new every time is the "art" of communicating visually who someone is and what their business is about. Graphics, illustration, typography, and photos can all help tell that story. This project is a perfect example of that welcomed challenge.
Heather is a photographer out of Lubbock Texas, and after talking to her for 5 minutes, I felt like I really knew her. She is a very colorful, warm, friendly person who puts much thought and detail into her business and into her client relationships. Not only is she bright and full of life, but her work is too.
She is a lover of color! Throughout my client questionnaire, the word color was in almost every one of her answers. Heather really wanted her logo and new visual branding to represent her zeal for life and her passion for what she does. Her favorite colors are pink, coral, and turquoise, and she really wanted those tied into her logo somewhere.
As I began to play with colors and textures for her logo, I was really inspired by the inner workings of a camera and how it captures light. The camera captures the angle, color, and brightness of every ray of light within each frame, as well as the perspective and depth. To me that seemed to not only represent what Heather does, but also who she is. Heather also had a desire to represent some of the people who are very near to her, who have helped her get to where she is today. Although I wanted to give her that, I didn't want those elements to compete with the logo itself and cause it to become too much or over-designed. Instead, I designed some additional elements for her to use throughout her site and among her other marketing materials that can still fully tell her story and represent her in the little added details.
Art Center Fundraiser
Table Toppers is the Art Center of Waco's annual fundraiser, benefitting the art education and exhibits locally in our city. Businesses and organizations around Waco design elaborate table decorations that creatively represent their business or organization. The guests enjoy a champagne luncheon while taking in all of the wonderful creations and merchandise at each table.
Not only was I able to participate in creating a table this year, but because Table Toppers was celebrating their 20th anniversary I was asked to design the visual brand graphics and marketing material for this year's event.
I wanted to design a very simple and "classic" logo that could stand the test of time as this fundraiser continues into the future. In thinking about the 20th anniversary, I played with the idea of incorporating some lily flowers into the logo for special touch, but it began to take on a very feminine look. The logo represents the entire event and therefore it needed to appeal to both men and women, so the liles were scratched.
Another symbol that represents the 20th anniversary is the emerald, which worked well as a bold design element that could appeal to both men and women. I ended up incorporating emerald elements throughout the details of the event branding.
I was very pleased to see how of each piece from the invitations, to the programs and all the signage came together in such a cohesive way to really elevate this special celebration year.
Here & There : A look back at this week
I am so blessed to get to work with clients like mine! When companies (large and small) trust me and my experience in the graphic design world to create, collaborate and brainstorm with them, it's the best compliment. I try to look for ways to offer and build trusting relationships through my business, and with the people I get to work with and serve daily. Having new clients inquire because past clients have recommended them is both humbling and weighty (in the best way). We all have a responsibility to build loyalty, value and trust with the people we interact with the most, and with the service and work we put forward.
“People buy from who they trust. Your reputation and relationship with your audience is what enables you to sustain yourself long term through repeat business. Repeat business comes from brand loyalty. Brand loyalty comes from great experiences. You can only give people great experiences if you have their attention. Consistently delivering value with no strings attached is how you get their attention.” – Sean Wes”
— Surround yourself with people that make you want to be better —