Since Benny gave me such a lovely introduction I felt it only right that I post tonight. To be honest tho, I’m not all that sure what to write, lol. I haven’t quite broken into the design field, but I’m working my way there! It isn’t the easiest to do considering all that I know about the subject has been self taught. I can say tho, that being that it has been pretty much a long road of trial and error it makes the end result all that much better. Even the simplest of issues can be cause for celebration. Benny can vouch for that considering there have been plenty of times that I figure something out and the first thing I say to him is “I’m freaking amazing!” lol.

There have been plenty of times when I have come across something in Photoshop I don’t understand or some CSS code I can’t figure out. The one thing I can honestly say tho is that at no point have I ever just given up on it. Granted, I may step away from it for a bit, but never have I just pushed it to the side never to look back at it again. I think it’s cause it is one area that I know I can succeed in. Knowing people in the field would help a bit, but I’m willing to fight my way to the top. It just might take me a little longer. Regardless, I will get there and really, isn’t that all that matters?

I know trial and error can be frustrating.. very frustrating. It’s one of those learning processes that make whatever it is that you are learning stick. So the next time it becomes a littler easier, bringing you one step closer to what you want to accomplish. I know when I first decided to get into logos and Benny asked me to do his it wasn’t the easiest of tasks. The first one I did for him I literally had 20+ variations. Tho, most of that was due to his analness, not to my inability to create a good logo, lol. Eitherway, it pushed me to try harder, use different techniques and methods. Now, I can do things with Photoshop and CSS I never thought I’d be able to and it feels amazing to see my work being used knowing that I did it all on my own.

Of course, there are some sites that have helped me along the way. LogoPond is a good one for getting different ideas, but just for that. No copying! That’s hard work and no one deserves to get their work stolen. Jacob Cass usually has some helpful tips and tricks for logos, as well. If you want something more for vector programs, such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw you can check out Vectortuts or for more of a web development area Nettuts+ can be helpful. ;D

Anyway, I’m off to sort thru some CSS codes.

Keep Creating.
Elle

I was having a bit of a hard time this time last year. I have been in the same job for 10 years almost. I did get promoted, but after a year or so found that it wasn’t for me and went back to what I was doing. Having to bite my lip to meet protocol, instead of being able to give my honest answer to questions/scenarios, is not one thing I am very good at. I found that a lot of middle management spend their time saying what they are supposed to say as opposed to giving a truely objective criticism.

I am prone to depression too, especially when the nights draw in, which I am sure many of you suffer from too. You like to sleep/hibernate. All I was doing this time last year was going to work and getting back into bed. Which is a downward spiral.

But, this year I have found, that the more I learn/research/get out there with this project, the less I feel the depressing symptoms that I am used to. In fact, I am finding it hard to sleep at all!… At most I get 3 hours at a time, usually twice a night with a 2 hour gap or so at 4 am. I know that sounds like a negative, but I feel great, I am buzzing. The reason I wake up is that I am excited about what I am going to do next!

I know to some of you this might sound a bit over the top, but I dare you to try it. Be frugal with the spare time that you have and devote it to where you wanna be in 10/20/30 years time. Get out there, do it and see how different the world looks when you are not defined by day job!

I do realise that I may never succeed in my task, probably more to do with the fact that I spend a lot of time helping other people in their projects, applying the little I have learned so far. But, that gives me an enormous sense of calm and purpose. I get to create, facilitate and output as many hours a day as I like. I find myself at work jotting ideas down for mine and others’ projects (some not all great I must add ;p) The balance is shifting from me being what I do during the day, to what I am becoming outside of work.

We’re coming up to a new year, I dare you to test out what you can become by aiming for your dreams, and if there is any way I can help out email me.

Onwards and Upwards my friends, let’s do it!!

I have been chatting to a friend recently, who is getting fed up with his job, and is interested in what I am up to. I have always harped on about looking for ways out of the ‘Rat Race’ and now he is keen to start learning what I am trying to learn.

So the first thing I do is point him to this site and to the Rich Dad videos because it seems a logical place to start, as that is where I started.

Yesterday I called him to find out how he was getting on and his laptop was broken. So he hadn’t looked. I called him later, just to find out if it was interesting to him because he was going to use his mum’s computer…. Which again he hadn’t.

He subsequently asked me to remind him later on, which I did, for him to have a watch.

When I spoke to him this morning, again no joy.

Just brings me to the realization that here is someone who wants a change in his world, but will probably never find it. He will put off something really easy to do, because it is even easier not to. From what I know in this world, no-one is going to give you anything, you have to go get it. Maybe his want for change is not big enough, but who knows?

If you want change, you have to start now.. Not tomorrow.. Next week etc. We all need to commit ourselves and so far I have found these little changes highly rewarding.

Anyway… Back to work!!