2 posts tagged “economy”

This weekend, I was flying on air. I had an extremely productive day in the studio, throwing mugs (on the wheel not at people's heads) and ramping up to share the exciting new website with friends and family). The director of the gallery suggested it was time to start featuring some of my work in the gallery. This would be the equivalent of Ghandi coming down from the heavens and telling you that you are officially enlightened.

I came home and basked in the glow with my friends and loved ones and ended what was a good weekend on a very bright note.

I woke up on Monday and decided to work from a cafe downtown. With my sister in tow, we headed downtown on a sunny Austin Monday morning and set up shop. Somewhere around 12pm, I started getting a real sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I hate that feeling because it brings on malaise and I know something is coming but I'm not sure from which direction. I told her I needed to get out of there and we packed up and headed back to my place.

When I logged in again to my work server, there was the delivery of that foreboding. An email from my boss saying that despite all of his efforts to juggle the budget, he had no choice but to....

...and you know how the rest of that goes, in these economic times.

I've never been in the position to have to seek employment. I do not say this with any ego attached. I'm just sharing the realization. Jobs have always come to me, luring and inviting me to step up to a greater challenge. Just at the right time when I might be open to a new horizon. This was the first time I was pretty comfortable with the challenges and rewards of this position when the 'change' came.

So now, all the career coaching and advisement I've offered to others turns to me. Now it is my time to face some fears, challenge myself and find the gift. Oddly enough, I know there is one. In fact, I'm fairly sure there are several.

In the meantime, I've got a few projects I can sink my teeth into. And, I'm open to new projects as well. So if you know someone looking for a marketing/communications consultant with a ridiculously cute pitbull and a penchant for playing in the dirt...you know where to send them.

Oh and the website? Stay tuned for more details on that. I dare not attach it to this post. However, if you are interested in learning more about sibbotery (my pottery adventure)...feel free to add me on twitter.

"Man. I haven't spoken to you since last year."  I just have not had my eyes on the blog prize, now have I?

Well, that's not completely the truth. I am working on a new website for my pottery stuff and that will include blog content that I'll likely cross post here because, well...vox is like a friend and I don't do well with leaving quality friends behind. I might not be here like I was when it was all fresh and new, but I will always be around. I'll share the site link later - but for now it's still under construction and I don't want to bore you with the details.

So um...what's new?

Novel found it's plot shift. Finally.
Well, we have a new year and I found a breath of fresh new air for my novel. Translated, that means I had a great epiphany about an area within the plot that's been causing me grief for nearly six months. I'm trying to nurse that epiphany to the completion of this albatross about my neck work so that I can move forward and actually go about *gasp*...seeking to publish it. Nag me about this in three months will you? There's still writing to be done and I don't even want to THINK about editing.

Pottery
Pottery has been taking more and more time and I'm excited about that. I have two additional classes I'm going to be taking this winter, one targeting glazing and the other called, "Finishing the Pot." Etsy should be be reloaded soon and of course I'll bore you with updates on that. And don't forget there's that new site coming soon.

365 Days of Face.
Since I know my blogging will likely slow a bit this year, I've taken up the 365 photo challenge that floats around flickr. I tried it once before and quickly grew bored with looking at myself. However, I want to honor my commitment I made to an incredible friend - so I intend to see it through in '09. I'll be sharing some of those here when I can't think of anything else to do they are particularly amusing.

Social Media Work and Play.
I tried to avoid it, but it appears I'll have to spend a lot more of time in '09 using social media for my alter ego existence as a marketing person. It's funny, the more I use it for those purposes, the less I tend to use it for my own. I'm trying to strike a balance, but so far, work is winning. Perhaps it's because I don't get paid for play.

At least, not entirely.

So that's all the news that is fit to print. Til next time I hope you do three things:

1. Don't fret about the economy and the state of the market. Fretting makes messes, not solutions. Whatever will be, will be and you better believe there's some rhyme or reason for it all that is bigger than you or I.

2. Make a commitment to a random act of kindness for someone you don't know.

3. Experience at least one of your heart's desires.