
So there was an announcement a couple weeks back. Super stoked to be working with both Red Dog Graphics and Neenah Paper to bring the Creatives’ Cupboard iNote to more than 500 creative professionals at the Creative Freelancer Conference at HOWLive in San Francisco next month. I think there will likely be a full post dedicated to this whole experience, but today I think I just wanted to share a little hindsight perspective.
Each and every little step you make brings you closer to your dream. Even if you don’t have it fully realized yet. Being honest with who you are and following your passions is the real authentic way to live.
I recently hit my 40th milestone. That day I felt I needed to be reflective and thought a solid blog post would come out of it – but instead of putting that kind of pressure on myself, I opted to tweet out some significant lessons and insights I have garnered over the years with #Top40at40. As of today I have made it up to No. 17. As each one comes to me I will post them, why just write a bunch, instead I choose to let them come from an honest place of AHA. I wonder… where would I be had I had these realizations 20 years earlier? Perhaps farther ahead or in a completely opposite direction since I have learned I am a little of a belligerent rebel at times – even I wont’ stand for ME to tell ME what to do.
Outcomes of my personal project, the iNote have included so many wonderful blessings in friendship, mentorship, personal achievement and the most surprising is like I said above, seeing in hindsight how following that gut feeling that assures me what I am doing is the path to take, is leading me to new and amazing experiences.
I have made an enormous amount of friends and creative colleagues whom are welcome and happy to be an ear and provide perspective when I need it. Not one of them has ever offered to do anything for me, and because of that I get to bask in the awareness that my achievements are due to my own efforts.
My dream of working in publication design is happening – the little steps it takes I enjoy so I can ensure I am not rushing ahead and missing out on the smart strategies.
I had the amazing chance to meet Gary Kovacs, CEO of the Mozilla corporation, last night after his acceptance of the U of C Alumni Arch Achievement Award, where he shared his humble opinion of his success. He talked about how his job as the leader of the company has never been about telling his employees what to do, but instead to create the environment for them to simply do what they do best. And after, while ‘beveraging’ with the man, hearing his stories about how he made opportunities with sheer force of will and luck while choosing the right doors as they opened up.
This morning, I was then asked by HOW if I wanted to host a breakfast round table down at the conference this year. I mean really? To be asked to lead the discussion around a topic of my choice. Talk about flattering and exciting. I have an idea of what the topic will be…. gotta make it a good one, and if you find yourself at the conference, I really hope you look me up and share your story. Because it is because of the stories I hear, I find inspiration and affirmation of what an amazing profession I find I am so lucky to be working in.
![Notepaper-Pursue[1280x800]](http://crystalink.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/notepaper-pursue1280x800.jpg?w=652&h=407)



