Many thanks to James Victore for these Tuesday burning questions. Today’s I felt deserved to be shared:

Organize your life’s energies around your calling, and let the fruit find you.

While brainstorming about the articles I had to write for the iNote, it just came to me to ask Kristin deNeeve if she would be keen to participate and provide a few profile illustrations of a few of the creatives’ I am featuring in the iNote. I had to clarify it was an ask to volunteer, which I do cringe at – knowing how much time, effort and skill it takes to do the work.

I got lucky at Kristin’s generous spirit and she agreed. It started out with Justin Ahrens (she did a brilliant job of capturing his personality), Alisa Bosignore, Mark O’Brien, Julie Goldsberry and Katie Raymon. Yes I have more people in the publication but I wanted to be respectful of her time on this one. Though after the fact, I did ask her to do one of herself (in the middle above) so I could highlight her as well.

What I was pleased to hear, she told me that due to the time constraints and effort, this was her first foray into doing most of the work directly in Photoshop. She normally does all her work on paper/canvas and then scans it all in. So this was a chance for her to stretch her skills and I hope will expand her illustration offerings for other future clients.

An extra surprise I was thrilled was, getting my own profile illustration. This was due to my husband tracking Kristin down and hiring her to create a custom one for me for my 40th birthday surprise.  Yes, I was surprised and humbled when she offered to do it complimentary. Needless to say, I owe her plenty.

Justin loved his illustration that he asked me what it would take to be able to use it, so because I didn’t pay anything for the work I passed him on to Kristin directly in respect that ultimately it was her work to share. From what I hear they came to a mutual agreement which Kristin once again showcased her generous spirit.

So I want to do my part and share what a skilled and creative talent we all have the chance to work with. You can check her out at kristindeneeve.com - maybe even drop her a line on twitter and give her a high five for me if you can.

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 next months Creative Freelancer Conference at HOWLive in San Francisco. I think there will likely be a full post dedicated to this whole experience, but today, 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 won’t 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, leads 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 I can celebrate that my achievements are due to my 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.

I love to change up my desktop and with so many fabulous wallpapers out there – I figured why not create something that I can use and share with others when they have an inkling to change things up. Download one of the following sizes that work for you! 1200×800, 1920×1200, 2560×1440.

Today is the day of my monthly creatives’ lunch and amongst a ridiculous to do list – I was inspired to make the most of my quiet moments. Here I am – thought I would share a sampling of what one can expect when they attend my lunch. A little ‘newsletter‘ outlining highlights and some insights. I cheated this month and copied one of my blog posts from back in January about living our passions. But all good things do deserve repeating in different avenues I say.

I think the biggest tip I have when it seems like you are drowning are:

1. Breathe. Might not seem like much but I focus on my physical body and breathe taking myself into this one moment where there is no yesterday or tomorrow – just the now (calling my inner Eckhart Tolle).
2. Know that in the end only you care about you the most. So with that said, be kind to yourself and forgiving as well as own up to your own limitations. Bring on the challenge but don’t hold yourself to a standard you can never reach.
3. Embrace the good in your life. For each person it is different. For me, I look at my two little girls and refocus on what really matters. I want to be a good role model so they don’t turn out as much of a mess as I started out as. The photo above is a picture my daughter Lucy whipped up one day and it is one of my favourites. The colours and the image of our family hugging just makes me take a minute and love my life.
4. Squeeze in the little things. That is what I am doing right now, been a while since I had done a post but when inspiration hits just hit the keyboard and start typing or pick up that pencil and start sketching (I am hoping I can do that one this week for my doodle swap project I am already late on). In fact instead of stressing and working the night away to get ready for my lunch today (newsletter) I opted to whip it up this morning, in fact if I didn’t manage to get it done I wasn’t going to let it bother me – my party my rules!
5. Admit your mistakes. This is one thing that has really kept me sane. When I own up to my mistakes I feel this lightening of my physical body. Not sure how to really describe it other than when I let go of the guilty ‘brick’ and choose a direction or action to resolve or make up for it I can move on to things that really do matter. It is true that the mistakes in life refine us. If we never screwed up, how would we ever grow?

Thanks for popping in!