Timelines don't make a whole lot of sense to me.
I get that planning for the future usually requires some sort of base to build the plan on.
And the default seems to be a linear view of time dotted with sequential milestones.
I, like most people I know, grew up with this understanding and use of timelines.
Time-based linear schedules while in school, when you go on overseas travel tours ("We'll meet here in 1 hour!"), or when you try to plan your days / weeks out.
And they are easy to use both because they are ubiquitous, understood by most people, and straightforward (note the use of 'straight' and 'forward').
The issue I've always had with timelines is that, once they project a certain distance into the future, there are practically no guarantees that any of it will pan out "as planned".
Perhaps it's my disposition towards going with the flow or my preference to observe that leads me to plan my life around events as opposed to time.
And I know that it's not an easy concept to "get" for people who've always planned around time.
I suppose I'll have to dig a bit deeper and elaborate on this some time in the near future, because it isn't something I've explored that much yet.
If you have any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear from you.
Creative Businesses Are Still Businesses. Some Things Will Never Be Ideal.
I've learned a couple of things about creative businesses:
1) Never fall too much in love with what you create.
Though your clients may like what you do, they don't see, hear, feel like you.
At the end of the day, if they're paying, they'll want certain things their way.
2) Your work is worth what you think it's worth.
But if potential clients cannot or will not pay that, you have a problem. And you may be tempted to lower your prices.
This depends on you. If you're okay with it, and won't begrudge the lowered amount, then don't let anyone tell you that it's wrong to do so.
3) It will take time for you to be "discovered".
And it will help tremendously if you put yourself out there.
Some creatives may think that they will be sellouts if they go into the "debased" world of marketing, wheeling and dealing instead of coming up with new ideas and art.
But the only person who can truly represent what you do is you. And nobody will know what you're doing, no matter how good it is, if nobody ever sees or hears about it.
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If you're not willing to do the non-creative work or change the way you deal with potential clients, it will be better to keep your creative activities a personal interest or hobby.
That way, you continue to enjoy it for what it is, and never have to worry about "making money" out of it.
And that's fine, too.
The Third Quarter Of 2016
Where did all the time go?
It's really remarkable how quickly the days pass a second at a time and, before you know it, we're firmly in the third quarter of the year.
When I look back over the past 8 months, I'm thankful for the new people I've met, the new lessons I've learned, the new experiences I've gotten. I have been given new opportunities, shared new ideas, worked on new projects.
It was a hectic first half. It's now a steady pace in the second half. Though I'm glad that things have slowed down, it is tempting to slip into complacency, as I did a little while ago. It's time to overcome that inertia and get cracking.
Now that the National Day week is over, it's back to hustling.
Time waits for no one, and there is an ocean out there to discover!
Life Management (from The Introvert Teacher)
Managing your life by de-cluttering your schedule and spending time in the right places will provide you with nothing but benefits:
1) You will be more relaxed and happier
With time set aside to relax and do things that you enjoy, you will be able to release stress from work and life in general. You will also likely be better organised, more well-balanced and more confident as a result of better planning building up your sense of readiness.
2) You will be healthier
With less stress, a higher level of happiness and more energy, you will be able to better enjoy life. Also, you will feel much less need to binge on unhealthy food or rush your meals. You can also fit in more time for exercise – even something as simple as a 15-minute walk after dinner.
3) You will enjoy better relationships
Giving the right amount of time to the right relationships, you will be able to spend more time with your loved ones and they will appreciate the effort you are making. You may be able to meet an old friend for lunch or dinner more frequently and be happily immersed in conversation without worrying about your looming deadlines.
4) Others will benefit more from you
You will be able to give more time to those who need you. Perhaps you can volunteer more often with your favourite charity organisation, support a cause you believe in, or get things done around the house that you have been putting off. You will be able to help prioritise tasks at work, increasing overall efficiency of your team, and, with more time to relax, you will be more likely to come up with great ideas.
5) You can be a positive role model
When others see how together you have made yourself, they will want to learn more from you. Everybody wants to know how they can get their act together. You can show them how.