So, it's been almost two years - wow! - since my last post (which was, coincidentally, about transformation) and now I'm here to talk about what a difference a year (or two) makes. Almost two years ago, I decided to pursue more of my digital design work due to competing priorities. This met with varying success - sometimes more business than I could handle on top of too much "day job" duties made me have to put it on hiatus for a while, then started up again last year. I hadn't been blogging much in the past few years anyway, since work and Facebook seemed to be where most of my social time was spent.
Anyway, 2014 was full of challenges and rewards. Day job was a bear as always (working 50-100 hours per week), and my part-time gig, Sterling Design Studio, was also keeping me fairly busy. Then at the beginning of October, my wonderful boss was let go and our whole department was combined with another, less worker-friendly department in an unexpected restructuring. From then onward, I was miserable, overworked, and really not liking the way things were headed. I'd already been having to turn business away because of work conflicts, but with the new supervisor, I was going to have to cut back or even quit the artwork altogether.
About that time I ran across three things that had a major impact: the books "Be a Free Range Human" by Marianne Cantwell and "Escape From Cubicle Nation" by Pamela Slim, and this video of a commencement speech by Jim Carrey.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/maycie/this-61-second-video-of-jim-carreys-commencement-speech-will?utm_term=.da6OkYAZq&sub=3324049_3121257
There's more about what transpired here (SM Freedman Blog) in an interview that I gave to S.M. Freedman, author of the "The Faithful" and one of my clients. (Side note regarding that book: one of Oprah Winfrey's staff read it and liked it enough to give to Oprah to read, and suggested it for her book club. Congratulations to S.M. Freedman - a great writer and a wonderful person!)
Anyway, to make a long story short: I quit my day job. Am now a full-time artist and writer - just like I've always wanted to be. :) Where it will lead from here, who knows... but at least I plan on enjoying the journey while I can.
So, that's my recent big news - what's up in your world that you'd like to share?
Luck, Luck, Luck! I hope it goes wonderfully!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Charles! Fingers crossed! :)
ReplyDeleteI just saw this! I think you're awesomely brave to give up that day job and follow your dreams. I know it's going to be an amazing and satisfying adventure! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! :)
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