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…said American naturalist and essayist John Burroughs.
Too often, we hold ourselves back, so whenever anyone takes a leap, I feel energized. Of course, one person’s big leap is another’s small. But that’s the beauty of leaps; they’re personal and meaningful only to the leaper.
People can encourage you to leap but the leap comes from you only when you’re ready to leap. Notice I didn’t say “want to.” Most of us want to leap, but often we’re not ready till we just can’t stand it anymore.
You have to beware the naysayers, those who want to hold you back or infuse doubt into your plan. Prudence is all well and good, but warnings usually come from a place of fear or envy, cloaked as wisdom.
The reason the net will appear? Read the rest of this entry »
“We need a flier (brochure, website, logo),” is how most design projects are initiated. That’s when the possibilities start to dissolve.
Maybe it’s a mandate from on high.
Maybe it’s what you’ve done every year.
Maybe you hope the flier will clarify what you want to accomplish. But that’s backwards.
Even when you really know you need a website or an annual report or an event logo, you should first ask why.
A brochure or a flier is merely a form — the what. They are just vehicles for your message.
The form could be writing in the sky.
The form could be a wine and cheese party with a presentation.
The form could be a short video. Read the rest of this entry »
You sit down to write copy for that new project. Words flow easily about what you’ve done and who you are. You can describe the what, where and when with finesse. The only problem is, in nearly every instance, the reader is going to ask, “What’s in it for me?”
It doesn’t matter if it’s a report, a marketing brochure, a workshop description or a fact sheet. It doesn’t matter if the reader is a committed, in-your-camp devotee. It doesn’t matter how much you think they need your information or how interesting it is.
