:: life unscriptd ::

Entries in unscriptd (23)

Wednesday

18Nov2009

playing with fire.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 3:52PM

Someone who doesn't know me told me today "you are really cool." When I asked him 'why' - he replied, "because you are talking to someone you don't even know."

.....hmmm.

While i'm not sure I follow his rationalization for what makes me, or anyone else for that matter, 'cool' - it did get me thinking. I realized that as outgoing as I consider myself to be, as open as I am to genuine conversation with strangers, and as much as I love to hear myself talk.... I am completely shy and anti-brave when it comes to social marketing (for my personal business). There are many ironies in this that don't require elaboration, but the biggest irony in my shyness is that I am an account manager at a web design and development agency... and we build social marketing campaigns for businesses. But when it comes to my personal ventures... I'm totally reluctant and shy. It's like playing with fire.

Half of me argues that my shyness comes from the whole 'ignorance is bliss' belief. Because I am in the web business, and I have created social marketing campaigns for a good number of companies, I know it's power. I have seen its successes, and I have seen its failures. It is my lack of ignorance to the topic that has me nervous, and cautious.

The other half of me (yes, I have arguments with myself) argues that my shyness comes from fear of failure. I know that getting up my website will lend credibilty, and printing out my business cards will decrease those awkward moments at networking functions when the question right before the conversation ends is 'do you have a card?' I know that a FaceBook page for my business will keep my friends, current clients, and potential clients in the loop. I also know that people don't forget, and if I start out wrong, it may be a difficult mistake to rectify.

That said, today I entered a brave new world, played with fire, and finally created a FaceBook page for my personal business, Unscriptd. In filling out my profile for Unscriptd, I was asked what year we were founded. I debated this for a whole 5 minutes. This business has been a part of me for years. But it just began to take flight this year... so 2009 it is. Why it took me so long to do... the argument continues... but it's done. One step closer to being socialized.

{kris} |

1 Comment |

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New Business,

business card,

unscriptd in

isms...

Wednesday

11Nov2009

keeping me up at night.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 12:33PM

I have been on this so-called mission to launch my new business, for... hmmm... a WHOLE YEAR. I started this year with a re-kindled spirit to stop procrastinating on my long sought after vision - and make it work for me. I started conversations with people, but never finished. I started writing my business plan, but never finished. I started and restarted my logo about 22 times... and after 6 months of my own under-whleming design, I finally finished that chapter after a 20 minute intervention with a fellow designer friend.

What I have managed to finish on my own was my chai tea latte (every day), the perfect self-motivational speech that I recite daily, and my quasi-website. So nearly a year later, what do I have to show?

Well, by the grace of God, I have a handful of happy clients who allowed me to craft their vision (though mine was still in progress), a growing portfolio, and... my quasi-website. Lately, I have been working on two weddings that are a week apart next June... so you can imagine the late night conversations I have been having.

That said... i'm done with the frill of a "renewed spirit" or an "invigorated sense of purpose" - it's time to gett'r done... or someone else will.

{kris} |

2 Comments |

tagged

brides,

unscriptd in

Thursday

13Aug2009

designing by ear

Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 7:33PM

I have written it down, crossed it out, made modifications, re-written the revision, doodled on top of it, lost it, found it, lost it again, spilled my chai tea on it, ripped it from my dogs mouth, read it, re-read it... and still... I'm not happy with it.

I'm talking about my business plan. The more and more thought I put into it, the more I hate the whole idea of it. Whatever happened to playing it by ear? I don't know what I estimate my profits to be! I don't know how I plan to market! I don't have a ten year plan! Does this make me a bad aspiring entrepreneur? Why can't I just try something... and see how it works. If it doesn't, change, modify, alter... accordingly.

With modern societies' peaks and valleys (dot com, economy, housing market) it seems that a business plan is more presumptious than just going with the flow. Who can really know? Established entrepreneurs that I regard highly tell me that a business plan is simply to let investors, supporters and/or business partners know that I have at least considered things such as profit, and marketing strategy...

Great. I have considered it, its in a notebook somewhere... now let's make some money shall we?

All that to say - I guess you can say I went out on a limb, business plan-less, and decided to pull together 6 greeting cards, to sell as a set. I have them on Etsy right now, and depending on how they do, I may approach some small cafes in the area and see if they are interested in selling them. At the end of the day - the best way to forecast is to just put yourself out there and see how it goes... win or lose, you learn something valuable. Something a document full of God knows what can't tell you...

{kris} |

mi viaje

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:15PM

I would venture to guess that everyone, at least once in a lifetime at minimum, takes a journey... albeit metaphorical, literal, or a combination of the two. Many times, these said journey's can be likened to life's version of a personal question and answer series.

I have finally taken my moment, to seize my own viaggio - and will be studying abroad, in Italy, for the month of June. While I'm there, I may dare to conquer some demons, ask the hard questions, and of course, drink plenty of wine. For the first time in my life, I will be out of my element, alone, where no one knows me... but me. And frankly, I'm not sure how well I know myself.

I am considering bringing along Veronica (b.k.a. Ronni K. - my alter ego) - she tends to be a bit more daring, selfish, and well... there is a reason she is my alter ago.

Being better has never been so hard.

{kris} |

rushing into forever

Monday, April 27, 2009 at 11:49AM

Sometimes you hear the most profound pieces of wisdom, from whom you least expect... and when you least expect to hear it. It is those things - ironically - that I tend to pay attention to most. It's usually not solicited... it's usually random... it's usually from a person who doesn't really know you... which, in my world, makes it that much more powerful.

I was out to dinner the other night with a group of friends - celebrating a birthday. I was sitting beside a man that I know... but not really. I enjoy his wife greatly - which is how I came to know him. He started talking about his relationship with his wife, it's ups and downs... it's evolution... and so on. I was listening intently, not saying a whole lot (not sure if it was because my appletini was that good, or if yours truly was just speechless), taking it all in. Then he moved on to the L.A. Lakers and their performance in the playoffs thus far - which yielded a whole new set of emotions.

The man paused right after he spat some Kobe stats, and said "you know, there is one piece of advice that I hold near and dear to my hear, and it's that you can't rush into forever." Where in the world did that come from? You think Kobe's rushing? He realized, by my expression - that I lost him in his train of thought, and he expressed his apologies for jumping subjects - but he just wanted to make sure he didn't forget to tell me that.

I nearly choked on the cherry in my appletini - that hit home. Hard. He didn't know it at the time - that was probably exactly what I needed to hear at that very moment....

Forever is a long time...

{kris} |