Fruit From My Hands

I’ve always considered myself to be brave, to be able to do what is necessary when the need arises.  According to the Myers-Briggs test, I’m an INTJ.  According to the Enneagram test, I’m a Type 1 – Reformer, leaning heavily toward a Type 6 – Loyalist.  But never have I been labeled as “commitment phobic” until now.  Spoonflower tweeted an article yesterday that intrigued me:

Signs you may be a commitment phobic creative, and what to do about it: http://bit.ly/1lSfEtK  from @BraidCreative pic.twitter.com/5TrTP2Hrj1

So I clicked on the bit.ly and browsed a blog post from Braid Creative and found that it hit my situation exactly on the head.  I’m a creative that desperately wants to be a creative entrepreneur but I’ve been stumped.  I’ve been unable to move forward.  Braid Creative nailed it exactly on the head.

1. Yes, I hoard notebooks!  Not only do I have notebooks, my sewing and design skills demand that the notebooks have custom designed fabric covers.  The notebooks were blank but I have made significant strides in the past 5 years to “put pen to paper”. I now carry a notebook with me as often as I can. I write, I design, I sketch and I jot down any thoughts.  In my defense, I am also a tech person, thoroughly mobile and cloud-based, so the paper notebook is a little bit of a burden for me.  I have apps that allow me to do the designing and writing and then store it in the cloud so it is always with me.  Many times, I lack the spare hand to carry the notebook or I have picked up the design notebook instead of the writing notebook.  Using a mobile device is not nearly as obvious as scratching on paper.  There is no eraser “dust” when ideas and lines change and there is no need for ample elbow room or solid surface.  I feel I have conquered this one!

2. “Now, what exactly do you do?”  They might as well have typed my name in this one. This is EXACTLY where I am. Hello, my name is Aleeah and I am a “jane of all trades”.  And I’m trapped there. In an attempt to use Braid Creative‘s advice to move past this, I’ve tried to write down all the things that I can or want to do in my creative business.  It is a LONG list.  I am capable of, and have done so many things personally and professionally.  Then the post advises to “cross out the ones that you haven’t been actually paid for in 6 months.”  I can honestly say that I have not been paid for any of them.  I repaired a sweater for someone and she gave me $5. So now I have a list that consists of nothing but clothing repair.  My paying clothing repair consists of sewing on buttons and correcting Third World garment workers mistakes.  Now what?

I continued through the rest of the symptoms.  In reference to number 3, I’ve spent quite a bit of time and effort and expense over the past year to combine all of my ideas into one persona.  Thus my new Fruit from My Hands blog and brand. As for number 4, I have multiple social media accounts under my new brand, but I have yet to implement them simply because I’m still back at number 2, needing a direction and clear vision for what I should be doing.  I’m a social media coordinator in my day job so I’m prepared and ready for which platform I will focus on and how I will effectively engage my followers and customers.  So consider 3 and 4 conquered.

I would add one more to this list.  I feel that time management also plays a key role.  Developing a creative entrepreneurship does not fall out of the sky.  Neither does it walk up to you on the street nor jump off the computer screen and demand to be served.  Anyone wanting to advance their creative business must commit to setting aside an amount of time on a regular basis to shut out the rest of the world and focus solely on the business.

So I’m still stuck at number 2.  I’m still stuck at trying to find a paying audience for any of my creative skills.  But I really appreciate Braid Creative’s post and they have gained a new follower in this “commitment phobic creative”.