I’ve seen some amazing projects lately that I have to share with you guys.
Let’s start with Chloe Newman. I read about Justified Magazine on Design for Mankind and immediately ordered a copy of issue two. That’s how I “met” Chloe. I was blown away by her photography, especially her Something Wrong series.
I love how the heads and faces are obscured by a covering that allows them to almost blend into the background, muted, not standing out in any remarkable way.
Then there’s The Alternative Limb Project, and it’s the polar opposite.
I read about this amazing project on PSFK and it felt like a light bulb went off in my brain.
Of course. Why have a prosthetic arm that’s trying to look like an arm? Why not have it be a snake instead? Or a piece of floral artwork? Or a Quentin Tarantino meets steampunk stereo leg?
It’s freaking brilliant.
Lately I’ve been spending time thinking about what I’ve learned over the past four years of blogging in this space. For the first two years, it was for exploration and getting back into a routine of creating again. I cultivated an awareness of the things around me, in my life, the information I took in, and my interpretation of what I was experiencing in the world. Where was this blog taking me? What project would come from it?
Next came the realization that the blog could BE the project. I learned that there were bloggers out there and that was their means of expressing their creativity. Many of them were making their living through or based on their blog. That was a real eye-opener. The part where I said, “Huh. I don’t HAVE to use my blog as a tool for creativity that I can take elsewhere. It can be THE thing I make.”
Then I got deep into the world of design and lifestyle blogs, found out about blog conferences, and got swept up into the “rules” of blogging. I learned how often I “should” post, what SEO means, how to build an audience, and how to use social media to communicate with and grow my audience.
I learned how to use the creative tools that I needed too. I learned how to use my digital camera, what lenses I needed, and how to use Lightroom and VSCO Film to get my photos to look just how I wanted them to look. I taught myself how to use Photoshop and Illustrator to design several versions of my blog and logo, blog post layouts, and to create designs for my clients.
I started working with sponsors on my blog. I said no to the ones that didn’t fit. I started my own consulting business. I went to more conferences and have been invited to speak on panels. Two years after beginning to take my blog seriously, I’m the teacher.
But I’m going to teach it my way.
There are “rules” for a reason. They work, to an extent.
But when so many people are learning the exact same rules in the exact same way there’s bound to be some boring crossover. {click to tweet!}
That’s where I come in. And you come in. And you, and you, and you, and so on. YOU are what makes it different.
Bending and shaping and ditching the rules in your own unique way is what will propel you to the top. {click to tweet}
That’s what is going to bring in readers, fans, and customers who REALLY get you and love you. That’s why I always have you come back to YOU in my exercises and consultations.
After a lot of questioning over the past couple of months, I’m finally starting to love where I am now. I’ve always been me in this space, but I’m ready to be even MEer. Even more intentional. More direct. More bending and shaping and ditching the “rules” to grow even more into me and where I’m going next. And it feels awesome. xo