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Whew! After 63 hours of painting my pig is done! I ended up pushing the deadline and so I had to spend three days straight working 14 hrs a day to complete it on time. Funny thing - this is for a charitable organization and I don't think I made minimum wage on it - but it was the most enjoyable work I've done in years. Spending three days in right brain mode was so good for my soul. Which brings me to the subject of re-evaluating my goals - what am I doing painting signs when my passion is art? I like the challenging stuff - anything that involves pictorials, sculpting, faux finishes, etc. but I can't say I particularily enjoy the rest of it although I don't hate it either. Goal setting can be a very useful means of keeping your life on track. Writing down your hopes and dreams, likes and dislikes about your current status, things you want to accomplish in the short and long term, work goals, personal goals, health goals, family goals can provide a means of mapping out your life. It seems strange that most people don't take the time to do this annually (myself included) If you haven't tried this, take an hour or so to sit down and figure out where you are going in life, whether it is where you want to be headed and if not what you can do to change or fine tune it. You will probably be surprised to find out how out of touch we can get with ourselves.
The thing I most want to accomplish right now is to complete a book that I started a few years back that has 26 paintings that need to be completed. I have half of them in various stages of completion. Life got complicated for a while and threw me off track and I've just never got going again. My biggest dream is to go overseas with CIDA or CUSO and teach agriculture or water management in an underprivilidged area for 3 or 6 months, and take hundreds of photographs to paint while I'm there. SO NOW - what are your goals?
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5499 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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Re-evaluating your goals on a frequent basis is a great idea.
Generally I take some time every year right after Christmas-New Years to do it. It happens to coincide with my birthday too, which always gets me thinking about these type things. I'm not getting younger and I have much I still want to do.
Goals & priorities constantly change, just like us and our circumstances.
A few years ago we wanted to do Giggle Ridge... our own full blast theme project and do it without compromise. We got the chance, but the price was to cash in all our chips... house, property, savings... everything. We put it all on the line. And it is beginning to pay off. And we enjoy operating Giggle Ridge immensely, providing a safe and happy place for families to have fun.
Lately, we have been getting the itch to get into our own house again... and with that we decided to build a new shop/studio... something I've dreamed of for the last 30 years. The time wasn't right til now and other priorities were always more pressing.
We are looking at acreage along with the house/shop/studio. And it's the lifestyle which is most appealing. We want to be self sufficient - independent. No more landlords, and the neighbors far enough away to not bother us and our crazy dreams.
The shop/studio will provide me a place to do my creative work in comfort. And it's gonna be fun!
I'm anxiously awaiting the next stage of my life... GRAMPA. The GDR (Grampa Dan Railroad) on that same acreage will be a part of that dream too.
If I can swing it I may get into the train building business too. I know there is a demand - just have to build the prototype. Who knows.... one dream at a time.
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8773 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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For the last 3 years we've been doing a "show" at a local theme park.It's for one month during the harvest celebration. Yes I'm the "star" of the show, but it's by default, what other doof would be willing to demonstrate non motorized lumberjack tools in the sun to hundreds and thousands of people? (froe, crosscut saw, rail splitting, axe, broadaxe, foot adze, drawknife, and pitsaw.) It takes about a week to set up my area,moving in logs, equipment, and signs. some of the signs are attempts at humor. One says: "Sharp as a mother-in-laws tongue!" (gotta watch it with that one). For a month long show, it's worth it. We used to do 2 day shows, and I put up alot less stuff for those. The county I'm in now is known as the tourist county. (9.5% sales tax). I too have long thought about art for art's sake. And I have children that are much more talented than I. I've come to learn that there are two kinds of artist, those like me, that liked it so much they made themselves learn it, and those that are born with talent. Some of my children are born with talent. My current dream is to build a cabin in the tourist area, that will serve as an art studio and a place to do my shows. I wouldn't have to do all that moving logs around. I can run a six foot crosscut saw all day, but I just really dislike moving logs. (complain complain.) I have a Mennonite type freind that is more than willing to help me build one. He made one for another guy, and it's really nice! More like a European post and beam structure. He's the kind of guy that would give you his car if he thought you needed it more than he did. I know he's serious about this cabin thing. And being able to put on the shows according to MY schedule would help alot. Last year I went through the most difficult ordeal I've ever endured, because of the harvest show. I had 4 locomotives to paint and letter, all needed to be done before the month long show started. Well I didn't make it. I ended up doing the show by day,(think lumberjack tools) then working on the locomotive at night, often getting 3-5 hours of sleep. The only way I made it through was to keep telling myself that this thing has an end. I'm just now recovering, getting back into full swing of who I am. It is hard to describe what a 4 week thrash experience that was. They've already called and asked if we could come back this year, but I turned it down, I wouldn't want to go through that again. That's the biggest dream I've got going, and I could describe it in further detail, but that's enough for now. Sincerly, Jim D.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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Dad is actually and engraving artist and an oil painter. That's the reason he tries to make the sign stuff sorta more like art. At least with the carvings he does. I like the detail painting part and I get to use the airbrushes on the carvings too. Lat is a lot more like Dad. He can see all of the things about perspective and things just looking right. And color too. He's even pickier than Dad is and it drives Liz nuts! hehe Anyway, its hard for me to reevaluate my goals. I think I'm a good wife, but maybe I'm sorta bossy, no? But I do know that I want to be more in control in the front part of the studio where we do the film and plain old sign work, I want to be a better bass player and I want my face to stop hurting. If I could do all of those things I'd be very happy.
:^)
I forgot to say that I want to win the Dynamite shoot this year too!
DAN, I'll also be "Gramps" in July! Big plans to get this kid on the hard end of a striping brush. Gramps Day Care will take care of that... right after I develop the prototype for "Jeff's Bag-O-Meat snacks: cold Grilled burgers in a bag... delicious grilled burgers to take on the road, to the game, any time protien is a must! Ok, just kidding about the meat, but what a concept?
-------------------- Jeff Vrstal Main Street Signs 157 E. Main Street Evansville, WI 53536 1-608-882-0322 Posts: 670 | From: Evansville, Wisconsin | Registered: Sep 2001
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Well, I've always been one of those "map it out and go for it" kinda people.
I can't say that things always turn out the way they are mapped out, ... but I seem to land in some pretty good spots ... thankfully! hahaha Sort of an "opportunity knocks and I answer" kinda thing.
Things in the works for me here are to get my showroom finished, my yard with some more flowers and finer landscaping, learn to get decent at photoshop and my wacom tablet, and generally, to turn out work faster. (more efficiently), especially now that my shop is CLEAN! (yippity-doo-dah!)
Thanks to this weekend, not only do I have a cleaner more "user friendly" shop, but I have a few more tricks up my sleeve that I'd like to add to the mix and cash in on. Woodgraining (thanks Shep!) and Pinstriping (thanks George!) ... although I need practice on both counts.
On the broader scale, I'd like to work on my house abit more, keep upping the value of it. Someday, I'd like to be on some more land, with a bigger shop that is more separated from my home environment. Kinda like what Dan is mapping out, but most likely still on a smaller scale.
I had focused on making my business more of a graphic design oriented thing, and that has been panning out wonderfully. I'm still keeping in that vein there. I partnered with Dave, and added web design to the mix, and that has proved to be a good decision. We are using the money in our web account to fund our vacations as well as upgrading our tools, and so that has been a way for us to travel more as well as advance in our work.
Personally, I'll continue to stay on a workable exercise regime, (it's getting all the more important as I get older!) and I'll dabble more in other interests like cooking and crafty stuff. (got in a big crochet kick this winter).
Among my long term goals are, getting into some fine art type painting, specifically watercolour, writing a photo/journalist type book featuring some of my photography, and learning to swing dance. I don't know if life will afford me the time for those things soon, but it's fun to think about anyways. Till then, I'm keeping busy with other stuff and making time to enjoy it all!
Life's a balancing act, and I think it's all in the juggling of priorities. I've been more aware of the ways I spend my time and trying to make the most of it. Nettie
-------------------- "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
We too reevaluated our direction last summer. Now we are in a retail location. Hope it was a good move from the basement. So far, it was a good decision. Our work is different from what we did last year, more desirable stuff. Overhead has "increased significantly" but my wife has supported me through all the phases. We are currently in an overload mode. Cash flow is low because the shop is full of jobs, and the deposits are being used to buy the supplies...you know how that goes. The economy seems to be headed north again. It's so hard to predict. Hope all the heads will prosper, and make up for a sucky winter.
""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3508 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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Some folks seem to not at all find difficulty establishing one/five and ten year goals and plans. Others find that more like needing to predict the future and start conforming to the prediction becoming a slave to it. Tough dance for me to learn.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6848 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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A thinking man that Rick. To date,my biggest opportunities have been in the form of things I wasn't looking for. Usually preceded by an absence of work. Otherwise I wouldn't have been interested in conforming to the new medium.
Actually I wanted to give everyone a timbering tools exhibition update. An audience member helped me fine tune a joke that I close each show with. Gets laughs every time. Still, I wanted to liven the show up even more, so I decided on (what else?) JUGGLING HATCHETS! I purchased 3 small ones, and tried it a few times. Then I realized I should learn to juggle first.
Is the above true or false? You have 5 seconds to decide. Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, DING! Times up.
If you answered "True" you're right. Sort of. (Sorry, no consolation prize if you thought I was smarter than that.) Truth is, the hatchets each came with a protective sheath, which minimized the hazard. Still, I think I'll stick with the little bean bag practice thingies for awhile. That's today's "Stoopid redneck tricks" folks, sincerely, Jim D.
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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But like James has said above... the best opportunities are often things we don't plan for.
In our business this is very, very true. While I do work hard and invest a lot of effort & money to establish a top notch reputation it doesn't pay for us to advertise. I don't really even go looking for business... our market is just too large.
Opportunity knocks at our door via a phone call or email most often. Some business comes via Giggle Ridge too. Most are referals from previous customers.
And I never know from whom or when we may get the call. In fact I am surprised most often how our new customers hear of us. Our jobs are mostly long term. From initial discussions, through planning and onto construction can easily be a year, and sometimes more. Income for our company fluctuates wildly because of this. Its not unusual for a single phone to result in hundreds of thousands of dollars of work and a resulting wild swing in direction.
So detailed long term business plans are kinda useless. I do however have long term goals... directions we would like to head, projects that will make our business more efficient and productive. And of necessity our plans are flexible and loose.
The current plan for a large spacious shop and studio will make us efficient at last. Hopefully a small, efficient and skillful, core team can be kept busy year-round prefabbing components which will minimise time spent on construction sites out in the weather.
And lately our phone has brought us some wonderful opportunities.
And it seems our latest long term goals may be achievable in the short term.
Gotta go... the phone is ringing again!
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8773 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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In my sign business I think it is necessary to 'go with the feeling'. Meaning if a certain type of sign isn't fun anymore, then I direct my energy to other types of signs. Certain customers and businesses will always get my attention fast and I always put them on the top of my list. Others I have let go, as they just were not pleasant jobs to do, or the customer may have only wanted cheap signs. I don't really have goals so to speak, I just adjust things occasionally.
In my personal life....... I feel it is also necessary to take time to do the things that made you happy. Our home is finally getting fixed up cottage style. I love gardening. Just recently bought new furniture in a modern style. I usually went for the country look...but that isn't me anymore. Color is very important.. I think it is fun to change color schemes. Right now we have sage, watermelon, yellow and purple with light finished wood floors etc. I love it! It makes me happy to have lots of color. But most importantly I think it is necessary to listen to yourself. If you want metal countertops and floors go for it!!! If you have inner conflicts, it is time to change something. Make the time to do things you love. Watercolor painting and carving are on my list of things to do soon too. Be open to change and dare to be different!!! It's fun!
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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Interesting how different the answers to this post are. I guess what I was mostly meaning to say was that sometimes we get so caught up in the day to day stuff that it is easy to lose track of the bigger picture. Being a mother of 6, wife of a farmer, active in the community and running my own business has kept me so busy that there has been no time to stop and think about where I'd like my life to go from here. Granted, the decisions I've made in my life are what have brought me to this point (and I wouldn't change a thing if I could). With my last child graduating this year and my first getting married, I guess it is a reasonable time to be re-evaluating the path ahead. I wonder if I had been more focused on my personal goals and dreams if I would be farther ahead in that direction or not. Probably "or not". LOL - I just realized that this is probably the reaction to shutting my left brain off for three days - it's getting all analytical on me.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5499 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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LOL - I just realized that this is probably the reaction to shutting my left brain off for three days - it's getting all analytical on me. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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