Tag: self-improvement | Page 17

Building Your Creative Muscles

Thursday, July 18th, 2013|

We have reached the halfway point of our summer–hard though that may be to believe–and have been doing more outside activities than in other seasons. Swimming, hiking, and summer sports call us away from sitting in the office. Should we listen?

Yes!

There are quite a few reasons to listen to the call of nature, even during your workday or in the middle of a project:

Change of scenery–If you are suffering from a creative block, just being out of your normal workspace can inspire new solutions to worrying problems.
Taking a break–Low energy can be refreshed by getting some natural light and doing something you enjoy outside of work, even for a little while.
Inspiration–You’ve probably used everything on the walls of your cubicle to inspire creativity already, that’s why they are hanging there. Whether you access urban greenspace or go for a short hike in the local hills, nature is full of inspiring beauty wherever you look.
Revive your creativity–this article in Newsweek reports that any aerobic activity for as short a time as 30 minutes improves “almost every dimension of cognition” for as much as two hours. Sounds like a pretty good return on a 30-minute break.

The benefits of exercise are felt more by the fit than the sedentary, so now is a good time to get some exercise even if you normally don’t get much. The fitter you are, the better it will work to get your brain going along with your body.

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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3 Secrets to Vacation and Sick Days When You Freelance

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013|

When I came down with the flu last month, I had to take a day off from working for my freelance clients. I can’t think of the last time that happened. A sick day.

Now that summer is here, the temptation to take some vacation time looms as large as the thermometer in the corner of my computer screen.

What about time off for freelancers?

Full-time employees understand how important it is to have time for yourself and your family outside of work. They get weekends, holidays as well as paid vacation and sick days. But when a day off means losing a day’s pay, is it still worth it?

Absolutely!

Although sick days are not ideal when you just have the sniffles, the time you take to heal will most likely be shorter if you rest and let yourself recuperate. If you do work a day or two while you’re under the weather, you could find yourself worse and have to take more time off than you ever intended.

Vacation days or even just long weekends are also times to recharge, revive your creativity, engage in your hobbies and get some exercise. All of those activities can also increase your productivity better than if you would have kept your nose to the grindstone.

What are the secrets of taking time off?

Transparency–If you are too sick to work, communicate that to your clients. They will understand. It happens, and they should understand. If there is someone else who can cover for you or deal with emergencies, let them know as well.
Plan ahead—As soon as you know the dates when you will be taking personal time off, let your clients know. Also identify whether you will be contactable during this time, checking in, or doing any work while you are away. This is even more important if you are going completely “off the grid” or maybe somewhere you might not be reachable.
Don’t feel guilty—You’re probably saying to yourself, “I never feel guilty about taking time off!” But it usually hits when the smaller paycheck lands in the mailbox. Try to remember the benefits of your time off are worth more than money if you use that time thoughtfully.

I will be away for a couple of weeks soon, part of that time totally disconnected. I plan to enjoy my time off thoroughly. Let us know what you have planned for this summer in the comments!

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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Try Something New This Summer

Tuesday, June 11th, 2013|

If you are finding yourself with some extra free time this summer, it could be a great opportunity to bring some of your skills up to date or learn something new. We found some fun User Experience events coming up in the Los Angeles area you might want to try:

On Thursday, June 13 you can learn about Microinteractions with Dan Saffer at IxDA Los Angeles. “The difference between a good product and a great one are its details: the microinteractions that make up the small moments inside and around features…Bring The Data Forward, Don’t Start From Zero, Use What is Often Overlooked, and Long Loops.”

Silicon Beach Fest June 19-22, will feature ”great innovators sparking collaborations … community support and knowledge sharing.” It only happens every two years so don’t miss the opportunity to meet Lane Halley, Chris Chandler and Jaime Levy in Santa Monica over this four-day event.

A 2-part Workshop on Lean User Testing: How to Write, Implement & Analyze Tests to Improve Your Product will be offered by General Assembly LA on two consecutive Monday nights, July 15 and July 22 from 6-9pm led by Los Angeles based Information Architect Jessica DuVerneay, also in Santa Monica. Earlybird pricing is only available until July 8th.

Artisan Creative will be sponsoring a workshop with Greg Nudelman on Agile Mobile Design on Saturday, July 20. Greg will be talking about how to create best-of-class customer experiences in the native iOS and Android mobile and tablet environments and mobile web. The workshop will be primarily activity-based, focusing on hands-on applications of user-centered design approaches like storyboarding, paper prototypes and practical application of mobile design patterns.

Summer can be the perfect time to make sure your skills are right on the cutting edge. Visit the Artisan website for even more training resources. And if you know of an event you think we should hear about, please get in touch with us via email. We are constantly Tweeting local events in LA and San Francisco for Creative, Marketing, and Tech professionals and we want to hear about yours!

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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Are You Driving Your Co-workers Crazy?

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013|

Most of us spend 80% of our time at work. Even when you like the people you work with, sometimes it’s the little things they do that can get on your last nerve. Or maybe you, too, could use a reminder of preferred office etiquette.

Crossing the line – Whether you have a corner office or share a cubical, everyone cherishes the personal office space they are given. Remember to be considerate when entering an office or cubical. Don’t touch personal items (including computers or monitors) and always return office supplies if borrowed.

It’s also important to consider your colleague’s own personal space. Many people, no matter how friendly, don’t like to be touched, poked, patted or hugged by their colleagues. Be mindful of that before you reach out.

Small Talk – Sometimes, you just want to put your head down and get to work. A chatty colleague or lingering manager can make completing work on time difficult. If you tend to enjoy the “water-cooler chat” – watch the body language of your associates for clues to ensure you’re not keeping them. If they are looking away or have their head on their hand as they listen – they are too busy, bored, and most likely not listening.

Quiet Down! – For workers sharing space – especially in a cubical setting – excessive noise during the day can be difficult to overlook. Talking loudly on the phone, using a speakerphone, popping gum, watching videos, or listening to music (without headphones), drumming your nails or munching on crunchy snacks can get on your associates’ nerves. If you’re prone to any of these habits – try to control them while at the office.

What’s that smell? – Speaking of snacks, bringing food into the office to eat at your desk is often a no-no at many companies. If you can’t take a break to get out of the office for lunch – at least use the common kitchen area to eat, and keep the smells out of the office (no matter how great the recipe).

Other smells that could bother your colleagues include excessive perfume, cologne, or scented lotions as well as a problem with body odor. Remember your personal hygiene is important to you – and the people with whom you spend most of your day!

The good news is that once you know these things can be offensive to some of your colleagues, you can stop them. Immediately.

What bad office does etiquette bother you at the office?

Jess Bedford, for Artisan Creative

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Reflections: Charlie Brown

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013|

I was privileged recently to see a middle school production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” I say privileged because not only were the performers adorable (of course), confident and committed, but they really brought home the simple but important themes of the show that we could all stand to be reminded of:

Lucy is a crabby person. A very crabby person. She could use some of our tips on being a leader instead of just a boss. But Lucy is also filled with determination. No one would expect Lucy to be unsuccessful in her work life. And she is smart enough to learn how to deal better with people. Determined leadership can take you far.

Sally is an amazing negotiator. She has taken the lessons of being a younger sibling and her emotional intelligence to heart and uses them with her friends and with her teachers. There is no doubt that she can win an argument or close a deal. Emotional intelligence is an important element in success.

Schroeder is a creative force to be reckoned with. He does not let the the opinions of his peers make him question his passion or his choices. He even brings his friends into his world and shows them other ways of thinking through their celebration of Beethoven Day. Schroeder is already using his marketing skills to promote what he is passionate about and he is thinking like an entrepreneur.

Linus is an innovator. He thinks outside the blanket. He is always ten steps ahead of the other kids, but he is empathetic enough to want them all to understand with him, not to want to leave them behind. When Linus ditches that blanket, watch out! He’s not afraid to come up with something new.

And Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown is my favorite. On first look, Charlie Brown could be depressing. He is depressed. He is lonely. He is unfulfilled and has no self-esteem. But Charlie Brown has a quality that the other characters—and we all—need to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. Charlie Brown has hope. No matter what has happened, Charlie Brown starts over every day sure that today will be better. Today is the first day of the rest of his life. Today has every possibility of being the best day ever.

And so I find myself inspired: to persevere, to lead, to build, to be passionate, to reach out, to innovate. And, yes, to hope. And to start each day fresh.

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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Reflections: Appreciation

Thursday, April 25th, 2013|

After an odd experience with someone in my network last week, I found myself thinking about appreciation–both as a recipient of the generosity of others and as I try to be helpful myself.

When we are immersed in a job search, we are always hoping that the next call, the next email, the next job application will be “the one,” the perfect fit. And we also hope that our friends and colleagues will give us a leg up or even a recommendation when the time comes. My question on this day after Administrative Professionals Day: do we appreciate it properly?

Do we take the time to say thank you?
Do we offer our own help in return?
Do we let them know what the result of their help was?
Do we offer help to others and pay it forward?
Do we remember?
Do we treat every offer of assistance in a professional way, even from friends?
Do we take the time to feel real gratitude within ourselves?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed on a job search and let things fall through the cracks. But knowing when you are overscheduled will help you decide when to reply to that message saying “Yes, I can!” and when to let an opportunity go. Time spent feeling and expressing gratitude is never wasted.

Hope you had a great day yesterday, Administrative Pros! We appreciate everything you do!

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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What Are You Doing for National Volunteer Week?

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013|

Having spent more hours volunteering than at work last week, I think I have probably done my bit, but it’s still a great time to talk about the benefits of volunteering—not for the organizations for which you volunteer, but for you.

Stay Energized—A long job search can really take its toll on your energy and enthusiasm. Spending some of that unwanted free time doing something you feel passionately about can make a huge difference in your motivation about the rest of your time.
Keep Skills Up-to-Date—Many organizations have need of highly skilled help and you can give and receive at the same time. Stay current with software updates and new platforms and make sure you refresh your resume with those skills.
Network—The people you meet when doing pro bono work can be important additions to your list of connections. Meet a CEO at a fundraising event, work with another volunteer who is employed at one of your target companies, share a laugh with someone who knows someone who is looking for a web or graphic designer and you never know what it may lead to.
Get a Job—Volunteer opportunities can and do develop into job offers. Become the “known candidate” and when an opening becomes available, you will be the first in the door.

I am a graduate of a career development program which matches skilled job seekers with meaningful volunteer opportunities and I promise you all of the above are absolutely true benefits of volunteering when you are on a job search. And when you’re not, volunteering for an organization that calls to you is the most fun you will ever have working for free. I highly recommend it.

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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4 Tips for a Greener Home Office

Thursday, April 18th, 2013|

There are lots of wonderful things about freelancing and telecommuting:

Flexible schedule
No dress code
Time for volunteering
Better work/life balance
More control over the work you do

But the benefits don’t stop with you—freelancing can benefit the planet as well!

As we approach Earth Day 2013, have you thought about how to minimize your carbon footprint as much as possible when working from home?

Choose a location with natural light—You will feel better and more energized as well as use fewer watts.
Print only when necessary—I love having hard copies of research to work from, but printing uses paper, ink, and electricity. Open up another window—on your screen and in the room.
Lower your brightness—Do you need your laptop screen at maximum? Before you start a project, consider what you really need. Even when you’re plugged in, you can save energy.
Unplug chargers—If you’re like me, you have a charger in every room. Now that so many small devices use the same plugs, we have enough to put them everywhere. But every minute they are plugged in they are using precious energy. Scatter chargers all over, but only plug them in when you need some juice.

You’re already saving gas by not driving to work, eating locally sourced food you cook yourself, and saving money on a smaller work wardrobe. But there is always more we can do to save energy, money, and the earth!

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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Create Happiness, Don’t Prevent It

Thursday, April 4th, 2013|

We know you have a great attitude and are generally a happy person. You’re grateful for what you have and always have a friendly smile for those around you. Ever notice that sometimes people are scowling back at you? Those people have learned how to prevent themselves from being happy and you can learn a lot from them, if you want to:

Don’t ever make a mistake. And if you do, don’t learn from it or take responsibility for it. You wouldn’t want to be unable to repeat it if someone asked you to. Blame your boss or your co-worker and cause as much discomfort on your team as possible.
Brag. All the time. Brag about your stuff and your spouse, your accomplishments, and your salary. This will keep people at a distance from you, preventing any close or genuine relationships from forming—a sure way to be unhappy at work and in life.
Don’t let anyone finish a sentence. You know what they’re going to say, why waste time listening? Move on and be more productive telling them what to do.

Are you unhappy yet?

Let’s see if we can’t reverse that. Here are some tips for increasing your happiness:

Take responsibility and give credit. If something goes wrong, acknowledge your part in it and praise the person who solved the problem. And learn from it. If you don’t know what you did wrong, you will probably do it again.
Talk about how great your team is. Let other people talk about how great you are. Do your best every day on every project and they will!
Listen actively. Listen to the words, the tone, the body language, everything. Don’t decide what you’re going to say while the other person is still talking, not even in a job interview. Every conversation is a chance to genuinely with another person. Let the connection happen.
If you hear yourself complaining, stop. Just stop. Go do something about that thing that you don’t like. Go!
Embrace your weirdness. You’re not weird? I bet you are. I bet you are a uniquely creative person with unique insights to offer any project. Trying to hide your weirdness is trying to hide yourself.
Move on. What can you do today to approach that issue in a new way? Stop hashing out what happened yesterday and be in the present.
Change. Can’t go under it, can’t go over it, can’t go around it—gotta go through it. Learn. Grow.

We all make choices every day that make us more or less happy. The more positive choices you make, the better you will feel, and the better work you will do.

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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Take Charge of Your Luck

Thursday, March 14th, 2013|

Ever feel like if you didn’t have bad luck, you wouldn’t have any luck at all? Or are you one of those people who always gets the best parking space, always hears their favorite song on Pandora, or manages to snag those rock concert tickets in the 10 minutes they are for sale?

Some things in life truly are luck. We can’t really control when the guy in that perfect parking space is going to leave. But we often relinquish control of things that we can influence and wrongly put them down to luck. Here are some ways to improve your odds of being lucky:

Keep learning—When you hear about a freelance gig or job opening that requires experience on the very latest software or platform, you might say to yourself how lucky you are that you know it, but it wouldn’t really be luck.
Take chances—Not everything will work out well, but if you are open to the possibilities—a new startup, a chance to partner with an enthusiastic entrepreneur, a volunteer opportunity that could lead somewhere—your luck will improve.
Say hello—You never know who you might meet and how you could help each other. But if you don’t start conversations, those lucky encounters will pass you right by.
Increase your frequency—We’ve all heard the story of the guy who sent out one resume and got the job. He sure was lucky! I don’t believe in that guy. Send out more applications, approach more people for informational interviews, go to more industry events. Make the luck come to you by being present.
Fear not—“Fear is the mind killer,” as Frank Herbert said many years ago. I think fear is the luck-killer. Approach every day as an opportunity to succeed if you do your very best—at your work, at your relationships, at your planning, at your life.

Luck is an element beyond our control. Take control of what you can and maybe it will sprinkle some of its magic dust on you. Take enough and you won’t need it!

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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