Tag: self-improvement | Page 18

The Importance of Mentorship with Artisan Founder Jamie Douraghy

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013|

I sat down with Artisan Creative’s Founder Jamie Douraghy recently to talk about mentorship. Jamie has mentored and is a mentor and is committed to mentorship from both sides.

Jamie has been an entrepreneur for more than 20 years. He is also intimately involved with the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), where he has served in leadership roles including both Area and Regional Director. He is currently the Chapter President of EO Los Angeles and a Board Member of AIGA LA.

Jamie is passionate about mentorship and we asked him for his insight into these important relationships:

Choosing whom to mentor

Jamie meets people and networks all the time. He looks for some special qualities in his mentees: “Shared values, and a spark in their eye that indicates they are ready for personal growth, and are willing to follow though with what it takes to change.”

What has he learned from being a mentor?

Jamie takes mentorship very seriously. “As mentors, we have a responsibility to share our experiences and life lessons with others to help them avoid some of the mistakes we made along the way.”

What about from having a mentor?

“The most important thing I have learned from a mentor is that we have the capacity to do so much more than we initially believe. I have also learned that, through aligning my values and living a life that is proactive vs. one that is reactive, I am able to accelerate that capacity.”

Deciding whom you would like to mentor you

A mentor can have a profound effect on your future development. How do you choose a mentor? “I look for a depth of life experience, combined with the same values I use to determine a mentee. This type of relationship changes the direction of lives, so both parties must be in sync for the long run.”

Do you ever outgrow needing a mentor?

“There is so much more to learn and there are so many people to learn from. That is why I still take fencing lessons from coaches that are both younger and older than me.

We will never have all the answers, but the quest for these answers is much more interesting when we listen and learn from others.”

Thank you, Jamie!

I have had the privilege of being a mentor to a new colleague for the last couple of months. She has her feet under her now, but she recently asked me, “When do you stop being my friend?” Of course my answer was “Never!” One of the wonderful things about mentorship is that the relationships you build are lifelong connections as well as lifelong learning experiences.

We look forward to talking to Jamie Douraghy further about mentorship in business and in competitive fencing later this year.

Wendy Stackhouse for Artisan Creative

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Reflections: Focusing on Yourself

Thursday, January 24th, 2013|

In thinking of ourselves as entrepreneurs—and we should be, no matter our current roles—we spend a lot of time working hard to satisfy our clients, to fulfill our obligations, to grow our businesses and careers, and to improve our skills. But if all you have the energy to do when you finally stop working (if you stop working) is fall into bed, you can’t enjoy all that success and growth along the way. When was the last time you did something just for yourself? If you can’t answer right away – it’s been too long! Here are a few tips to help:

Take care of your body—Don’t put off medical issues while you are busy. Make an appointment for a checkup as soon as you need one and keep it (just as you would an important client meeting). Don’t wait until it’s an emergency – which will definitely be a lot more difficult to schedule last minute.

Re-energize—Only you can say what gets you excited and motivated to meet the challenges of your day. Whether it’s exercise, reading, music, art or nature, carve time out of every week to do what makes your heart sing.

Be an efficiency expert—There could be faster and easier ways to accomplish what you have on your plate that would leave you with more personal time. Before diving into a project, take a little time to think about how to streamline your process.

Set short-term, medium-term and long-term goals—It’s hard to stop work at 5:30 or 6 when you see all the incomplete tasks on a project. Set priority to tasks and have a clear idea of what you must accomplish today, this week and this month to achieve those goals. Don’t forget to schedule time for your personal commitments as well.

The saying goes, “Nobody says on their deathbed I wish I had spent more time at the office.” What do you wish you were spending more time on? Make the time.

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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Tell Me Why

Thursday, December 27th, 2012|

Anyone with children has definitely heard “Why?” a thousand-thousand times. Or maybe it just feels like a thousand-thousand. And there is no question that there is a point at which you want them to stop. But usually, that is because you have run out of answers.

Adults are more apt to ask “What?” They ask their manager or even themselves “What should I do next?” Or ask a client “What would you like me to do?” It’s easier, after all, to accomplish a set task or a goal and hope that the Why has been considered by someone else or just not necessary to think about.

But how can you determine yourself if that What is the right What?

Ask Why.

Why did you apply for that job in another city?
Why do you shudder with dread on Monday morning?
Why did your client ask for that particular feature for their website?
Why are you doing your job searching alone?
Why do you want to work for that company?
Why do you want to hire that talent?

Time management isn’t entirely about What do with the hours we have. It’s also about Why we are doing What we do. Why are you doing what you’re doing today?

Wendy Stackhouse for Artisan Creative

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Reflections: It’s Never Too Late

Thursday, December 20th, 2012|

It might be too late for your gifts to arrive in the mail before Tuesday (although I hope not), but the world isn’t going to end tomorrow, whatever the Mayans may have said. It is never too late to change your thinking and it’s never too late to find the perfect job.

As the US economy slowly recovers, creating more new opportunities, it’s worth reviewing how you think about your career or job search. With this in mind, what can you do to make yourself more successful in 2013?

How long have you been using the same resume? Career advisors are telling us to edit our resumes for every application, with special thought to keywords from job descriptions for which screening technology specifically searches.
How long has it been since you updated your LinkedIn profile? Even if you are in the same job, you probably have some new accomplishments in the last quarter or 6 months that you haven’t added yet. Now is the time to include them.
Are your skills up to date? A new year is a great time to take a class and get back on the cutting edge if you have been doing the same things for a while or are in between roles.
Reconnect. The holiday season is a great excuse to get in touch with people we may have neglected for a while. A great new year’s resolution: contact 5 people in your network every week just to find out how they are doing. A little note of congratulations or encouragement can go a long way.
Make a long-term plan. Especially when we are so busy at this time of year, it’s easy to get into the habit of thinking day-to-day. Where would you like to be in 6 months? A year? 2 years? Planning for the future is the only way to know what you need to do tomorrow to make it happen.

The Artisan Team will be taking some time off next week, but we wish you all a very joyous and peaceful holiday season!

Wendy Stackhouse, Consultant for Artisan Creative

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I’d Love to, But I Can’t: 6 Tips for Saying No

Thursday, November 29th, 2012|

Being a freelancer brings many benefits especially the opportunity to control your work/life balance. Success breeds success and eventually you may find yourself unable to take on any more clients without either the work or the life suffering. Here are some tips on saying no to new work without burning a bridge with a potential client:

Don’t give an excuse—As tempting as it is to claim another commitment and make it specific, it could be an opening for negotiation that you don’t want. Just not being able to fit it in is fine.
Say thank you—Even if you can’t or don’t want to take on a particular project, it’s nice to be asked. Don’t let “thank yous” fall through the cracks.
Be firm—Some clients will be extra persistent and if they get a feeling that you are not sure, they will keep asking, especially if they are looking for spec or pro bono work. After all, they really need someone to say yes. Stick to your guns.
Stay on a schedule—Detailed planning is a big help in deciding whether to say yes or no to a project so make sure you have planned out the next month ahead of time. It’s much easier to know whether you have an open 10 hours if you know where the rest of your time will be spent.
Refer a friend—A great referral can get you a lifelong client if it works out. Don’t be afraid to send the project to a talented friend you trust.
Not now, but soon—If you just have too much on your plate right now, a delay might make all the difference. If you really want to do the project, see if you can schedule it for the near future.

At the beginning of your time as a freelancer, it is easy to say yes to too many projects, but the longer you freelance, the easier these questions are to answer. You have a better idea of how many projects you can handle in how short a time and what workload is too much for you to do your very best work. And don’t forget to schedule a day off now and then!

Wendy Stackhouse for Artisan Creative

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Artisan Creative is Thankful

Thursday, November 22nd, 2012|

At this time of year, we are all making mental lists of what we are thankful for and the team at Artisan Creative is, too. Here are some of the things we are thankful for in 2012:

Artisan President Katty Douraghy has gotten into the habit of being thankful every day but today she chooses: “My good health, my family who is always there to give love and support, and for our dedicated and hard working team at Artisan.”

Founder Jamie Douraghy: ”I’m most thankful for true friends, a close family and a wonderful group of caring people that I get to work with every day!”

Senior Account Manager & Recruiter Carol Conforti: “This year I am thankful for having the wedding and honeymoon trip of a lifetime this past year and everyone that came to share it with us; the supportive and unwavering love of my husband, Phillip; good health for my family and friends; and a fun and invigorating career.”

Creative Recruiting Manager Jamie Grossman: “I am thankful for my caring husband, children, family and friends. It’s been a year of many blessings and happy occasions as well as a few sad times. I am grateful to share life’s ups and downs with my loved ones.”

Marketing & Project Manager Jess Bedford: “I’m thankful for my happy, healthy, growing family. It may sound simple, but there’s nothing quite like a year of births and a wedding in your immediate family to make the heart swell a little bigger!”

Talent Manager Laura Burns: “I am thankful that I have a job, a nice place to live, beautiful weather, my family, my hubby, and my pug, Jakey.”

Talent Manager Maggie Grant: “I am thankful for my health, and for my supportive friends and family. Also to be working for a company that holds ethical values and encourages travel and leading balanced lives.”

Account Manager Rachelle Lieppman: “I am thankful for my beautiful family, friends and coworkers. And try to remind myself of that every morning before I start my day, but even more so around this time of the year. Here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season!”

Bookkeeper Stephanie Jacobs: “I am thankful to be living in California, especially in Los Angeles. There is so much contrast and variety in the landscapes, climate, culture, lifestyles, incomes, arts, food and entertainment. It is such an inspiring place to live.”

And me? I’m thankful for my daughter letting me be such a big part of her life as a teenager, my son for being such a giving and thoughtful person, my husband for supporting me in everything I want to do, and for the opportunities I have to be creative every day, at work and in life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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How Freelancers Really Feel? Pretty Good!

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012|

If you are considering making the leap into freelancing from full-time work, we thought you might like to know how freelancers feel about making that decision:

Did they get what they expected? A plurality of freelancers made the change from permanent employment to gain flexibility and freedom in their daily lives and that flexibility is one of the top three factors making them happy.
Are they optimistic? A majority of freelancers expect their job satisfaction to grow over the next year.
Would they go back? The longer people work as freelancers, the less likely they are to change their minds and go back to a permanent job.
Are they making enough money? Most freelancers expect to make more money in 2013 than they did in 2012.

Clearly, freelancing can bring many rewards, but can also be a source of anxiety, especially if security and predictability are important to your happiness. You may not know what you will be doing from month to month or exactly what your income will be. But if you are willing to risk some uncertainty to gain the ability to pursue your goals both inside and outside of work—whether they be family, education, service to your community, or something else—your personal satisfaction can overcome short-term worry.

There are definitely pros and cons to freelancing and freelancing isn’t for everyone. But for some, it is a choice that can feed your creativity while allowing you to achieve both work and personal success.

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative.

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Enough About You, What Can You Do for Me?

Thursday, November 15th, 2012|

Utilizing your network of friends and associates to assist in your job search, is nothing new. The relationships you have built in these areas are extremely valuable, offering a number of new contacts and warm referrals just a degree away.

However, whenever you are networking for new opportunities, there is some etiquette to keep in mind to ensure your relationships last:

Keep in touch without asking for anything—You don’t want the people in your network to think you only contact them when you need something. Make regular contact with your network just to chat or catch-up.
Be clear—Make sure the people in your network know what you’re doing and what help you’re looking for. General requests without specific information make it hard for even those with the best intentions to be of real assistance.
Don’t be pushy—Your friend might work on the same floor as the company executive with whom you’d love to meet. Rather than asking the friend to introduce you, talk to him about how interested you are in the company and hope he suggests it himself.
Get professional recommendations—Ask people you have worked with for endorsements. Better yet, endorse one of your professional contacts on LinkedIn and hope they return the favor. These written references could be all the proof a potential employer needs to make the hire.

Networking can be fun – if you remember that it is, at heart, an effort in building relationships. Have genuine interactions and you will garner genuine advantages.

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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Reflections: The Downside of Positive Thinking

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012|

Everyone says it—think positive! Imagine yourself at your goal and it will happen! Visualize success and success will come to you!

It can get…annoying.

Plus, it can work against you.

A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology looked at whether fantasizing about future success energizes people or weakens them and the results would surprise all those visualization gurus, I expect.

The study compared energy levels in people who fantasized positive, questionable, negative, and neutral outcomes. The psychologists also compared the energy levels induced by these fantasies depending on the level of need that the outcome be successful.

The results: “positive fantasies resulted in less energy” than any of the other fantasies and the decrease in energy was more marked when the need was greater!

What energized the test subjects most? Visualizing the obstacles to their goals.

Now, we’re not saying that you don’t need to see your goals clearly and be constantly moving toward them. But there seems to be a bigger benefit to imagining the things that might make them difficult than imagining that you have already achieved them.

Give it a try: think of a goal and why it is important that you achieve it. Now think of the three biggest things in your way. Finding strategies for getting past those hurdles may very well be the difference between success and failure.

Get to it!

Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative

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5 Tips for Overcoming Creative Blocks

Tuesday, October 9th, 2012|

We’ve all had them. You’re sitting at your desk, staring at that blank white rectangle. The one on your screen is more likely than the dead tree variety these days, but the feeling is the same.

You’re blocked. How to begin?

Read. Doesn’t matter what. Put someone else’s voice in your head and eventually your brain will start a conversation.
Move. Try working in a different environment—outside or at a coffee shop or wherever. Stimulate your senses with something you don’t usually have around.
Stop. Getting up and doing something else when you’re blocked feels like procrastination, but it might be just what you need. Stop staring.
Write. Okay, you’re blocked. Write about why. Write about how. Write about how it makes you feel. You’ll get there.
Play. Don’t work on your project, just play for a while in your medium. Draw. Write something silly. Design something ridiculous. Make yourself smile.

Whatever gets you where you need to go is necessary to your process, even if it doesn’t feel like you’re working. Don’t feel guilty if what you need is to be doing something different for a while.

Blocks do happen to everyone, but I try to prevent them by creating a calendar of ideas. In the zone, ideas come fast and furious, so I immediately schedule them for later. That way when I get to that one day when I just can’t think of anything, the calendar tells me what to do. And if a better idea has come along, it’s easy to switch everything around. After all, I’m in charge. Always having something in my pocket to use on a day when I feel less than inspired means I can always give myself a nudge to get going.

What do you do to get unblocked creatively? We would love to hear all about it!

Wendy Stackhouse, Consultant for Artisan Creative

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