I follow a fascinating blog - Riskology - the science of risk taking. Here it is;
http://advancedriskology.com/chicken-little-syndrome/
(I like the design of it too - like a wild west wanted poster - it makes me smile.)
I'm picking up the thread of Tyler's article here and adding my own take to it...
I'm sure we can all think of at least someone in our lives who thrives on a crisis, who will find a drama in anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem to others. Admit it, this might even be you.
We live our lives in a narrative at which we are the centre, we can't help it, it's in our DNA. We see the world through our own unique gelatinous orbs, set into our fleshy faces that blinker us into a mindset we create for ourselves through nature, nurture and past experience.
But as we make our journey through the torrid sea that is our life, we can't help but draw in the people around us and be influenced by them. Ultimately, humans are social creatures.
Have you ever realised just how much you feed off the 'vibes' other people send out?
When you walk into a room full of people who are fed up, does it drag you into an invisible spiral of discontent?
And when you are in a room full of smiling, happy people, does it lift your spirits and restore your faith in humanity?
Tyler offers some words of wisdom and I am adding two tips:
Velcro Monkeys
These are those energy drainers in your life. Those nay-Sayers and clingers who grasp at you and suck your positivity and once they take hold it's hard to pull them off...
...Avoid them!
Pay it forward
We cannot help but reflect back what we perceive. Watch people's body language and see how they mirror each other.
Here's a little thing I get a kick out of doing:
When you are in a store, and need assistance, find the most miserable looking shop assistant and smile at them. A deliberate, genuine smile. See how often they smile back at you...
...go on - make someone smile today :)
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Top Ten Tips for Creative Self Employment
There is no magic A + B = Successful Business formula(if only) and turning your creativity into money is always tricky because art is so subjective. In my day job (working for an enterprise agency) and from my own experience, here are my Top Ten Tips (in no particular order):
1 - Do it for passion not money
The moment you do something you don't like or object to, the moment you loose motivation. It's difficult to sell something that you don't believe in
2 - Be realistic
Let's not kid ourselves, for every artist who makes it big there are 10 thousand of us struggling to make ends meet - have a backup and don't expect to become a millionaire
3 - Think like a business person
Artists often get trapped in the 'I'm an Artist not a Businessperson' mindset (myself included). But turning your creativity into a business means thinking of it as a business, and until you do, you'll never make a living out of your art
4 - Don't give up too soon
These things take time. You'll chip away and chip away at it. It's not unusual for a business to make a loss in the first year. Be patient, success is like buses; you wait for ages and they all come along at once
5 - You don't know what you don't know
Get advice, get support, get a mentor, get training - get something - never be afraid to ask for help.
According to a Federation of Small Business report (http://www.fsb.org.uk) one of the main reasons businesses fail in the first year is that people don't seek advice, support or training. I don't mean a 'business studies qualification', they are a world away from practical self employment support
6 - Don't try to rush
Lay the foundations, do plenty of market research and allow yourself breathing space. It won't happen overnight, and if it does, that's unsustainable. Take your time, break it into small steps and get it right first time
7 - Cash Management
If you can possibly avoid starting out without borrowing money, that's a bonus, otherwise you'll be constantly chasing your tail to repay debts. Be sensible with your money and make sure you have money in the bank to pay any unexpected bills. For ever £1 you make, put 30p aside in a savings account as a contingency and tax fund.
Remember: a sale is only a sale when you have the cash in you hand.
8 - Assuming makes an ASS of U and Me
Research, research research. NEVER assume. Just because you like it doesn't mean it will sell. Find out, specifically, who your customers are and talk to them - you'll be amazed what you learn from them
9 - We have 2 ears and 1 mouth
Listen to what people tell you. Listen more than you talk
10 - You don't get something for nothing
Don't go around touting your wares to all and sundry, offer something. Offer freebies, offer advice, offer time, offer skills - anything - but always offer something (not necessarily money) if you want something from someone else.
Happy hunting!
1 - Do it for passion not money
The moment you do something you don't like or object to, the moment you loose motivation. It's difficult to sell something that you don't believe in
2 - Be realistic
Let's not kid ourselves, for every artist who makes it big there are 10 thousand of us struggling to make ends meet - have a backup and don't expect to become a millionaire
3 - Think like a business person
Artists often get trapped in the 'I'm an Artist not a Businessperson' mindset (myself included). But turning your creativity into a business means thinking of it as a business, and until you do, you'll never make a living out of your art
4 - Don't give up too soon
These things take time. You'll chip away and chip away at it. It's not unusual for a business to make a loss in the first year. Be patient, success is like buses; you wait for ages and they all come along at once
5 - You don't know what you don't know
Get advice, get support, get a mentor, get training - get something - never be afraid to ask for help.
According to a Federation of Small Business report (http://www.fsb.org.uk) one of the main reasons businesses fail in the first year is that people don't seek advice, support or training. I don't mean a 'business studies qualification', they are a world away from practical self employment support
6 - Don't try to rush
Lay the foundations, do plenty of market research and allow yourself breathing space. It won't happen overnight, and if it does, that's unsustainable. Take your time, break it into small steps and get it right first time
7 - Cash Management
If you can possibly avoid starting out without borrowing money, that's a bonus, otherwise you'll be constantly chasing your tail to repay debts. Be sensible with your money and make sure you have money in the bank to pay any unexpected bills. For ever £1 you make, put 30p aside in a savings account as a contingency and tax fund.
Remember: a sale is only a sale when you have the cash in you hand.
8 - Assuming makes an ASS of U and Me
Research, research research. NEVER assume. Just because you like it doesn't mean it will sell. Find out, specifically, who your customers are and talk to them - you'll be amazed what you learn from them
9 - We have 2 ears and 1 mouth
Listen to what people tell you. Listen more than you talk
10 - You don't get something for nothing
Don't go around touting your wares to all and sundry, offer something. Offer freebies, offer advice, offer time, offer skills - anything - but always offer something (not necessarily money) if you want something from someone else.
Happy hunting!
Sunday, 18 August 2013
First chapter of the second book...
First chapter of my next book. What do you think?
SECRET
LOCATION SOMEWHERE IN PARIS – PRESENT DAY
Tom Sheridan
stared impassively down the corridor, an unlit cigarette dangling between his
fingers. He watched as they dragged the hooded and bound detainee between them.
She was kicking, screaming and protesting, fighting them every step of the way
as they bundled her towards him.
He didn't know why he’d taken up smoking again, all he knew was that
he enjoyed the head rush it gave him and warmth in his throat. It reminded him
that he was still alive, when most of the time all he felt was numb.
His hands started to shake, he needed the reassuring warmth and the
kick right now, but would have to wait until after the interrogation. He slid
the cigarette into his shirt pocket and folded his arms, steadying himself,
building up courage.
He'd done this a thousand times. Usually the people he
questioned were real scumbags, they deserved what was coming to them. But not
this time. This one would be the worst of his career. This one meant something.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
The ever expanding hall of mirrors
The internet is like a hall of mirrors...
What we see, how we perceive it and how we navigate around it says a lot about who we are.
It's easy to get lost in the maze and be disorientated by distractions. Sometimes what reflects back allows us to see ourselves in a positive light, sometimes we are shocked by how ugly we are.
(PS: My favourite webpages are mostly cat related...)
What we see, how we perceive it and how we navigate around it says a lot about who we are.
It's easy to get lost in the maze and be disorientated by distractions. Sometimes what reflects back allows us to see ourselves in a positive light, sometimes we are shocked by how ugly we are.
(PS: My favourite webpages are mostly cat related...)
Thursday, 1 August 2013
5 little pleasures…
I am fortunate in that I take pleasure in little things that are easily overlooked. Playful little nuggets of excitability are everywhere.
Here are 5 things I’ve taken pleasure in today (I’m keeping it clean):
- Biting into a dark chocolate covered raspberry I made yesterday. A wonderful bitter sweet crunch then an oozing fruity middle
- Sitting in the sunshine writing passages for my next book in bright pink pen
- Hefting up a potato plant and getting dirt under my fingernails and all up my arm
- Enjoying said potatoes mashed up with lots of real butter
- The way my cat Homer actually seemed to say ‘where are you’ and ‘hello’ when he trotted in from the garden
There are so many terrible things happening in the world, it’s easy to forget that we have so much to be grateful for, let’s not spoil it by finding reasons to be miserable.
And a final thought… how many of you fancy mashed potatoes now?
Monday, 29 July 2013
A head full of popcorn
Take a handful of popcorn corn, throw it into a frying pan and see it scatter.
Some of the corn will pop and settle.
Some will pop and fly out of the pan, forever lost down the back of the cooker.
Some will just smolder and burn and smell bad.
Some will stubbornly refuse to do anything, no matter how many times you try to cook them.
You can take a handful and enjoy it, but there will always be a few that taste funny or didn't pop properly.
That's how I would describe the way my brain works - I just have a head full of popcorn!
Some of the corn will pop and settle.
Some will pop and fly out of the pan, forever lost down the back of the cooker.
Some will just smolder and burn and smell bad.
Some will stubbornly refuse to do anything, no matter how many times you try to cook them.
You can take a handful and enjoy it, but there will always be a few that taste funny or didn't pop properly.
That's how I would describe the way my brain works - I just have a head full of popcorn!
Introducing my IDEA-ism
I’ve been thinking about starting a blog for some time
now. As a published writer – it’s ‘the
done thing’.
“Meh,” I thought. I
microblog on Facebook and Twitter (@TomCatDesigns) – what’s the point?
I am fascinated by so many things in the world around
us. The world is at our fingertips, but
it’s a big place – so I need to be choosy.
I’m like this little thinking robot that lets off a puff of
smoke when something interesting occurs.
Those clouds of smoke are ‘ideaism’.
Not IDEALism (although I am an Idealist who wants to live in
some Gene Rodenberry inspired, non-judgemental Utopia) but IDEA-ism.
This blog is about IDEAS: Inspiration. Muses. Whimsies.
Daydreams. Random Acts of Creativity – call it what you will – But mostly, just
enjoy it!
Random Acts of Creativity
A year of being creative on the theme of books
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