Outgrowing Our Pots

This is Jim.  He is a plant and belong to David's son, Tom, and currently lives on our windowsill in the living room.  Jim is a nice plant but he has one crucial problem, he's outgrowing his pot.

Yesterday, I quit my job.  My Job, that makes it sound so important.  Let me start over: Yesterday, I quit freelancing.  Like Jim, I found that I'd outgrown my pot.  My legs needed room to move, my arms to stretch, my mind to grow.  I've been craving a more routine schedule and the ability to work as part of a team- alongside people I can share ideas with and an occasional laugh, too.  It's important that I leave my flat, establish myself here and focus on filling a new pot, in a new space, on a new windowsill.

Obviously, I'm terrified.  But I'm so so so excited.  I'm keeping my mind open as I enter this next phase in that I don't care what I do so long as I work with inspiring, creative people, am intellectually challenged, and am given the chance to flex my creative muscles and grow.  I want to meet new people, work hard, and turn out quality work.  I want to get my hands dirty and sharpen my skill-set.  I want to learn things and I want to share the knowledge I have, too.  I want to make this world a more beautiful place, someway, somehow.  Like I said, I'm excited!

So, dear reader, onward and upward- let's see what Tunbridge Wells has to offer.  Wish me luck!

Just Call Me Mary Poppins, or Whatever

One of my clients (and, after years of working together, dear dear friends) is executing a major re-branding this week, complete with a move to a new location.  I am proud of this client, I am invested in this client, and I am excited for their new beginning, so it is killing me that I'm not there to help them coordinate the inevitable challenges that are presenting themselves in person.  Dealing with lackadaisical phone and internet companies, untimely inspectors, and last-minute workmen whilst organizing a staff and still maintaining great customer service is a challenge, people!  And that's just a fraction of what goes down when you undergo something big big big like this.

If I could fly in for a couple days to help arrange things, field media calls and make sure everything is running correctly, and then open my umbrella and whisk myself black to England to resume my hands-off work, I would do it in a heartbeat.  The place will be spectacular no matter what (for realz), but I still wish I could get down and dirty in helping with the finishing touches.

Alas, I am here.  :(

 xxx

p.s. If I ever were to pull a Mary Poppins, I would definitely choose an umbrella by Two Penny Blue.  This Ms. Starlet Umbrella, featured above, suits me quite well, I think...

Professional Impatience

Just two photos I took recently and quite like.  They feel calm and comfortable to me.

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My plate is pretty full with work this week.  I'm in the middle of a campaign that's going well (yeyeyey!) and am in the middle of a massive re-branding that has my to-do list constantly growing.  All of this is good.  Good good good!  But sometimes, working over here, alone, I feel really isolated.  I miss being able to pick up the phone to bounce ideas off my clients, look them in the eye, and follow-up in person about how things are going.  I'm a major people person and I thrive off human interaction.  Sadly, Skype doesn't always cut it. 

As I become more settled in this country, I'm looking forward to growing my business and picking up some new, local, clients.  I can't wait to get my hands dirty, to have brainstorm meetings over coffee (or wine), and to physically see how my work is, well, working.  Right now things are good, but I can't wait for them to be superamazingawesome!  I guess I have a classic case of professional impatience, but I'm just so excited about so much it's difficult not to.  You know?