posted
It was Socrates that said "the unexamined life is not worth living".
I posted a story recently about a sign guy turned sheriff. I did it cuz I thought people would get a kick out of it,but the replies were more than I bargained for. There was one, well written, that after reading it several times, I pretty much had it memorized. I went to work and contemplated these replies. It started a chain-reaction of analysis. I realized I didn't have too much problem with deadlines, payments, and hours. But other people have been saying things like "I do what I love, and I love what I do" or, "Don't start this business unless you love it". When I started lettering, I loved it. I wanted to do cool lettering. but 20 years later, after receiving maybe more than my share of "sign twilight zone" jobs, (this could be a new topic posting itself) my enthusiasm is on the wane. Here's an example:ever hear of "committee art"? It's where the whole company, CEO to janitor, gathers, probably has a group hug, then they all "design" a logo together, 'till it looks like third degree el-barfo. Only then does it get sent to the sign guy. Some days I just do signs because that's where my training is. I could see the "love it" guys had something I didn't. I think I'm coming to an understanding, though. I've gone through a change in the last 10 years, very subtle, but real. Here in Knoxville, we have 70 something sign shops, (see signs and pawn), and this isn't that big of a town. after hearing of $25 loss leader mag signs, and having difficulty with shelf life of vinyl (I'm gone on feild jobs), I left the vinyl jobs to others. So people call me when they have to, I specialize in what other shops don't do. I figure if Nanook wants big walrus, Nanook travel farther than other hunters. It seems like the biggest difficulty I have is always having to sell jobs for such seemingly high prices. This is where this all comes together: I'm used to people calling me because they have to, and they're used to it too. but I'm thinking that if I could shift it more towards WANTING to call me, getting the price might be easier. Since my work is mostly referals and repeats, I've let my company image deteriorate. My truck looks like blah. The signs on my storefront are fading. If I made myself out as the artist, the process might go smoother. Even if it doesn't, I owe it to the trade as a whole. I'm too tired to add any right spin, so sorry, no blather today. Sincerly, Jim.
-------------------- 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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I think you have answered your own questions for the most part...
I see a couple of keys to success... and i define success as enjoying work, family and life in general. But I'll concentrate on work in this post.
A positive attitude. Some people see their cup as half full, some as half empty. I think it needs to be two-thirds full... make that three quarters or more. It's all in how you measure. All kinds of stuff happens in our lifes every day - only count the good stuff. Discard the rest. Just like when I make a salad, I trim away all the spoils and leaves, and just keep the good stuff, its all I want and all that's good for me. Fill your cup up to the top every day!
Don't chase work. Let it chase you. As much as possible, do the type of work you are genuinely interested in and have a passion for. No one else does exactly what you do... so if someone wants your stuff they have to come to you. That puts you in the driver's seat as far as pricing. And you won't win them all... far from it. But you will get enough and the ones you do get, go all out on to the fullest of your ability. An outstanding job should be the result, which brings you more jobs and so it goes.
Don't work for money. Work for the love of what you do. Do it with passion. When an exciting project comes your way, be the happiest camper simply because of the opportunity afforded you. Most often it is another chance to do something you have never done before. You have the honor of dreaming up a concept and then figuring out how you can possibly pull it off. Be genuinely surprised each time and challenged to the fullest of your abilities. The money will follow.
Be known far and wide as a creative problem solver. When you are known for that people won't come to you with ordinary projects but only the projects which demand creative solutions.
Make your own shop, vehicle, web site, portfolio and stationary shining examples of your work and positive attitude.
Have fun at what you do. Make it fun for others to deal with you.
Give it time to work.
-dan
[ April 04, 2003, 03:47 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- 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: 8764 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Dan has expressed the "spirit" that resulted in the beginning of the Letterheads. I couldn't agree more with what he has said. Just yesterday I was talking with an signman (one of those signgods) and he said almost the same thing. Must be something to it.
By the way, Dan, you misspelled "stationery". But I know you won't worry about it.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Thirty years in the biz and I know how you feel. I've crossed the very same brige you are on several times.
Not easy to stay jacked up in the sign game. In life I have found that passion is something finite. It doesn't last forever. I have deliberately worked at finding new things in this business to keep my interest from waning.
I have not personally made a sign in the past few years now other than Karyn Bush's panel (that was fun).
But thats okay. I have found other challenges to keep my mind and creative juices flowing. Each and everyone of us are on different paths and places in the journey we call life. What matters is that you like the road you are on. But the bottom line is we each have the ability to choose what we want to do. If this stops working for me I will simply move on to something else new and exciting. I dont have to be in the sign business for the rest of my life. There's more to life than signs.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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Hi James.... Alot of signmakers have been on the same page you are at right now. You feel stuck. Maybe not as excited as you should be about your job anymore.
That's when, I think, you need to do something totally for yourself. Get those boring jobs done...get paid....then do yourself a favor and make a great sign for YOU. Or go downtown and check out all the cool old signs (we still have them here in Seattle). Or go to Vegas! and check out all the murals.
I have been in your shoes. I get bored easily. I am in the process of taking a carving class. And a friend and I may take a watercolor class. You need to keep searching for things that spark your enthusiasm again. The panel exchange was great fun.
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