Hi!! Iāve missed you š„°
I hope you survived Septemberās crazy energy - the planets were WILD this month!
After a STUNNING (and very smooth) first couple of months in Bali, a few curveballs have definitely been thrown my way in September. I got really sick at the beginning of the month (being sick away from home is a whole other level of SHIT š). My phone also got stolen on Friday night, so learning to be in Bali with no phone has been an EXPERIENCE.
ADAPTING has been the theme of this month!! Things could always be worse -Ā thereās no point dwelling on things you canāt change. Keeping a positive outlookĀ has been really important.
Besides a few experiences I would have rather not had, Iāve also had a few other unforgettable experiences (in the best way) this month! Iāve made some beautiful new friends, watched countless amazing sunsets, eaten the best food, and spent a few weeks on my fave tiny island, Nusa Lembongan where I faced one of my biggest fears (like proper phobiaĀ fear).
I went scuba diving for the first time!!! I nearly backed out but Iām so glad I pushed through because once I was 10m under water (in one of the most active places in the world for sea life) it was one of the most incredible things Iāve ever experienced. I literallyĀ felt like I was in Finding Nemo haha šš š¢ššš
Life will always throw you both amazing things andĀ challenging things. Itās really not about these experiences at all, but in how you react to them that will shape your reality.
Perspective is everything.
Anyway, thereās been lots on the work front this month too including a FUN new service collab with my biz bestieĀ @worthmentioning.co!! Scroll down for the details. š
If you know me, you know I LOVE Mexican food.
But I've been eating more of it than usual lately so I'm feeling the Mex vibes. Ramo Font Collectionis giving the vibes and they have sooo many cute extra glyph characters.
ā1// I am obsessed with all of @mollywellington's work but especially this cute lil illo she did for one of her client's, a hair stylist.
ā2//LOVE these lil fishies š„ŗ by @a.does.art22š
ā3// I will never not be obsessed and blown away by @mali_bakesā
ā4// I LOVE LOVE this identity design for @eatgulp by @blake.creativeā
ā5// Feeling a lil delulu š¤Ŗ @80svintagepulpsā
ā6// "Once you stop looking, things will find you." Instead of trying to force things in your life, focus your energy on what YOU can do with this moment. Once you get into alignment with every area of your life, magic happens. I have proof. š @thekindset
My business bestie (Claire from @worthmentioning.co) and I are launching a service together and you're the first to hear about it!!
Done in a Day is the ultimate studio day pass for your brand, where you'll have access to both Claire and I for a day. Weāve crafted the Done in a Day service to help busy business owners quickly tick off brand tasks, without compromising on strategy or design.
āGo here to find out more about how to redeem your day pass!
1. GETTING āIN THE ZONEā WHILE ON THE MOVE
As a Capricorn who thrives off being in control, knowing what to expect and having a solid routine, working while travelling was really going to be one big experiment for me. Before coming to Bali, I was actually really nervous about how I would cope not being in my own workspace, not having my second screen and whether or not I would be able to āget in the zoneā when Iām changing things up all the time.
But through this experience, Iāve learnt SO much about myself. Iāve realised that when I was in a creative block, feeling unmotivated or uninspired, limiting myself to one space was actually keeping me feeling so stuck, rather than giving me the foundations to let my creativity run wild.
Moving around a lot, working from different cafes everyday, meeting new people and just generally feeling inspired by new experiences and life, has helped me feel so much more motivated and productive.
2. REIMAGINING āHOMEā
Not having a set āroutineā or āhomeā that I could fall back on each day was also something that freaked me out a bit (a lot) prior to coming to Bali. Having a safe space to recoup in has always been super important to me and is something I thought was integral to my mental wellbeing. Iāve ALWAYS been such an introverted home body. But through this process, Iāve realised that the cliche of creating a home within yourself is so true and it's actually not about the physical space at all.
I never thought I would feel so content living out of a suitcase andĀ not having my own bed to hop into each night, but here we are! In order to create a safe space and a home within myself each day, centring myself isĀ a non-negotiable. If I don't prioritise these things to ground myself, that's when I'll spiral into a negative mindset, have low energy and feel less creative.
Some of these grounding techniquesĀ look like: a 20 minute morning meditation practice;Ā at least 10-15 minutes of yoga; eating 3 nourishing meals a day; lots of fruit; daily ocean swims; vitamin D (sunshine š); minimal alcohol; connecting with other solo travellers.
I have always been someone who's struggled to protect my energy. Any small thing would blow me over. But I've really realised that being disciplined with getting these things into my day EVERY day has made such a difference to my life.Ā This is a lesson I will bring with me even when I do return back home.
3. WORK GUILT & PRODUCTIVITY
Iām working FAR less than I do at home.
One of the big reasons we start our own businesses is for freedom and flexibility.Ā But for some reason when Iām at home, I still so easily fall into the 9-5 trap. Maybe because everyone around me is doing the same, so there is a bit of guilt if Iām not also working proper ābusiness hoursā.
And as much as absolutely I LOVE my work and my clients, while I'm in BaliĀ I really donāt want to spend my entire day working. Now I actually feel MORE guilty if I work a whole day. If I donāt spend a couple of hours at the beach or doing something else to fill up my cup in the afternoon, I feel like itās a day wasted. š¤Æš
This mindset shift has been SO POWERFUL for me. Instead of feeling like I have to āpush throughā until 5pm, I know that Iām naturally most energised/productive in the mornings, so Iāll use that energy to my advantage. Once my focus starts to deteriorate, Iāll just wrap up for the day.Ā
Itās really just about being so in tune with myself, and recognising that forcing myself to be productive is going to do more harm than good. Because of this, Iām feeling so much more excited about being in my work. I FEEL more creative and more āin the zoneā during the time that I do dedicate to working.
Finding this balance has literally been life changing.
Thank you so much for being here and making it to the end of my newsletter. I know our inboxes can get flooded with āstuffā so I feel honoured that I have a space in yours š
Lots of love from ya quirky, colourful creative, Lize xxx
Seeya next month!
Connecting with clients is definitely one of the biggest challenges that we face as freelancers/biz owners. It takes time and persistence to get your name out there (itās tough these days esp with the algos and everything).
Weāve all heard it before, but my first piece of advice would be to become SUPER DUPER crystal clear on who you are and who youāre for.
What kind of work do you want to be doing? Who do you want to be working with? If itās not industry specific (like me), are there certain values you want your clients to have?
Finding out who you want to work with and making this clear in everything you put out in the world (the work you share, your messaging & copy) will make your potential clients feel like you are talking directly to them.
Then, SHOW them what you can offer them in YOUR brand. This one is SO SO important. If youāre positioning yourself as a ābranding expertā but your own brand is average, they probably aināt gonna trust you to take THEIR brand to the next level.
Finally, the one that was a game changer for me, was actually selling my value to potential clients. Instead of just sending a quote across, I spend time on a call with them, getting to know them and giving them a taster of what itās actually like to work with me. They CONNECT with me as a person, not just the work I can do for them.
In terms of actually getting clients, tell everyone in your life that youāre looking for work! You never know who might know someone who has a small business who needs a designer. So many of my early jobs came from friends of friends. Slide into the DMs of some of your favourite businesses. And post lots and lots of work on socials. Even if itās a personal project, position it as a real life project.
I respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nations as the traditional owners of the land upon which I live, create, and work. I respect elders past, present and future, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.
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Ā© Lize Designs 2024
