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ForeverJoy Designs
My Joys• my joys | it's the little things

Just dance

 

just dance

National Scrapbooking Day is coming up next weekend- and while I would LOVE to spend the day in my craft room, latte in one hand, glue stick in the other- I don’t think it’s in the cards. Liam will be making his First Holy Communion that weekend- so, it’s a happy reason- but between you and I, I am a little bummed to be missing out on a few of the online scrappy reindeer games that will be taking place.  The upcoming event had me a little nostalgic late last night. As I was at the drawing board getting something lovely ready for the Scrap Orchard Farmers Market, I stared to click around in a few of my files that I haven’t really gone through for awhile- the very first attempts I made as a designer. My first papers, ellies and kits- and whoa!! It was like looking back on my prom photos from the 80’s!  What was I thinking?

But as I looked in horror at my first bits and bytes- I clearly remembered how I was, at the time, very impressed with them and how proud I was to pack them up and actually apply to shops as a designer with them! Thankfully, those first few people I opened up to and shared my work with were amazing women, and offered invaluable advice and guidance to me to make the rejections a good thing. 
Actually, those early rejections were the best thing that ever happened to me in my design career.  And yes, they hurt a bit- (a lotta-bit) but you know what?  When I sent out my first applications, I was pretty sure I would fail. And, yep, I knew I was setting myself up for a hurting. But I also knew that I would not take no for an answer. But- here’s the thing- it wasn’t a “yes” that was necessarily the answer I was was looking for- it was a “why”.  Why was I not ready for prime time? I had to push for that sometimes, because giving honest criticism can be uncomfortable- but once I assured people that I wasn’t taking it personal- but needed to hear the “whys”  as a tool, then the world opened for me. And that’s what I often offer to people who write me for advice about starting their business. (There’s actually a terrific article about this called, “Screwing Up on Purpose, the Beauty of the Deliberate Mistake)
No matter what new journey you are hoping to embark on, I offer you this: plan to fail. Embrace it- learn from it. But take the chance and give it your very best- that way, if you do fail, you’ll know it was not due to effort- but to a skill. Skills can always be learned.  But dance. Like no one is watching, dance your heart out! And then, when you are done, if it a dancer you what you dream to become, bravely turn to your audience and ask- “what could be better?”  Listen gracefully.
And dance again.
On April 24, 2014 • By
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12 Comments

  • Reply
    Deb Burroughs
    April 24, 2014 at 9:51 am

    What a wonderful bit of knowledge to impart – thank you! 🙂

  • Reply
    Deb Burroughs
    April 24, 2014 at 9:51 am

    What a wonderful bit of knowledge to impart – thank you! 🙂

  • Reply
    rennemarie
    April 24, 2014 at 11:45 am

    LOL Deb- I'm glad you liked it! 🙂 Im making up a "wall of shame" to share with you all of my very first Digi designs! 😉

  • Reply
    rennemarie
    April 24, 2014 at 11:45 am

    LOL Deb- I'm glad you liked it! 🙂 Im making up a "wall of shame" to share with you all of my very first Digi designs! 😉

  • Reply
    Kim Smith
    April 24, 2014 at 2:51 pm

    Thank you for your post – many designers should know this! I also commented on FB.

    Congrats and blessings for Liam's First Communion!

  • Reply
    Kim Smith
    April 24, 2014 at 2:51 pm

    Thank you for your post – many designers should know this! I also commented on FB.

    Congrats and blessings for Liam's First Communion!

  • Reply
    rennemarie
    April 24, 2014 at 4:19 pm

    Thanks Kim! 😉

  • Reply
    rennemarie
    April 24, 2014 at 4:19 pm

    Thanks Kim! 😉

  • Reply
    Paula Kolarik
    April 26, 2014 at 10:42 am

    Fail Forward is what I like to think of it as! Thank you for this post it really makes sense!

  • Reply
    Paula Kolarik
    April 26, 2014 at 10:42 am

    Fail Forward is what I like to think of it as! Thank you for this post it really makes sense!

  • Reply
    rennemarie
    April 26, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    LOVE that! 🙂

  • Reply
    rennemarie
    April 26, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    LOVE that! 🙂

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