Hi, we're OK Great, a tight-knit crew of designers, writers + artists, hell-bent on delivering the best in art, design and culture. The world is a big pile of awesome. We're the spoon. Dig in.
I’m willing to bet that the decision to become self-employed is never easy for anyone. If it was a breeze for you, nice going and where the hell did you come from? I’d like to share some of my own experiences in starting a business with my husband with the hopes that it pushes some of you further towards that next step. After all, besides occasionally waking up at 4:30 in the morning because my heart is beating too fast from accounting nightmares where I’m trying to cash checks but they fly away in the wind or my arms just fall off, I’ve never, ever, ever been happier or more successful in my entire life. I want everyone to feel that because it’s AWESOME. True, success is really one of those painfully subjective words, but take a quick poll of your friends and see what they believe to be success. You’ll probably hear the words happiness and freedom a lot. Oh, maybe money too. Yeah, definetly money. But that’s a work in progress.
Here are some signs (after the jump) that indicate you should GO FOR IT. That is, if you have a real, concrete idea and not just a “wish,” like, I wish I was a dolphin:
As some of you may know, Dylan and I have recently taken the deep and beautiful swan dive into the business of owning our own creative shop, Haigh & Martino. Or HAM, as we like to say since no one in the universe can pronounce Haigh correctly. Read a newspaper, people.
This is one of the first projects we’ve been able to see in print so far and in all honesty, it was truly a dream project with dream clients. Though, it should be said, it was FUCKING HARD WORK, MAN!
There’s so much irreverent awesomeness in Thomas Mailaender’s portfolio of projects. I highly recommend wrapping up your Friday afternoon with a stroll through his site. You can also check out a few more gems after the jump.
OR you could head over to The Fun Archive, a site Thomas set up to be ‘the worst image bank ever.’
The 6-part IFC Original short-based comedy series PORTLANDIA, created, written by and starring Fred Armisen (SNL) and Carrie Brownstein (vocalist/guitarist, WILD FLAG, Sleater-Kinney), premieres on IFC Friday, January 21, 2011 at 10:30 PM ET/PT. Each episode’s character-based shorts draw viewers into “Portlandia,” the creators’ dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Oregon.
I mean, this clip above, really? Perfect. Also, the best name dropped compilation of things that make me really angry. Handy!
More clips below, or, you can visit the IFC site directly. Carolin, I would love to get your opinion on this one. Particularly since I have never been to Portland. Not that that’s going to stop me from being judgmental. Nothing ever will!
It’s that time of year for dramatic statements and long-shot resolutions. I have my own and I’m sure you do too. However, I’ve been feeling funny about this evening. Waiting for the clocks and calendars to flip to a brand new year, I can’t shake the feeling that something has left us and something else is coming. I’m pretty sure it’s not the Rapture, but I think it will effect us all. Particularly the “us” that use the world wide web.
A friend of mine once bought me a thrift store t-shirt that read “Optimists Club” on the front. It was an eye doctor’s softball team jersey from the 70s. The irony being that I am neither an eye doctor nor an optimist in the sense of…perspective. In fact, I’m probably closer to having a medical diploma than seeing the bright side of things and honestly, I don’t even know what a femur is.
However, recently I’ve been “blessed” with losing my job for the second time in one year. This has forced me to take long, introspective walks. That, and figure out what the F I am doing with my life. Bravely, my husband stood along side me and said, “you know, you’re a pretty negative person. Maybe you should fix that first.” He’s so much smarter than I am. He’s also got a pretty good point. In order to make shit happen in my life, I think I need to join the club. The Optimists club!
For all of you aspiring designers, business owners, artists, magicians and straight up lost souls generally of the half empty type – this is a look into my thought process before making the very serious commitment to *positivity.* I sincerely hope it helps you on your long walk to figure shit out. More after the jump…
Guys, guys, guys! Did you know that today is Friday the 13th!!?!!? So, I’ve been working on an article called, “How To Win An Argument” and the first thing I thought of was “with a machete, dur.” Weird, I know. Then I remembered it was Friday the 13th and realized that I had quite the role model for that scenario.
Just look at that casual bastard. He makes it all look so easy.
Anyway, enjoy the day. Do one or all of these things:
Listen to Stevie Wonder’s Superstition
Find a black cat. Then send it to me. In a box with holes of course.
Today was a really bad day. My projects went haywire. My boss gave me shit. I spilled my entire coffee before the first sip. The worst part was that today I felt like I couldn’t do my job and I couldn’t articulate why. I felt like I somehow got funneled into an office, at a desk at eight o’clock in the morning through no power of my own-I just somehow plopped down where I was and I felt horrible. I wanted to quit. Luckily, I had some friends talk me off the ledge, a big fucking salad for lunch and…a list. Lists always make life easier, right?
Five things that made me quit being a designer/employee/machine and start being me: (warning-no pictures, just words)
