rhonda michelle steward

sharing with you

Last week I posted a few lessons I've learned along the way that I wanted to share with you. And in return I asked for you to respond with your own lessons in life, design or faith that you've learned to share with all of us. Now I know this isn't the "end-all-be-all" list of lessons to share with each other, but I'm reminded by what someone smarter than me once said; "you have to start somewhere."

My hopes are that you find something today that will inspire you and help you push past whatever problem you're facing. To encourage you to open up your life and let others help you out. And in the end to help others out the same way.

Aaron Irizarry

- @aaroni268

  1. Slow Down - Life can get pretty hectic pretty quick, especially as a designer with deadlines and fast paced work environments. We have to slow down take a deep breath and regain our focus. Creativity or anything for that matter can really suffer if we don't take the time re-group. Ferris Bueller said it best "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
  2. No matter how frustrating/end of the world/impossible it gets… stay cool.. It will probably be just fine. Many times I have looked back on frustrating situations, and bad days at work where I lost it.... or thought the apocalypse was happening, only to realize that everything cleared up, all the work got done, no zombies came and ravaged the office. In these times it is good to note that keeping a cool head can save a lot of frustration, or embarrassment as well as keep from putting strain on professional relationships.
  3. Don't worry about what others do… get it done and do it right, don't allow others to help you fail. A lot of times when part of a project doesn't get done , or "the powers that be" are laying into the dev team it is easy to point the finger at others for things not getting done. This doesn't bode well in management's eyes. Take responsibility, Don't let others lead you to fail.

Darcy Murphy

- @mrDarcyMurphy

  1. Be happy. Seek out happiness before anything else.
  2. Be afraid, and face life anyways. You’ll enjoy it more.
  3. Listen. Be quiet, don’t judge, simply absorb.
  4. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
  5. Spend all day thinking about things you need to share.

Kenroy George

- @kengeo

  1. Never underestimate people.
  2. Always speak up.
  3. Do good and it will return to you.
  4. Live your own life and not the one other would like you to.

Khayyam Wakil

- @iamkhayyam

  1. Accountability. There's no one to blame and when it comes down to it, you're the only one that is responsible. Don't point fingers, if you have to, point it at yourself.
  2. Wisdom is what happens when you don't get what you want.
  3. Clients usually pick the worst designs, make sure that one is still pretty
  4. Know what you're worth and charge accordingly.
  5. Learn to say "no". A very empowering word with clients
  6. Delegate, delegate, delegate. Find the best and let them do the rest.
  7. Keep track of all your working hours as a freelancer. The hours you put in aren't all billable hours, so use your data to help estimate jobs, projects etc. Invaluable need for any designer really.
  8. Lists:
    • get that crap out of your head
    • visually see what's required to be done
    • it's nice to check things off, feels good
    • make room for the creativity to flow
  9. Speaking of flow... just roll with it. Everything unfolds exactly the way it's supposed to. Program crashed and you lost the file?! There was a reason. Look beyond what you can control and just accept it was randomly on purpose. You might not know why in the moment, but you will... eventually
  10. Every problem is just a solution waiting to be found. Perspective makes all the difference.

Lauren Krause

- @creativecurio

  1. Have to give a big speech or design the hugest project you’ve ever faced? Remember that people want you to succeed. Sometimes that realization is the confidence boost you need to get through it.
  2. If you’re going through a seemingly impossible time, think back to another time that also seemed impossible. How does it look now? That’s how this situation will be, given some time.
  3. Life, including design, is an art. Science is an art, too. In other words, no one has all the answers; we’re all just making the decisions that seem best to us with the information and experience we have at the moment.
  4. Learn what your strengths are and grow them. The Strengths Finder test is a great resource for this if you’re a little lost.
  5. Be aware of yourself—your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, abilities, passions, strengths.
  6. But remember, most of the time, it’s not about you.
  7. Understanding where someone is coming from (especially when they don’t make sense) is the first step in removing him/her as a threat. We are almost always afraid of what we don’t understand.
  8. At the heart of anger is fear.
  9. Life is so much more enjoyable when you’re driven by love rather than fear.
  10. Being constantly busy—particularly with meaningless "stuff"—is often a cover-up for fear and a lack of direction and passion.

Mirko Humbert

- @mirkohumbert

  1. Failure can be funny if you got a sense of humour, don't be afraid.
  2. Being stressed on things you have no control on is just stupid, relax.
  3. People don't give a shit about you, they're too busy with themselves. Try to find a common ground if you want to communicate with people or they won't pay attention to you.
  4. Don't give up, you may not get what you want but at least you'll get something.
  5. Your friends are not perfect, you aren't either. Be cool to them.
  6. Don't watch tv, it sucks. Go out and meet people.
  7. Your parents washed your ass for years, it's not a big deal to visit them and be nice to them sometimes.
  8. Do stupid things, you'll have something to talk about later.
  9. Everything will be fine, don't worry.

R.A. Porter

- @coyotesqrl

  1. No matter how much they cost, if you wear polished shoes to an interview it reflects well on you.
  2. When in doubt, the answer is always 7. Unless it's a multiple choice exam. Then it's 'D'.
  3. Aloe goes on the *outside*.

Rhonda Michelle Steward

- @rhondamichelle

  1. Angry people need more love than happy people
  2. Being the first to set the tone goes a long way
  3. When your dogs want to go outside go with them
  4. Your kids choose you
  5. Relocating spiders can change your entire relationship with them
  6. Knowing where the main water valve in your home is helpful, no...make that essential
  7. The real reason{s} for knowing someone may not be known for many, many years
  8. Cell phones can still work after a dunk {or 2} if you dry them out on your car dashboard
  9. Hot cocoa will always rock
  10. So do grown up versions of mac & cheese
  11. No matter what goes wrong at a wedding you’re still married at the end of the day
  12. There will always be someone who thinks you’re a design wizard and someone who thinks you’re “on your way” - at the same time, of course
  13. The mantra “profit over preference” can focus a design decision with a commercial client

Thanks again to everyone who participated.