Under One Sun Fall Digest - Harvesting the Fruits of Labor.

…and after the work, comes active rest.

Nov 07, 2024

Last year around this time, the leaves were falling, daylight was dwindling, and I had goals, wishes and desires simmering on low.

As I searched my mental cupboard for the proper blend of ingredients, it became apparent that I had to step out of my comfort zone to market my services. I had a misconception that my clients would magically find me. It was time to pump life into the residential design sector of Under One Sun Creative Consulting.

TIME TO STRATEGIZE

I’m humble enough to understand that a lack of success is an opportunity to IMPROVE the STRATEGY.

Much of my marketing strategy comprised of networking, PLENTY of phone calls, and happenstances from frolicking around Savannah coffee shops.

Here’s my advice for entrepreneurs and other business owners looking to get their name out—the marketplace awaits you.

Find one regular networking group to join. Utilize this group as a safe space for crafting your message/pitch about what you do. You may feel like you are not prepared to step out in this manner, and that’s okay—-however don’t let that stop you. Go! Take the time to connect with others in your given network group, and you’ll be surprised how much inspiration and insight you gain from connect with others like minds, looking to make a wholesome dollar.
Make calls! More specifically, make calls to industry adjacent businesses and individuals. In my case, I was calling architects, interior designers, general contractors, plumbers, HVAC technicians electricians, and even lenders, brokers, and, real estate agents. In order for coherent conversations and follow-up appointments to happen, I had to get clear on what I was offering and what was unique in my residential design process.
Change your scenery. Find a coffee shop or three, go to the park with your notebook and iPad to complete some tasks. You can even allow yourself to plan mini-getaways, even if it’s just for half a day. Changing scenery can boost mental productivity by refreshing the brain’s neural pathways, which often fall into patterns during repetitive tasks or prolonged exposure to the same environment. The brain gets stimulated by new sights, sounds, and experiences, engaging different neural circuits and reducing mental fatigue.

For example:

It was a simple Wednesday, when I found myself on a private beach in Tybee Island, Georgia. I was compelled to spend half of the day there as I shuffled around tasks in my project management portal(Asana) and forecasted the days of design production ahead of me.

As I was basking in the sun, passively knocking off to-do list tasks, I spotted a drone flying in the sky.

Surely enough, it was a crew from the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, scanning the coast line using laser technology called LIDAR. This technology was something I had been researching for a couple of years…and now the knowledge has became that much more accessible through a fellow who kindly offered the opportunity to see under the hood of their operations.

It’s amazing how the right situations find you when you get out under the sun…

When you engineer your working environment for relaxation, atomic results occur. You will find that work gets done with less effort, and more creative flow. Insights come much more rapidly, and the right things happen as you maneuver through your creative flow.

GROWTH

Nearly a year later, and I am grateful for the transformation. Through consistent efforts, my project board is full, and there is more coming through the pipeline.

My first Georgia home, The Black Residence, is nearing completion.

Stay tuned for the final aerial show reel of this home.

Amdist me making calls, searching for an architectural design firm to work with, I’ve found myself within the tutelage of Pete Callejas, Architect x Homestead Architecture. With nearly two decades of experience as a carpenter, and over 25 years of experience as an Architect, its needless to say that this is a major component in my development as an Architect.

As the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher appears…

Plans, Sections, Details, and notes galore. One project, one page, one correction at a time.

Wax on… wax off.

THE BALANCE…brought to you by, MOTHER NATURE

Aside from time on site, and my head in the computer, CAD-ding away… I find myself spending consistent time in the garden.

Nature has a way of helping me decompress. I balance out the inevitable strain of staring into a computer for hours on end with the garden.

I collaborate with Vertu Farms, a small farm here in Savannah, GA.

I allow rest to exist within side missions in this manner. Playful tasks allow me to relax the hyper-technical side of my mind, yet still provide a sense of fulfillment and substance. Can you see how this allows me to acquire valuable experience towards my Definite Chief Aim?

Keep planting those networking seeds, watering the proper relationships, and harvesting the opportunities that will allow you to bring about the future that you desire…One day at a time.

If you haven’t already, SUBSCRIBE…you’re going to want to see how these seedlings continue to grow.