Skinnylaminxenstein: Bonsai or vine
Skinny laMinx started out just because I like making things, but the longer I’ve been running the business, the less time I seem to have to make things. It’s all emails and marketing and meetings and so on. It’s not an unusual state of affairs. Ask just about everyone who has a business based on creative output!
The other day, out on a morning walk, I was thinking mutinous thoughts about running away from all the emails and meetings, when I saw a neat topiary shrub, which reminded me of an old guy I’d seen in Tokyo, up a ladder with shears, carefully tending a gnarled tree in his garden, snipping leaves, shaping branches, proceeding slowly, daily, as he persisted in helping this tree attain his ideal vision.
The image made me think, “Wouldn’t it be a shame if, after all that effort, he suddenly left the tree to do any old thing? The only way for the tree to reach the potential form planned for it is if the old guy keeps on snipping and pruning, every day.” It felt like a realisation that I was doomed to neglect my creative work because there’s always more pressing business at hand.
Later on, I went off to look through my photos of our Tokyo trip in 2013, to see if I could find a pic of that old guy. I could only find the image above (no old guy in it), but I also spotted this one from Tokyo, showing a vine clambering along an encouraging string.
Looking at this image in the light of the same question, I felt that perhaps this encouraging string is a better metaphor for my role at work, than an old guy snipping twigs. Because Skinny laMinx is a business built on my creative output, the lead I need to take is to spend more time in my studio than I do on emails/meetings/etc, building a strong line in my studio for my team and I to grow and evolve upon.
This is a long and winding way to announce that, starting in June, I will embark on a new plan for my week: I’ll be spending 3 days of every week away from the office, working in my studio, with an ‘away’ message on my email, putting up the next bit of string, because without a strong line, the vine will lose its foundation, and it’ll be just as bad as if the old guy from Tokyo let his bonsai shears go to rust.
ZIZOlabel
Thank you Heather for sharing! Being creative and designing new things is difficult when you are in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Your making friday is always a good reminder to keep experimenting and creating! I like your thoughts on not leaving the tree you have created.
skinnylaminx
Great to hear from you! Let’s hope me and the tree (and you and your tree) manage to grow old together 🙂
Have a good week,
Heather
Annie Rawle
I thank you so much for that post. What a great analogy! I’m a creative type myself and also a plant lover and gardener. I’ve always had trouble really getting going with my business because of an underlying fear of the business side taking over – it turning into the type of vine that smothers everything else in the garden! Maybe it’s time for me to make a decision about what type and size of plant I’m aiming for and design a growing frame. Thank you so much
skinnylaminx
So glad you found my analogy useful, and I love what you say about the potetial for the vine to smother everything. I’m totally with you on that!
All the best with your business growth (and your real-life gardening, too!)
h
Annie Rawle
Thanks so much for your personal reply.
Sandra
Smart decision!
Janine Vangool
Love this!
skinnylaminx
Thanks, Janine! I loved the comment by Annie about the fear of the ‘vine’ taking over and smothering everything! I know exactly what she means.
xx
Keri
I love the analogy (and plants generally) and it’s such a lovely way to look at the business of making (and selling). So inspired by this more empathetic approach to self and time and what’s actually valuable. As always you are very wise 🙂 See you on Monday! Can’t wait for print making xx