The Important Things

This years holiday season was full of so much life for me. It’s hard to describe but sometimes in our lives we have moments that change everything about our worlds. I sit and try to find things to write about, and although I have been able to give my thoughts and feelings about my career over the past few weeks, this past week my particular  circumstances have taken a back seat.

We just made it past another Christmas holiday, but rather than stressing about how much I could afford to spend on gifts or what I had under the tree my focus was on something much more important. I am a very very family oriented person, and this holiday my family faced the very real possibility of that dynamic changing. Without getting into details, this holiday season made me take a step back and really reflect on what is important to me.

I was able to let go of everything and focus on my family and making this holiday a memorable one. Thank GOD that we were able to do that, and the cloud over my family has been lifted and the sun shines again. I let go of all of my fears and really settled on life. Living life and letting those around me that are important know how important they are. They drive my ambition and if I am focused on the right things everything else will fall into place.

With that being said. I did get an offer to return to broadway this week! I’m back in the game with a new fire and a new hunger to make my impression felt. This is a new adventure that I promise to share with you in every way i can. I do plan to do things a little differently and safeguard myself as much as possible from being in the situation i seem to be working my way out of. Stay tuned and Thanks for your support.

Happy Holidays everyone. Love hard and live life to the fullest. We only got one.

Deep Thoughts Radio / Vol 4 / Spiked Eggnog

I know i just hit you with the motivation mix from CEDT but its that time of the year. CHRISTMAS TIME!!!! I have compiled a few classic as well as some hidden gems all within the christmas theme. I hope you enjoy here is a quick look at the playlist

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DEEP THOUGHTS RADIO // VOL. 4 // SPIKED EGGNOG

Hustle Hard or Go Home

Its week 4 everyone. I have managed to keep my patience for the most part of what is going on a month. A month of realigning my life with the current circumstances. I’ve sent out countless resumes and cover letters to a limited amount of companies and job listings. I have had some good days and some not so good days, but as I’ve said before being positive is the only option. Its hustle hard or go home time. I have no time to complain just time to campaign and that’s what I have been doing.

This past weekend was good. Thanks to my friends over at Pillage, Plunder & Associates. I was able to hustle CEDT at the 2011 Addidas Sneakercon here in New York City. It was a great event with lots of different vendors with their own particular products. The event was mostly for sneaker collectors and folks who wanted to trade or sell unique shoes, but it was also a great opportunity to get Cold Eels & Deep Thoughts to the public. I only sold a few items but I did manage to sell out of one of my most popular products. The Abe Dead Prez tee sold its last print for 2011. I was happy to make the money and very happy to give out a TON of stickers and card in hopes of getting more attention to the website and the work.

That event lit a hotter fire underneath me. It reaffirmed that I do have something lots of people out here might want. I know I have what I need to make some things happen for myself whatever the situation. I am a hustler! Not in a street sense but in a life sense. I refuse to lose and I will do whatever in my power to set things in motion that will allow me to win! Sitting at home waiting will do nothing, but getting out there and into people’s faces with positive energy and dynamic artwork will do something. Hey at the least it will make me feel productive.

The thing is this. I might not know where my next check is coming from, but i do know that im talented. I know im not a hard person to work with, and I work hard. In my over 8 years of working as a professional designer I have never been out of work for long. That is comforting. I know that this is just another part of the quest. Keep cool and keep hustling!

Week 4

Send out more resumes and cover letters. CHECK

Make follow-up calls to companies I have sent my pack to. CHECK

Get ready for the holidays CHECK

Here are some photos from Sneakercon 2011

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Thanks for the support.

Control

Okay it’s been almost been a month since I began this new adventure. The hunt for success! And right around now one of two things will begin to happen. Either you start to see the sprouts of the seeds you have planted begin to surface, or you begin to realize that nothing is happening. This is a very critical time. I say critical because what you choose to do at this point can determine the choices you make in the future. It’s so easy to look at the dynamic of a situation and be discouraged by what you are NOT seeing. I believe it is much easier to be enthused by the things that you ARE seeing. Last week I wrote about setbacks, I shared my thoughts about being discouraged and how not to lose focus. I think I write this blog as a way to convince myself of things. I know you might be thinking why lie to yourself? It’s not so much that I lie to myself as much as I convince myself, that the positive of every situation is the strongest. That my friend is a lie! The negative feelings, the self-doubt, the snags and setbacks are heavy. They are real, and can sometimes seem too heavy to lift. I lie to myself by saying that it will all work out, when the truth is I don’t know if it will. I keep positive, to shield myself from the lows that are and will continue to be a part of my life. Yes I have a hold on things today, but being honest I have no idea how I’m going to make rent two months from now. Does this frighten me? Hell Yes! But does it worry me? No sir. It does not worry me because through writing my experiences I inform, reflect, and purge all of the negative thoughts that may enter my mind. James Baldwin said ones, “ I write to describe. If you have a problem try to describe it. If you can describe it you can control it, if you can control it you can out wit it.” Words are power, and we are all prophets in our lives. We have the power to give up at anytime and the power to turn it up.

This past week was full of highs and low. I told you that sharing these things with you would help serve as a journal of my climb to the top. Sharing it all good and bad, small and colossal. This week I received some freelance work, as well as a few hits back about some of the positions I applied for. The freelance work was great and hopefully my new client is impressed by my work and wants to continue a work relationship with me. To insure that I went above and beyond what was required in order to give my client the best of my talents. I did not say I sold myself short! I just made sure all of my t’s were crossed and all of the i’s dotted, I made sure to give the client everything they asked for as well as things I know they needed. The hits I got about positions were more or less emails asking for more detailed information than what was summarized on my resume. These are both small triumphs but huge in the power it gave me. I feel good that my work is at least getting attention, and my character has allowed me to meet people that are willing to vouch for my work ethic and skill. The ball has begun to roll, and now its time to keep that momentum. How can I do that? I can do that by “convincing” myself that small triumphs are just paths to huge ones. That no power outside of myself can stop me, and that I can and will control all of my problems.

Week 3

Continue to push! This is just the beginning. CHECK

Listen to Deep Thoughts Radio Vol 3 // Motivation for the Masses

Deep Thoughts Radio // Vol. 3 // Motivation for the Masses

Brand new Playmix to keep you motivated to WIN! I hope you enjoy

DEEP THOUGHTS RADIO // VOL . 3 // MOTIVATION FOR THE MASSES

Special thanks to all who contributed in the creation of this mix