Hours and hours

On the door to our faculty office there's a bumper sticker that says "Art is Hard." And every time I see it, I silently agree. And then I think "Everything is Hard." It is. I'm really inspired by fellow stationer Julie's blog and lately she's been talking openly about how she (and other indie businesses) struggle to find balance. In the clean, design-y, beautiful blogging world this is noteworthy. In that blogging world things are perfect and no one talks about trading sleep to fold cards. No one mentions that it's almost impossible to figure out what the next step is when you're trying to turn a meaningful profit. No one mentions what a feat it is just to stay on top of what you already have in the works, let alone try to develop new product. So, I'm just going to lay it on the table...everything is hard. I have a feeling that many of you reading this also feel the same way.

This morning was completely annoying (no real reason, just one of those days) but one of my coworkers helped put things into perspective. I'm pretty lucky that today was a teaching day, too. On non-teaching day I often sit in front of the computer all day working, designing, emailing, and over thinking the little things to the point where I can make myself come to a stand still. On teaching days I have the opportunity to immerse myself in my student's work, to troubleshoot with them, to laugh, to put things in perspective, and to be inspired to make my own work.

But that inspiration and excitement only last so long and when I get home and head back to the computer (or the press) I find myself drawn back into the same routine. I'm just not sure how to find balance. I know it means that I probably need more of a schedule, a routine time to check email, to make proofs, a designated art-only time, and time when I know I will be printing. For me the hardest part of running a business is knowing that only I can do it. That I just have to make myself set up a schedule if I ever hope to have free time. So I'm going to try it. I think I'm ready.


{Images were shot during NYIGF tear-down. Maybe the weight of an impending gift show and calendar printing induced this post...}