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Here is a watercolor that I painted based on the idea of stepping out of our comfort zone. Have you ever seeing a flying fish? By leaping out of the water and flying through air a few feet above the water’s surface, they can advance around 50 meters. 2013 has been the year of the flying fish for me. I challenged myself to leap out of my “water” to experience some advance. There are so many new things that I have done this year. Launching this blog, my paper blog and the new shop were the biggest things. When I decided to go from Typepad to WordPress in order to redesign and re-think my Internet life, I was extremely excited and ready for the step. I knew that WordPress was going to give me lots of great tools for growth. But I didn’t know anything about the new platform, other than it was wonderful for creative people and entrepreneurs.
After my decision, the learning process began. I can’t even tell you the endless hours that I spent trying to figure things out, reading, doing research…and once in a while wondering why I had to put myself in such a challenging situation. To be honest, I felt like quitting now and then because my head was tired. It is hard when you have to push your brain to learn something totally new and difficult. Typepad (I still love Typepad), was like a cozy apartment in a nice building, while WordPress felt like moving into a big house where I was responsible for everything. Over at the apartment building the owner of the building took care of keeping things running smoothly. But when you own a house, it is your responsibility to be in charge of fixing whatever breaks.
I did 95% of the work myself from the start to the launching. The other 5% I owe it to Joel, my blog tech hero. If you ever need technical support while building anything using WordPress, Joel is your man. He is honest, knowledgable, easy-going, quick, professional, and his prices are fair. Part of what I learned from this process was that sometimes you must ask for help. I am grateful that I found Joel.
I feel like fish in the water now with my new blogs and shop. But it wasn’t easy. The shop in particular was scary, because I have never sold digital downloads before. I am working with a company that delivers the digital files for a monthly fee. The first few days we had lots of technical problems. But I was expecting them because it was a matter of logic. When you start something new, it is normal to face problems. During those days my main focus was to offer a five-star customer service, instant communication and concrete solutions. One by one, the problems were solved and every single customer was amazingly understanding, plus I learned a lot of useful technical things. Today I am proud to report that the shop has generated an income of $1158, mainly from digital file sales. This is from Nov. 4 when I opened the shop, to Today Dec. 6. A huge THANKS to my customers for the success! Part of that money goes into keeping my blogs up and running.
I am sharing these things with you because I think that it could be helpful if you dream with taking some steps toward developing your career/business but are afraid to do it. Everybody is afraid of stepping out of the comfort zone, it is a natural tendency. But once we do it, it is wonderful because it opens up so many new doors. Then each new door takes you to another new and exciting place. That is how growth happens. Without growth life stops being meaningful and we feel stuck. With this post I want to inspire you to think about what you could do in 2014 to grow a bit more. There is always something that we can do. And the thing is that if we don’t do it, nobody else is going to do it for us.
Have a wonderful day!
Elsita
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Thankyou so very much, I am on a similar path but farther behind so this is timely and precious. Im greatful you took the time 🙂 and congrats!!!
Hi, Eleasah! I’m glad that you found this post helpful. Wishing you all the best in your path!
Elsita 🙂
Elsa Mora recently posted..Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
I have heard many people switching back and forth from WordPress to Typepad to Blogger. I didn’t realize that WordPress was so complex. I’m still clunking around with blogger Ha ha. For me it is it fine for now, but I totally get what you are saying about pushing yourself to get further ahead, and I will keep this in mind when I want to leave my apartment for a house so to speak 🙂
Hi Elizabeth! My very first blog was with blogger, then I went to Typepad and then WordPress. All three of them, as well as other platforms, are effective. I know highly successful people blogging from each one of these platforms. Going from one to another is very personal and it has to do with what you want to achieve with a blog. In my case, it all started as a hobby. But it gradually became my passion and career. In order to fully do all the things that I wanted to do, I discovered that the ideal option was WordPress. This platform demands more from you than the others, but the rewards are worth it. If you feel like blogger works for you, then you should stick with it. I only did my moves when I felt like I needed to. But a blog is only an aspect of growth for creative people. There are many other areas that are even more important. Blogging is only a tool to connect. To me the most important thing is how we can be better people in all areas of our lives. That way, when we connect, we have something meaningful to share.
Happy Friday!
Elsita 🙂
Elsa Mora recently posted..Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
Wow Elsita!
Thank you so much for sharing!
I was wondering how your new shop and blog were doing.
I love the watercolour! It’s so beautiful!
Looking back at my own year it seems I didn’t accomplish what I had set out to do at first. It may take me longer than one year 🙂
Claudia Liliana/rasamalai recently posted..Baaba Maal
Hi, Claudia!
Thanks a lot! Give yourself time to get things done. Life moves at a different pace every year. There are so many factors that influence how fast or slow we move. I think that the most important thing is not exactly the speed, but to listen to our needs/dreams so we can address them in ways that makes sense to us. Life, like art, is a way (just like the name of this blog), a way to express our personal nature. Be you, find your own pace and keep going at a speed that feels right.
Sending a hug!
Elsita 🙂
Elsa Mora recently posted..Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
Dearest Elsita!
What a beautiful watercolour! And post.
Just read this post of yours and your replies to comments and again you touched me right into the centre of my heart. I am about to make my step forward by opening my Creative Growth courses in Melbourne where I live now and can see myself postponing this step out of fear and doubts in a new city and country even though this is my greatest desire and I know it is a valuable thing… Your post and comments have brought me back to my heart so gently and lovingly. I absolutely love this ability of yours to connect from heart right into the heart, where everything else that’s not my truth simply falls away.
Thank you bella Elsita!
Sincere congratulations on all your new steps and successes and my warmest wishes for new fulfilling accomplishments in the year to come, to you and all your followers.
I love and will put this quote of yours “Life, like art, is a way to express our personal nature.” on my left-handed drawings blog with the tomorrow’s post (it’s already set up but I’ll change the text now 🙂 )
PS This is my very first ‘comment’ anywhere ever in the Internet world!! There we go – a little/big new brave step! :-)))
With all my love
Stellina
Thank you for this post! You know how sometimes you hear what you’re supposed to hear just at the right time? This post was that for me! I am thinking about taking a big financial step to grow my business, but have been hesitant to actually do it, even though I know it’s the right thing. This was just the right inspiration I needed to actually take the step instead of just thinking about it! Thank you!
Hi Mary! Whenever financial steps are involved, we get a little extra scared. My philosophy is that we are extremely lucky that we can even have the option to take any financial step, even if it involves only $10. Once, when my husband and I were in the middle of a financial scare, I reminded him of the time when I had literally nothing and life as OK. If you think about it, what’s the worst that it could happen? Air is free, so if we lose $, we can still keep breathing and existing. The $ will eventually come back as long as we keep breathing and doing things. There is a great say in Spanish that I remind myself when I have to take risky steps, maybe it will serve you as extra doses of inspiration:
“Si tienes miedo, no lo hagas. Si lo haces, no tengas miedo”
Translation: “If you’re afraid, don’t it it. If you do it, don’t be afraid”
Sending a hug!
Elsita 🙂
Elsa Mora recently posted..Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
I too am making the move to a self hosted WordPress site. I am using Lynda.com, my go to place for learning new software. I LOVE it. I also find learning to be relaxing, after creating my miniature silver art, so now that my shows are done I have renewed my Lynda.com subscription and with watch, watch, watch:) I love your new site, so that will spur me on.
Wonderful to hear that, Susan! Lynda.com is the best. I have learned so much from that site as well. It is worth every penny. From photography, to WordPress, they have everything that a creative person needs to develop. As my Mom likes to say: knowledge is power. The relaxation comes from there, because the more things we learn, the easier we navigate life, so we can focus on enjoying the journey.
Wishing you all the best!
Elsita 🙂
Elsa Mora recently posted..Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
as a precocious webdesigner who transitioned recently into art (inspired by works of contemporary artists as yourself :D), i can share your enthusiasm in discovery through hard work, practice, and patience of new abilities that we nuture following a goal.
few months ago, though, some circumstances shook all that i had worked on, and i stopped making art. it is only recently that i’ve slowly taken care of my own spirit to start trying again. it is painfully hard, and it is specially hard to start. the ideas are there, looming, but they seem to escape my will to do it. using the same principle of hard work, practice, and patience, i’m slowly creating a new path to spiritual and artistic balance.
how beautiful when it’s all connected.
muchos buenos deseos hacia ti 🙂
danessa recently posted..Metamorfosis – Instalación
Hi Danessa! I’m so glad that you started making art again. The beauty of starting over again is that we can do it as many times as necessary. You’re right that things don’t flow immediately after we start. I think that this is true for almost anything. For example, the athlete that is recovering from an accident. He/she, will need to heal, then there is the gently warm up period and then the consistent training to reach the full potential again. But every stage is important when it comes to creativity, even the stage when we are stuck.
I wish you all the best y te mando un abrazo!
Elsita 🙂
Elsa Mora recently posted..Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
Having tried and given up on wordpress a million times myself, I am in complete awe of your will to learn and embrace the new! Congratulations Elsa!
Thanks, Gunjan! 🙂
Elsa Mora recently posted..Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
I love the brush work and the colors! Great work!
I’m a fan! Glad you stepped out of your comfort zone!!
If you like this I’d check out http://www.timothywatters.com
Thanks a lot, JJ! 🙂
Elsa Mora recently posted..Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
I absolutely adore you, and your art Elsita! This is exactly what I needed to hear – not to be afraid of taking steps forward- my life is on the brink of massive change. Next year, I am going to university to study communication design, and possibly in that year I’ll be moving away from home. I am just about as frightened as I am excited, but after reading this post I think I’m more so excited because I am growing into the person I had always wanted, and envisioned myself to be.
I’m sure your art will continue to follow me around and inspire me through those times! I’m happy everything is working out for you and I wish it to keep working for you!
Hi Katya! Enjoy this time of your life because one day in the future you will miss it so much. This is your time to discover and experience new things and have fun and learn a lot about yourself. I tell these things to my stepson who is away from home attending college right now. Big changes like the ones that you are going experience are positive. I wish you tons of wonderful things next year!
Elsita 🙂
Elsa Mora recently posted..Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
Hi Elsa!!
I like your website and art. Actually, you inspired me to create my own web-site for my artwork (I am painting with acrylic). Do you mind (I hope not 🙂 ) me asking which web host are you using?
Thanks!
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