2016 was a transformative year in my life. I left an established career to delve into an adventure: to start my own textile/pattern and accessories design company. Most people write business plans and crunch numbers. I set goals as to how I wish to feel about my new life. Sounds un-business like? Maybe, but that's what works for me. My goals were to feel joyous and to be proactively creative. Interestingly, these two goals are a great starting point for curiosity, productivity, and the drive for a business adventure.
Though I set these two goals last year, I will continue to focus on them in 2017. And ... I also believe these two goals apply to you and here is why.
What do I mean be feeling joyous?
Happiness seems to often be to something outside of us, to a prosperous career, to a happy relationship. But joy, which is my favorite word (and the Czech word RADOST is the name of my company), is the pure feeling of being alive and being able to experience life as it comes our way. It is both a source and a cause of delight. I think it is essential that we are consciously choosing to draw on our ability to feel joy. Joy, in its various forms (mainly as creativity and inspiration), demonstrates itself in all of my textiles. Fabrics are a way for me to express my ideas and to bring them to you. I bet you have someting you love that enriches other people's lives. You may bake the best banana bread or your smile may just light up the room ... No matter what it is, I know this idea (and goal) of joy pertains to you.
What do I mean by being proactively creative?
Many people say they are not creative but I believe everybody is indeed able to create new things. I view creativity as the ability to find solutions to ideas. My idea may be as to how I can best express a color within a pattern that brings joy to my customers; your idea may be as to how to fix a broken glass. It does not matter what creative endeavor you engage in; what matters is that we proactively seek solutions and thus constantly learn new things. Again, I know this matters to you.
To sum up, it's like a circle - draw on your ability for joy and you will be creative; focus on creativity and you will be joyous. So, let's dive into 2017 and wrap ourselves in joy.
What do I mean be feeling joyous?
Happiness seems to often be to something outside of us, to a prosperous career, to a happy relationship. But joy, which is my favorite word (and the Czech word RADOST is the name of my company), is the pure feeling of being alive and being able to experience life as it comes our way. It is both a source and a cause of delight. I think it is essential that we are consciously choosing to draw on our ability to feel joy. Joy, in its various forms (mainly as creativity and inspiration), demonstrates itself in all of my textiles. Fabrics are a way for me to express my ideas and to bring them to you. I bet you have someting you love that enriches other people's lives. You may bake the best banana bread or your smile may just light up the room ... No matter what it is, I know this idea (and goal) of joy pertains to you.
What do I mean by being proactively creative?
Many people say they are not creative but I believe everybody is indeed able to create new things. I view creativity as the ability to find solutions to ideas. My idea may be as to how I can best express a color within a pattern that brings joy to my customers; your idea may be as to how to fix a broken glass. It does not matter what creative endeavor you engage in; what matters is that we proactively seek solutions and thus constantly learn new things. Again, I know this matters to you.
To sum up, it's like a circle - draw on your ability for joy and you will be creative; focus on creativity and you will be joyous. So, let's dive into 2017 and wrap ourselves in joy.
