questions from you no. 22

Posted on 24. May, 2010 by Princess Lasertron in alice, questions from you

Q: Are you ever stuck on ideas? When you feel like you want to create something, but nothing happens…what do you do? (via Formspring)
A: My friend Steve says that lack of inspiration is just lack of motivation–when I feel productive but uninspired, I move! That’s kind of where the inspiration to start CAMP came from–I had been meeting with a group of my other self-employed and freelance friends late at night for several months where we sat around restaurant tables with baskets of french fries and stacks of pancakes and worked together. The idea came between the four of us to create a place that would serve as a “home base” for our group as well as a place for other freelance friends to call home when they need a dose of camaraderie and inspiration or a spot to host a meeting.

Anyway, it was the lack of motivation that led to lack of productivity that led me to leave the house and collaborate with my friends which led to to one of the greatest ideas I’ve ever been a part of. So my best advice for when you are feeling “stuck” is to leave your space and talk to some friends who can help you clear your head and regroup.

Q: I’m planning a trip to Berlin this summer. What are the top 5 things I must do/see/eat? (via Formspring)
A: My five favorite things to do in Berlin:
…walking through the Judisches Museum
…grabbing a snack at Cupcake Berlin
…dancing at club K-17
…watching a German language movie at CineStar Kino at the Sony Center
…catching an opera at the Staatsoper on Unter den Linden

I’m also often asked what my connection to Germany is–”Are your parents German?” “Did you ever live in Germany?”–no and no. I actually started studying German in college and it was the first time I ever took a foreign language. My freshman adviser was the German professor and she signed me up for Deutsch 101–I took it because I was afraid that dropping it would hurt her feelings. It ended up being my favorite class and I completely immersed myself in as much knowledge, literature, and as many cultural experiences as I could.

Q: I’m always interested how people as busy as you keep your schedule/to-dos organized – what are your organization habits as far as prioritizing? (from Jenny)
A: I live and die by my planner. It’s the Draw Your Tomorrow planner from Millimeter/Milligram. Just an FYI, it’s impossible to visit that last link and not buy something.

Of course I write my meetings and obligations in it but I also use it to plan ahead to finish my client work before their deadlines, as well as write down ideas for new projects or blog posts. Throughout the year as I look back through my planner, it’s almost like a diary because I’ve not only recorded what I did, but also my problems, solutions, thoughts and ideas.

Q: What do your wedding rings look like? Did you make them yourself? I’m guessing you have something unique and creative…(Sorry if you’ve answered this question on your blog already–I’m a fairly new reader!) (via Formspring)
A: The awesome website Turtle Love Committee did a little post about our rings last year including an interview.

Our stamped rings are from Kathryn Reichert and my sweet little faux-diamond ring is from Metalicious and has a faceted piece of cut silver instead of a stone. I actually proposed to David so he is the one with the engagement ring.

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in Omaha (not sushi)? (from Paige)
A: Well, my favorite restaurant is a sushi place–Blue Sushi in the Old Market. I am not a sushi eater either though–Blue has a huge menu and you could probably find something you like. I also recommend Amsterdam Falafel and The 1020 in Dundee. I don’t enjoy eating in restaurants generally so I have no other suggestions.

Q: I’m curious about Dave’s tattoos. Does he have a “straight edge” tattoo? If not, what are those Xs on his forearm? (from Beth)
A: He has a half sleeve that shows Thor fighting some serpent. A scene around his leg of a battle from Warhammer 40k. Some kind of skull on his other leg and the Maxwell equations coiled around his other calf. Some business on his stomach. And that straight edge tattoo–he was edge until he was 26 I think.

Q: You seem so confident in your ability to run your business and really business savvy. Did you take any classes about sustaining a small business or did you just jump in and learned as you went (kind of have a natural knack for entrepreneurship)? (From Renae)

You did not go to school for business or art, correct? I know your mom has inspired you but where else have you gleaned your abilities (both creatively & business wise) from? Books you have read, people/business you have really studied, classes/conferences you have attended. (From Johanna)

A: I just love to make things and I think that have always had entrepreneurial tendencies. My dad was a huge influence on me as a small businessowner himself, and my mom is still the most creative person I know. She keeps the same night hours as me and helps me with everything. She’s also extremely intuitive and often wakes up to tell me about a great idea she had in a dream. I began blogging about my creations in the mid-90s during middle school. At Dana College, I studied Intercultural Communication and German while working in my off hours to build and promote Princess Lasertron as a business and a brand. When I graduated in 2008, I already had a solid business foundation, loyal blog readers, and a sizable client portfolio. The confidence is just smoke and mirrors–I really never know how things will work out, and there is a ton of realistic anxiety involved in small business ownership, but having a good attitude is sometimes enough to convince everyone else that you’re worth their time and respect.

Other influences on me include my friends in the local creative/entrepreneurship community. I can’t even make a list because there are so many–dozens and dozens. Just living here in Omaha has given me so much experience and brought me so many important connections that have led to some of my most special opportunities. Conferences like Big Omaha and little events like Ignite, Barcamp, and Pecha Kucha are great to attend–see if you city has anything like that you can participate in.

I’ve also read a lot of books and attended a lot of conferences that did not help me. In my experience the best teaching tools are time, finding mentors, and learning from others.

Tags: alice, CAMP, eric downs