Your Business, Your Labor of Love

Bay Area Graphics & Marketing

Summer is just around the bend and I'm all geared up for seven months of heat and humidity. I've wondered lately if the weather actually affects our productivity level and I've come to the conclusion that no, no it does not. If you're feeling lazy from the heat though, kick back grab a cool drink and take a moment to read our newsletter. Break away for ten minutes and re-group. Feel free to pass our newsletters on as well. We hope you do. Thank you in advance for your time and happy reading!

If you love what you do for a living than you'll love it no matter what the season, yet often times there is a fine line between love and "loathe!" I can honestly say that my career as Principal of a Tampa Bay area website design company, often can be defined as a "Labor of Love."  "How so, you ask?"  Sometimes the very gift we so hard to secure and refine, gets to be "hum-drum" but no matter what your business is, what your talent is you can rekindle your devotion to what you do, by doing it  "in love."

How Crayola Helped Shape My Business!

I am a firm believer that we're all given a certain gift or talent at birth, one we are to use in our life to make things better for someone else. I won't get too sentimental or sappy about my journey to becoming a Website Designer, Graphic Artist  and a Freelance Writer  however, I will tell you that my gift was obvious at a pretty young age. The first indication that I was born to love “art” was noted in my reaction to receiving my first box of 64 Crayola Crayons that had the built in sharpener. It was a bit excessive so I’ve been told.

As one of four children, I was highly committed to hoarding my crayons and paper. Sharing these treasures was NEVER an option. I would share my Barbie dolls, my baby dolls, and my candy without incident. I would not and could not share my Crayola’s. Time passed, along with my memories of those masterpieces which once hung on the fridge door and my love for art was placed on the back-burner for more adult-like quests. You can’t make a living as an artist. I mean, the term “starving artist” surfaced for a good reason.  I decided I would initiate a career as a Medical Lab Technologist. Yes sir. No more art for me. God wanted me to spend my days wading through bodily fluids from the health department in hopes of defining someone’s illness. In short…I graduated and never worked a day in a medical lab. Thank you Lord.

Helping Others Helps You Succeed

"How has working as a graphic and web designer in Tampa been a labor of love and how does that affect me," you ask? The point is that, no matter what business you're in you can choose to take your gift or your vision and go in full throttle with intentions of making as much money as humanly possible or-- you can keep it real. The first would seem to be the goal of most people, I suppose. But, if you use your talent to help others while helping yourself then eventually the money will flow in and it will continue to flow. Being flexible won't always "break the bank." You’ve built a reputation for doing the right thing while using your talent to deliver a product or service. That's good business.

My goal in the late 1990’s was to offer services at a price that would enable any small business owner the opportunity to market their business on the web (and in print). This has often meant cutting my fees in half and at times even more. It still means that today. And, what most people don’t comprehend is the time that it takes to design a custom built, affordable website while remaining attentive to your client’s needs during the process. Maintaining a high level of personalized customer service that my company offers often takes a toll. We don’t sleep much! If one were to analyze it --we’d probably be pitied. But hey…we’re not in it for just the money.

Don't Forget the Meaning Behind the Talent

There are times when it appears as though our efforts and willingness to work above and beyond our call is not appreciated or not worth it. It's then when suddenly I’ll hear from a client who has experienced success and who calls or emails me to thank us for our part in that. (Read our reviews on MC) That’s when you know you're doing it all right. I’ve taken my gift, added some kindness and caring and contributed to the success of someone else. It all comes back around to us when it’s said and done.

And this I know…

I know I’m not alone either. My business has been the recipient of another's good will and hard work as well. It’s my belief that it’s like a secret society (or I would like to think so.) Tampa area businesses helping each other grow and succeed--- Folks with talent and vision who have not forgotten what their gift is for.

Sure, maybe this all sounds like something you’d watch on Lifetime or "WE"  or "O" ...(that's for the men folk who are reading this.) But truthfully, I think there are many small businesses that work the same way---because we know it works.

What’s your labor of love in your business? I’d love to hear your stories. Are you a florist who sends flowers to retirement centers on a whim and at no charge, are you a landscaper who helps landscape the yard of a single Mom with new storefront? Write to me at bagraphics@verizon.net. If you would like to submit your story, I would be happy to put it on my website with a free link back to your business.

Go to http:// www.websitestampabay.com and click on add your business link or simply write us. If you would like to speak to us directly, call us at 813-948-1062 from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. daily.

Can’t wait to hear from you and until then…I’ve got a lunch date with my Crayola's.