Change – in time or circumstance – often sparks reflection. The match may also be our own – or another’s – experiences, a song heard, or a quote shared. Equally true is the reverse – reflection often sparks change. Growth is ignited by both. As 2018 nears its end on the Porch, we are reflecting upon this year and gleaning insights to lead us into next. We hope our reflections will serve as a guiding light to your own.

As Chief Rocker, 2018 has been a year of growth for me professionally. In the spring, I graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses program – one of the most challenging and rewarding things I have done for my career and business thus far. As wife and mom, it has also been a year of transition and growth for my family. My husband has grown his team at work and is settling into a new leadership role.

“I believe that days go slow and years go fast.” Luke Bryan

Nowhere is this more apparent than in parenting. My daughter transitioned brilliantly into a new school and turned five, which seems like a landmark year. This fall my son entered what is widely rumored to be the most difficult year of education at his high school. He has shown tremendous grit and commitment to achieving success with his grades, his varsity football team and his competitive shooting team.

It has also been a year of anticipating and preparing for big changes ahead. With college on the horizon – and a mom’s need to collect as many experiences with him as possible – I once again increased my volunteer commitments at his school. As a parent, change is bittersweet. The growth you model, encourage and watch proudly take shape in your children is the same growth making you wish desperately time would slow down.

For my other love – Front Porch Marketing –– our passion and dedication to the development and growth of our clients’ brands continues.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” Steve Jobs

Rock Star Vanessa Hickman:

As 2018 comes to a close, I am joyful that I have the opportunity to do what I love … sharing stories and helping organizations create and share their story. For me, the most meaningful project of 2018 was partnering with Practice Ministries to tell their story and raise funds in order to expand their ministries. Two of my loves collided: my faith and my work. To have found something I love and which allows me to contribute to the prosperity of my family makes me grateful, humbled and blessed.

“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” James Cash Penney

The Porch saw some changes in 2018, too. We added two Rockers. For one of them, a personal and professional collision of another sort occurred when her homecoming this year also grew our roster of amazing clients.

Lil’ Rock Maria Gregorio:

I moved back to Texas after a brief time in Kansas and I have somehow managed to reconnect and work with some old friends: Julie and Girl Scouts. It reminds me of an old Girl Scout song “Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold … ” While I did enjoy my time in Kansas – I did indeed make new friends and learned a lot – it’s nice to be home again.

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” John C. Maxwell

Back Porch Rocker Jacqui Trujillo:

2018 will be remembered as a year of tremendous change for me. Fear and discomfort can accompany change of any sort, but in the end, what I discovered is that sometimes the change you fear the most is the change that saves you … and turns you into exactly who you were meant to be.

“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” Brene Brown

Finding our joy and practicing gratitude each day – regardless of circumstance – have also provided opportunities for reflection and been a catalyst for change in 2018.

The Rock Tara Engelland:

This year I have tried to take time at the end of each day to make a list of the things I am grateful for, both big and small. It’s amazing what practicing gratitude can do for your overall sense of happiness and contentment – especially on bad days. Sometimes, I even find the everyday things that I consider to be such chores are the things I am most grateful for. It really helps put things into perspective.

We are immensely grateful to our clients for the changes and growth we have experienced through the opportunities to work with each of you.

Classic Rocker Greg Asher:

2018 brought about the opportunity to work with great clients and a wide array of companies. From new products and services to new growth opportunities and new customer segments, they inspire me daily with their passion and commitment, and have me looking forward to a dynamic 2019.

“The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Socrates

As you reflect upon 2018, contemplate what roads you (and your brand) should start or continue to travel and where you should change directions. Focus your energy on making those changes so the reflection you see in the rearview mirror is a year full of growth, for yourself and for your brand’s bottom line.

From all of us on the Porch, may your holidays be merry and your 2019 shine bright.

Inktober is a month-long art challenge mean to kick start participants’ creativity and improve their drawing skills. Participants draw one ink drawing a day for an entire month. Every day has a different prompt to inspire participants. Participants are encouraged to share their drawings online via social media with the hashtag #Inktober. Inktober is the brainchild of illustrator and comic book writer Jake Parker. He started the art challenge as a way to get better at drawing. Nearly ten years later, thousands of artists (and amateur doodlers like myself) have taken part in the month-long challenge.

Creativity Everyday

I decided to participate in Inktober for a few reasons:

1. Small Steps Everyday: There is something to be said for putting forth a small effort everyday rather than a herculean effort every once in a while. I tend toward the latter, I wanted to do more of the former.
2. The Wonder Years: I was such a creative kid – I used to spend afternoons drawing, writing for fun, painting, coloring, gluing bits and bobs to things and calling it “art.” And then I grew up. Sometimes adulting gets in the way. Inktober was a way for me to start making stuff again. Which leads to reason #3.
3. Mind Space: I think that everyone needs a hobby, especially if they work in an industry that demands creative solutions and novel thinking. The mind needs space to work on problems in the background. Constantly chipping away at problem or project doesn’t necessarily make for a better solution. Give the mind a break, jumpstart a creative solution.

My Inktober framework deviated in a couple of ways from the standard Inktober challenge. One, I followed the prompt list from Australian illustrator Sha’an d’Anthes. I found her list to be more inspiring and fun. Two, I have never used ink before and while I wanted to explore my creativity, I didn’t want to explore a totally different medium than the watercolors and acrylics I was used to. So, I chose to focus on using gouache instead. Pronounced gwah-sh, it is a happy medium between watercolors and acrylic paints.

Half-way through Inktober, I have learned a few things…

I really like gouache. However, I am terrible at blending colors. Just terrible.

It is hard to make habit. That’s essentially what you are trying to do when you are trying to make a small effort every day. You must consciously carve out time in your day for your new effort and you have to make sure you have the supplies, workspace and “headspace” to do it. Did I always do this? Not even close.

I love variety.  But not all the time. Part of Inktober’s appeal was that it would challenge me to draw something different every day. You know what I learned? I don’t like to draw a wide variety of things.

While it was fun to try something new, the experience also reiterated to me what I do enjoy drawing. Which is a pretty narrow list – I like to draw fruits, vegetables, and flowers. And that is it. I think it’s okay to step out of your comfort zone to try new things, even if the experience reinforces what you knew all along. At least you know you’re on the right track and that you’re not missing out on anything.

The Takeaway

Will I continue with Inktober? Probably not. I don’t like taking what I consider to be a fun hobby and making it another to-do on my list. I don’t like the prompt list framework, I like to do my own thing. So, were the past fifteen days a total loss? No! Inktober gave me a chance to jumpstart my creativity and give my brain a break. That was all I really wanted, a way to improve my life without doing something radical or expensive. And I think that sounds like the best outcome I could hope for.