Bobblehead Will

When working on websites, the importance of good pictures and artwork can’t be emphasized enough. It’s one of the first things I talk about with new clients – stock photos are ok, but originals are such a great opportunity to show style and personality. Anyway, when the time came to update my own website, I realized I needed to apply those same ideals and suggestions to myself. We had a vacation planned to Oceanside, CA (my favorite place on earth) and, swallowing my independent pride, I asked my son and daughter-in-law for help in taking pictures for my website. I had some old books and scrolls I liked, my favorite skull sticker (thank you Bridget at https://thevelvetdot.com), and this bobble head of William Shakespeare. I have had him for so long I had to ask my theatrical business partner Layle Chambers where we had even gotten him! She thinks she picked it up during a visit to Oregon Shakespeare Festival and apparently, I loved it so much, I promptly stole it from her! Anyway, I lugged all this stuff to CA and the kids and I went to work. I am so grateful to them both – I love the images we created! Also, we had no idea Will would prove to be so photogenic and absolutely steal the show! We should have known.

Working on the website, I had to stop and ask myself, do you really want Shakespeare and the bobblehead to feature so prominently on your website? Why do you like the quotes and this silly toy so much? I have no complete answer for this, but I have a few ideas.

I like the idea of “old” and “new” things coming together, learning from each other, and moving forward together. I like Will’s reminder that people and relationships are always more important than material gains. I like the example of catering to and crafting for ALL the people, groundlings and royalty alike. I believe embracing opportunity is necessary to thrive in these modern times, and it is possible to face the fears and frustrations of new technology and emerge triumphant on the other side. As Queen Margaret says in Henry IV “Why, courage then! What cannot be avoided ‘Twere childish weakness to lament or fear.” My hope is to stand with my clients, and we can face our fears together. Shakespeare’s likeness helps me to remember all this and more. Plus, I think he would think a bobble head of himself was hilarious.

Working on one’s own website has proven far more difficult than I could ever have imagined. Now that my site has launched (twice!), I can say I am grateful for the experience because now when helping clients I can have not just sympathy but real empathy! All the seemingly big decisions (colors, fonts, images), medium ones (number of pages, WooCommerce or PayPal, privacy policy) and then the many many smaller ones (To blog or not to blog? Do I need a pricing page? Should I write about my family?). So many questions to be asked and decisions to be made! Here’s the good news:
1) I can help! and
2) We can always change our minds.
Be sure to book an Exploration Zoom and we can figure out what YOU need, together!