Halfway home

I've reached the halfway point with the inking of issue 1 of Business Cat, and am experiencing a strange mix of emotions, half happy, half sad.

Happy because I'm now halfway through a crucial step in the process of making issue 1, but sad because I feel as if it's a pointless exercise. This is my negative side speaking, l know, but it has been frustrating putting in a lot of hard work on social media as well as drawing for little rewards. I also know this is the petulant child in me that expects to be an overnight success. It's hard dealing with these emotions when I am so proud of what I have created with Business Cat. 

So what next? I carry on, that's what. I get issue 1 done and ready to print. If the Kickstarter doesn't hit its target, I'll set it rolling again. It will happen. PDF versions of the finished book will go out to a select few for review, with the hope that they will spread the word too. I want this project to work, and believe it has real value to those wanting to start their own business. 

Thanks for listening.

https://www.kickstarter.com/project/2131278236/business-cat-issue-1-lets-start-a-business

Promo video is done!

I've made a promo video for our new self help business comic, starring BUSINESS CAT! For some reason, Kickstarter isn't letting it upload, so you can watch it here...

Business Cat issue 1 Kickstarter is live...

Over the weekend, amidst bonding with our new puppy and celebrating Fathers Day by skateboarding, the Kickstarter page for Business Cat issue 1: Lets start a business went live.

Now you can pledge and get your hands on a psychical copy of my self help business comic when it has been printed. There are rewards available at different pledge points, including sketched copies, exclusive prints and original artwork!

Head over to: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2131278236/business-cat-issue-1-lets-start-a-business to find out more and make your pledge!

Thank you for your support.

Business Cat issue 1

For the last four years, I've been trying to write a book about starting your own business, and all the fun and excitement that process brings. I want to share some of the fun and joy that being your own boss gives you. 

I've written a few drafts, knowing it is going to have plenty of illustrations in it, but it's just not come together for me.

A few months back it hit me. The book should be a comic book. Comics are what I love and what I do best. I don't think that a business comic book that helps people has been done before. I've finished the first draft, and have started drawing the finished artwork. There has also been a foreword written by Stuart Carter, who set me the challenge of finishing the first draft too!

There is a Kickstarter being set up, which should go live next week for those of you who want to invest in the first issue. All investors will have their name in the finished comic, and there will be some really cool extras up for grabs too. More on that next week!

For now, here is the first page of issue one to whet your appetite. Enjoy!

Be a business superhero!

When was the last time you were praised for what you do? If you're lucky, all of the time, because you do what you love and love what you do.

There could be times when you do not feel good or up to the task ahead of you. This is when you can call upon your inner superhero...

Wait, its not as daft as you think... Inside each of us is the ultimate version of ourselves, who excels at everything and carries out the hardest task with ease, and they love doing it. This is your inner superhero.

When you are struggling to motivate yourself, to get a task done or be positive, call upon your superhero. They have the power and attitude to tackle any situation, no matter how tough.

Visualise your superhero... What is their name, what superpowers do they have, what does their costume look like? All of these aspects make it easier to create a super version of yourself to call upon when times are hard.

This is your challenge now... Dig down within yourself and find what you excel at, unleash the superhero inside and help others with what you do best!

    

Difficult emotions take time to work through...

Staying with difficult emotions is hard. It is hard on you and on those around you. Any emotion can be difficult, good or bad ones, but here we are looking at the bad ones.

Envy is a terrible feeling, and one that can lead to feelings of anger, frustration, impotence and inferiority (amongst others). Envy is often brought about by seeing others, often those perceived to be in a higher position than yourself, achieving or obtaining things that you want. It is a very difficult feeling to deal with, as you do not want to look upon others negatively. You are better than that.

So why is it when you see someone with a better car, dressed differently (usually smarter than you), or acting confidently in difficult or challenging situations, that you view them with contempt, and that the feelings mentioned earlier (mostly negative) arise?

This is not a good way to approach a problem, with negative feelings and attitudes, as this creates more problems. The negatives can multiply rapidly into a seething cauldron of hatred or depression, with anger rising to the top. Not good.

So what should you do? The opposite. Think about why you feel the way you do, what does that say about you? There can be a lot of feelings and thoughts jumbled up together that need careful examination and investigation over time. But the first step is to recognise the feelings that arise and accept them.

Be with these feelings, think carefully and clearly, then move on. Move forwards in a positive manner without looking back. This isn't always easy to do, but acceptance and understanding of feelings and emotions is the biggest and most important step in the process, and it really does get easier the more you do it.

   

What do you do when it all goes wrong?

There will be a time when something goes wrong with your business. A missed deadline, a late delivery, a broken computer. When these things (or others) happen, it feels like a disaster, and there is nothing you can do.

Except there is something you can do. Stop. Stop thinking negatively, take a minute and breathe. You have enough within you to overcome these little barriers to success, because that is all they are, little barriers.

A good client will understand if you call them in good time and explain what has happened. Be honest with them and yourself. A late delivery can be rescheduled and computers can be fixed, or at worst, data can be retrieved. There are solutions for most problems you could face and you are capable of facing and overcoming them.

Take each obstacle as an opportunity to learn and move forwards, not backwards. This can only make you and your business stronger.