Incidentals. The art of f**king up and building brand.

I actually enjoy f**king up.

The amount of time I have spent trying to hit ‘perfect’, or searching for it, has cost me a lot. (I think). 

Truth is, I’m not totally clear on the actual cost and impact, the true value that has been missed out on. When I say cost and impact, I’m referring to everything outside the lines; all the stuff I didn’t have my eyes open too, or saw passing by me.

 I think the struggle for the “right” right answer can take us down paths wearing blinders. You see so many quote cards and holistic posts about how making mistakes is the best way to learn. Sure, I agree with that; and I’m a human and hate making mistakes and making them means a whole bunch of stuff about me and my abilities when I do. So I try to avoid them. (Those thoughts and feelings are yet to be proven true).

That’s why I love art.

Incidentals, in the world of printmaking, are the imperfections that naturally occur during the physical processes of creating artwork. This could range from slight misalignments when printing, or layering. Perhaps dust and dirt has found its way into your ink, creating spots or errors… It’s those tiny little interruptions in the universe that you can’t wholly control.

Your brand is like that in a way; incidental. When you decide to step out into the world as yourself, your business or product – the world and people in it, interpret you in their own way. They experience you, and make choices and decisions that for themselves–define who and what you are. If they choose that you are relevant to them; welcome to brand presence in its truest form–how others create you in their world. It’s incredible.

Consider that you have almost no true control over your brand (beyond how you show up in the world for others). Part of brand is based in your actions; the who what where and why of your existence. The other half is how everyone else creates you, defines you, talks about you, experiences you. The ‘you’ in their world is just as important. We create each other! Interesting how brand becomes birthed, created, defined and exists in the world community.

Like art; it’s beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Consider that your brand, like art, is your expression. And we hope people like us.