October 2022 - K.HAGGÅRD DESIGN

Are You Thinking About Giving Up On Your Dream?

Entrepreneurship can be such a rollercoaster.

Last week was hard, really hard…like collapse on the floor kind of hard.

It had me wondering, “Why the heck did I make this choice of running a service-based business? Was I totally bananas or just straight up crazy to think that was a good idea?”

I had not signed up for incredibly-difficult-clients-who-no-matter-what-you-suggest-think-you-are out-to-get-them… I’m still slightly in shock. I like to think of myself as kind, fair, straight-forward, collaborative and extremely patient… or am I not?!

Am I losing my mind?  

Maybe my way of asking for feedback is totally wack-a-doodle?

Do I really know how to communicate clearly?

Do I know how to design stuff?

The doubts came raining in like a tropical rainstorm.

You know the feeling, I bet.

Negative bias. Is. No. Joke.

“The negative bias is our tendency not only to register negative stimuli more readily but also to dwell on these events. Also known as positive-negative asymmetry, this negativity bias means that we feel the sting of a rebuke more powerfully than we feel the joy of praise”

This can be hard to handle on your own. Having a community of entrepreneurial friends is essential. Luckily, I have a group of them.

A logical mind, that is objective, can do absolutely wonders to help you get out of that state.

The best thing with these not-so-fun situations, is that if you look at it from the perspective of learning and opportunity, and taking an honest look at how you handle it, the better you will be at handling it next time. Growth opportunity. I’ll take two, please!

There are a whole lot of different situations that can get to us. I don’t know what it is for you… but for me, I struggle with people not seeing me for who I am, not being able to communicate how things work….I mean the stuff I do for a living, day in and day out…the stuff I get paid the big bucks for.

Well, such is life. Onward upward.

My takeaways:

Stronger boundaries – keep an eye out for orange flags, and don’t let them turn red.
Sharpen the process, always.
Some days I design, some I do research, some I guide clients, some days I deal with lawyers. It all is just part of running a business.

And Negative Bias, is just that… and I get to choose every day, on my own, what to focus on.

So today, I’ll read the sweet, appreciative messages a couple of extra times.

Always be better,

Choosing Your Brand Color Palette Based Off Visual Science

Somebody told me the other day; “I’m very visual, can you show me how it will look and then I can make a choice.” Well, it’s not only some people who are visual, we all are. In fact, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual. That’s a whole lot of percentage to ignore.

Being visual does not mean you know how to combine things to go well together, it simply means that is how you will take it in or interpret the information. For example–Ever had somebody read something for you, and you asked them to send it to you so you can read it yourself?

Another example is the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon or Frequency Illusion. It is seeing more of a certain item, when on a quest to buy it. Or deciding you are purchasing a white sweatshirt and now all you see are white sweaters. There isn’t more than before you decided to purchase it but now that you have determined it is important, your brain is cataloging all the times it shows up.

We are exposed to so much stimulation daily that our minds actually weed through a lot of it.

Visual information is absorbed and synthesized faster than any other stimuli, which makes visual content an incredibly effective and powerful medium. Another reason why marketing, art and design are so important.

This is why I think visual perception is extremely fascinating. It is how we take in, interpret, act and make sense of the world around us. In other words, there is much more to the reason why you like a certain color or why you see things more frequently when you are looking to buy a certain item.

In the late 1600’s, the English scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered that when pure white light passes through a prism, it separates into all of the visible colors, like the rainbow, when the sun shows up after a rainy day. Newton also found that each color is made up of a single wavelength and cannot be separated into other colors. However, it can be combined to form other colors, like red and yellow will turn orange.

Unfortunately, there has not been that much research in the color world, which is fairly peculiar since the presence of color is quite prevalent in our daily lives. But, there have been discoveries on how color affects mood, feelings and behaviors which is powerful information.

Although it can be subjective and cultural, there are some universal meanings like:

Warm colors (orange, red, yellow) evoke emotions ranging from warm and comfy to anger and hostility

Cool colors (blue, purple, green) are associated with calm, trustworthiness but can also be described as sad and indifferent.

Here is an idea of what colors typically mean if you are living in Europe or North America:

White: A fresh and clean color, often associated with purity and innocence, light and goodness

Black: It’s associated as powerful, elegant, formal, luxurious, sexy and mysterious

Red: Describes bold, attention-getting, confidence, action, passion, desire and love

Blue: The dependable, trustworthy, wise, loyal and faithful color

Yellow: Happy, energetic, joyful, intellectual color

Gray/Neutral: These colors are more balanced, neutral, calm and peaceful

There are of course, many variables to consider when you pick colors, but this can serve as a great foundation and then you can play around with how they are combined to create your own favorite palette, for marketing, styling your home or finding your next perfect car.

Hopefully this gives you a new perspective on what you are taking in all day, every day.

Visually yours,

Business Highlight: Kaylin Dillon Financial

Growing up we are often taught that it is taboo to discuss money with anyone.

We shouldn’t discuss how much we make, how much another has etc. The whole situation makes it a bit difficult to move through life, from simple things on how much you should be making in your job position to discussions around money roles in relationships.

Things get even more restrained when the thoughts start to revolve around death, divorce and other legal hypotheticals.

My client Kaylin Dillon saw this plain and clear when her own life hit this door. She realized how difficult it was to navigate the legal money waters when someone doesn’t have a mentor or authority figure there to tell you what to do or how to do it. More so, she saw with extreme clarity the desperate need couples have for prenuptial agreements.

Many people hear the term prenup and instantly think ‘unfair’, or that ‘one person in the relationship may be better off.’ Kaylin Dillon Financial is on the move to make sure this is changed, she wants young couples to know that prenups are the simplest way to protect yourself and your money (whatever that may be) from differing cases from new state legislation, to messy divorces.

I am highlighting Kaylin Dillon Financial this month because of the difference she is making in the world. In fact, simply looking at one of her financial passions (money planning in marriages) already causes her to stand out. 36.1% of divorces are attributed to financial difficulties.

And Forbes considers different money styles a detrimental reason for marriage ruin. I have to believe that Kaylin is making a major influence on being sure you and your partner are on the same page with finances is one of the neatest things she’s doing. Quite frankly, if you have the power to eliminate that pesky 36.1% chance you and your true love don’t make it, why wouldn’t you do it?

Since money talk often feels taboo, I have to say, I love that Kaylin is opening the table to open and non-judgemental conversations.

I, myself am very passionate about perspectives and truly believe that it is not what you say but how you say it.

I suggest giving Kaylin Dillon Financial Planning a follow on any of the social platforms (or all) for some great tips on money management. And if you are ready you can even schedule a consultation!

If that is still a leap for you, or you like to gather your info in a different way, she has been on podcasts, and is writing a book!