New Year, New Beginning

With the holidays in full swing, our schedules are over-loaded and so full of festivities with families, friends and colleagues. The Holiday Season seems to conclude with the New Year. While many would claim Halloween or Christmas as their favorite holiday, I have to admit mine has always been New Year’s.

Growing up, the reasons were more trivial but nonetheless, I still try to carry on these traditions. Especially blowing up dozens of balloons to create a colorful sea spread across the floor to pop with a safety pin at midnight! In more recent years, I have come to appreciate the “unity” of this holiday. I can’t think of another holiday that is celebrated worldwide. Every single person can celebrate this holiday and bask in the opportunity of a new beginning.

The whole world, in rotating time zones celebrating as one! The happiness and energy recognized on a global scale full of fireworks, glitter and kisses at midnight! Can it get any better? We should use this time as a refreshing new beginning; don’t hold yourself to the rigid expectations of the classically titled, “New Year’s Resolution,” instead just be aware, live authentically and follow your dreams. Be inspired by the ordinary, and integrate kindness into your daily habits. Every person on this planet is going through the journey of life, each story as unique as the next.

How can you contribute to a more positive and optimistic future in your family, career, community and/or Planet Earth?

The Mother’s Day Mantra

“Sooner or later we all quote our mothers.” –Bert Williams

For me that is, “Would you believe it?”

It is the preface of recounting something remarkable, good and something true: The things that to others might seem coincidental but to her are fulfilling little miracles. The stories are short, but the impact lasts long.

I love that phrase and have embraced the concept as part of my learned genetics, my inheritance. My mantra. I always look for ways I can use it in my own life. I intentionally open myself to surpassing the every day what-ifs in hopes it will drive me to call my mom and begin an anecdote with “would you believe it”.

Did you ever imagine your life would be as effective as it is right now? Did you ever dream you’d come this far? That you would have the support and the opportunities you have been given?

Your mom did. Moms are our greatest life, business and health coaches. Moms push us when we settle in quick sand rather than pursue success. The only thing moms desire of us is to never doubt our capabilities and never pass up the possibilities.

There is one day dedicated to celebrating moms. But for all those other days the greatest gift we can give our mothers is to never stop trying. Envision life as an intense workout. To quote Jillian Michaels, mother to millions in the health and fitness industry and to her own children, “Unless you puke, faint or die, keep going.” Take a break if you have to, but keep going.

Bleed. Sweat. Cry. Keep going.

Because you won’t believe what’s on the other side of your finish line.

We all have mothers that have helped us get where we are and maybe you are one of them too. Strangers, authors, family, co-workers, doctors, TV personalities, bosses, neighbors, featured stories in the local newspaper; These are the people that we encounter that challenge us to walk through the mud and come out with a miraculous “would you believe it” story.

Think of the children’s book, “I love you to the moon”. Often that gravitational defying, all-encompassing love can be masked in persistent and redundant motivational lectures. That love may aggravate us, but that love will get us to the moon, if only we have the audacity to shoot for the starts.

So, what “would you believe it” story will excite a mom this Mother’s Day?

It Starts Right Now!

It starts right now!

You know what I’m talking about, right? I’m talking about now, this very moment. The beginning of the rest of your life is definitely worth celebrating.

“We waste so many days waiting for the weekend. So many nights wanting morning. Our lust for future comfort is the biggest thief of life.” – Joshua Glenn Park

Remember being younger, wasting so much time rushing and wishing to grow up? Do you ever miss those days and wonder why? Well starting now, make the most of the rest of your life. It’s valuable time. It’s your time.

Many people accept they will just work through a mundane week: Waiting for the weekend but ending up spending the second half of the weekend dreading the upcoming week of work. That’s over 70% of our lives “waiting” for something. What are you waiting for? Make the best of everyday: Set your goals and start taking steps towards them now. No matter how small, any progress is good progress.

Whether it’s with love, happiness or teaching you valuable skills and lessons, spend your personal time with people who uplift you. Surrounding yourself with people who are going to help push you to be the best version of you and what you can be. Adjust your daily habits based on your priorities: YOUR priorities. Don’t work, wish or wait your life away. Take care of yourself and do things that will create a healthy, comfortable and long life so you can help lift someone else up. (Reference the first sentence in this paragraph… See what I did there?)

Make the rest of your life the best of your life.

It starts right now.

Experiences are a More Valuable Currency than Money

With the holiday season in full swing everyone seems to have that extra holiday cheer, right? Everyone is out shopping for stuff. Giving gifts, especially personal ones is great, but eventually most gifts end up unused, used up and thrown away or forgotten. Guess what can’t be taken away, thrown away or taken advantage of? Experiences.

Only you are responsible for how you feel. You can keep that holiday cheer all year long. Do you have a hard time looking on the bright side of things? If so, it’s okay, just know you are capable of transforming that mindset. You are in control of how you feel and what you do.

Little by little, practice enjoying the little (and big) things in life. The most simple, to just smile more. Smiles are contagious; it’s hard to make eye contact with someone who is smiling and not smile back, right? Each time you smile you throw a little feel-good party in your brain. Just the act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and *happiness.

Make yourself filthy rich with memories. There is limitless storage in your brain that you can reference at any time. Your house only has so much room to store that stuff.

Despite how others around you are feeling or acting, be in control of your feelings. Absorb the compliments and precious memories. Deflect the insults or rude comments. It’s not worth hearing and remembering. Remember, “It’s theirs, not yours.”

What steps are you taking to be filthy rich with happiness?

*Learn more about how smiles and happiness literally affects your brain and body here:
 http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201206/there-s-magic-in-your-smile

We're rolling up our sleeves

This part of the year is typically a time to reflect on the past and focus on the future. The story isn't any different at Worx.

We encourage a lot of you to blog, write about your industry and share relatable information to the public. So why haven't we been doing this? Well, if you're reading this it's probably because you either own a business or are involved in marketing and we all know how easy it is to get wrapped up in keeping the daily operation moving forward.

This year, we're focusing on bringing you more information. The kind of stuff that makes you go "ohhhhhh." We want you to have that "ah-hah" moment that takes you to the next level, make the world of advertising a little bit easier to understand and inspire you to challenge yourself.

This year you can expect information on a weekly basis from us. We'll be talking about:

Week 1: Inspiration - Staying positive and proactive
Week 2: Branding - Understand your brand potential better
Week 3: Technical - What's trending and how to use it
Week 4: Client Feature - Showcasing one of our latest go-getters

We're starting off the year with a few great changes ourselves...

As of January 1st, 2013, we are officially Worx Graphic Design, Inc. (sounds official, huh?)

We also launched our new website which puts a heavier focus on client experience.

2013 is a time to take life and business by the hand and conquer those unsung goals. I challenge you to stir up those ideas that have kept you up at night. It's time to make things happen, together.

Oh 2012, you've been fun.

2012 has been an incredible year. We've met some amazing movers and shakers set out to change the world. 

We kicked off the year by adding Kassie, our Junior Graphic designer - what a great addition to the family! Her skills and creativity have added so much to the team.

In May we were part of the Better Business Initiative with Verstandig Broadcasting where we had the opportunity to talk to hundreds of businesses in the area about branding.

July brought tears to my eyes as we celebrated 5 years in business. "Hi5" was developed to reflect on the events and achievements over the last 5 years. We couldn't do what we do without the support of our families, our vendors and most importantly, our clients.

The celebration continued as Hagerstown Magazine named me one of the "Top 5 People to Watch for 2012." This is such an honor and I could not be more grateful! We were also voted as the #2 favorite Design & Marketing Studio in the area.

We love to give back to our community:

• Greencastle First Friday Website
• 2012 ADDY Award Collateral
• Convoy of Hope Website (Special thanks to DH Web for the development)
• Wrapt by Worx - made and donated 180 scarves to the Greencastle Exchange Club

We learned a few things along the way too!

• Creative directed our first promo video
• Launched our first mobile website
• Developed our first letterpress job

We can't forget about some of the fun things we did along the way:

• AAF-GF ADDY Awards
• Hagerstown Magazine's Hot Bash
• The premier of Greencastle the Movie
• Summer outing to Hershey Park
• Our various trips for chocolate covered bacon
• and we can't forget about those crazy dolls we bought

We're ending the year by setting up for a fresh start. The newly designed worx website will be live and our fresh new blog is going to be chock full of advice and inspiration.

We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your love, support and inspiration to move forward.