In a recent post, I proclaimed that you should make it your mission in life to do what you love. That’s easy enough to say but the big question is, how do you make it happen?

Because social media has become so polished over the last few years, from the outside, it can seem like everyone else has already achieved the so-called dream life that you aspire to. It’s not quite that simple though. Beneath the facade, we all struggle. It’s just that for varying reasons (some personal, some professional), not everyone chooses to share those struggles publicly. And since you often ‘meet’ people online who are already at the height of their careers (you didn’t discover them five years ago, when they started with five readers), you don’t see how they got from point A to point B. When you can’t clearly see the path they’ve taken, it all seems like a big ol’ brew of black magic.

Today, I’m here to help you think about what you really want, to make a plan and most importantly, to follow through with that plan.

Define exactly what you want, even if it feels unattainable.

If you don’t acknowledge what you want out of life, you’ll coast along, settling for what’s familiar and comfortable. How can you work towards your ideal life if you don’t even know what that resembles?

I’ve always been a dedicated list maker. When I was in my early 20s, living at my dad’s house in the suburbs, working a retail job selling shoes and in school full-time for business (completely not the path I wanted to be on!), I made lists. Lots of them. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do but I knew that I had to make small changes in order to move forward and unlock the puzzle. I did know that I loved advertising (I’d discovered a George Lois book in my high school library that was life changing) so I minored in Marketing. That was a start. I knew that I’d make more connections if I lived in Portland so I worked as many hours as I could, built a savings and moved into the city. I knew that having my own business was important to me so I blogged regularly to build an early platform for what would later become Nubbytwiglet.com.

All of these small changes were pieces of a much bigger puzzle and collectively, they started to shift my life. The picture became much more clear each day, each week, each month and so on. Based on achieving small, concrete results, I was then able to set new, more focused goals. At 24, after many list-filled notebooks, I finally knew what I wanted to do. Because I was equally drawn to marketing and design, working at ad agencies seemed like the perfect dream career. The idea excited me and I set out to find a way to make it happen.

Once I’d finished my business degree, I took a year off to regroup, started reading piles of design books and finally enrolled in a graphic design program. I secured an internship during my first year and set a new goal of working full time at an agency by age 27. It happened. That became a stepping stone for freelancing at another five agencies and each stop on that path was hugely beneficial (while being filled with very steep learning curves). As I worked at more agencies, design felt increasingly closer to my heart and became my true passion (as cheesy as that sounds).

After taking on nearly every job I possibly could in the first four years of being a designer to build a diversified portfolio, I’ve started to refine my business plan and figure out the next steps that I’d like to take professionally. It’s time for me to step back, reevaluate and refine my goals even further. It’s time to make a new list.

Why am I painstakingly detailing this part of my life for you? Because I want you to see that there’s a process for getting what you want out of life. Everyone has a beginning but it’s up to you to decide what the middle and end of your story will look like. Getting what you want doesn’t just happen magically.

Goals are like a map, outlining the path of your life with clear markers.

Goals give you momentum and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Unlike dreams, goals are concrete measurements that signal that you’re on the right track while opening doors to new experiences and opportunities.

Accept where you are, right at this moment.

Be realistic about where you are, right now. This can be a hard pill to swallow if you’re really far from your goals. Remember that accepting your current spot doesn’t mean that you have to be content. It just means that you’re being realistic so you can make an honest plan outlining how to move forward.

The one thing that’s constant is change.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of your path, remember that everyone’s been in your shoes. Feeling uneasy is actually a good sign because it means that you’re aware and not willing to settle for where you’re currently at. Instead, you’re searching for a new opportunity, a new path, a sign that something needs to shift.

Once your goals begin to transpire, find ways to help others.

Enjoy your successes as they come but stay grounded and aware. Nobody likes dealing with a self-absorbed asshole. The best way to stay grounded is to find ways to give back. Donate your time and talents whenever possible. Even better, become a mentor. What you choose to give back doesn’t have to be monumental; do what you can do, when you can. The best gift you can give is to help someone else achieve their goals.

Live a life that you love.

Reworking your life is overwhelming and scary; it’s okay to start really small. Set regular check-in points along the way so that you know you’re on track. If you’re feeling stuck, the best way to overcome a mental block is to get it out into the open; talk it out or write it out. And finally, the challenges we face along the way only make us stronger. Never, ever give up and never, ever sell yourself short. You only live your life once so really, truly make the most of it. There’s no time for regrets. Do what you love in 2012.

I snapped this photo a few days ago and wanted to share this simple thought. Warhol was definitely onto something when he proclaimed, “I think everybody should like everybody.” We live in a complicated world but a little kindness can go a long way in 2012. I’ll be back later in the week with my yearly recap!

Last week, I found these simple yet powerful screen prints by coniLab on Etsy and thought they’d be a perfect reminder to hang in my office, just in time for the new year.

With so many blogs peeking into other people’s (seemingly perfect) lives constantly surrounding us, it’s easy to lose track of our own in the shuffle. Some people are born knowing what their path in life should be but for the rest of us, it isn’t that easy. Sometimes it takes more than a just dream — a mentor, a specialized education, money, a plan. When you do finally find the right path, everything else begins to unfold as it should. I took a few chances this year — the kind where you feel your stomach drop for a second and wonder, “What have I just done?” Those are the chances that make you feel alive though. I just kept repeatedly telling myself, “When you put yourself out there, great things usually happen” and I feel like I’m wrapping up the most fulfilling year yet (trust me, it wasn’t easy). If you’re unhappy or unfulfilled, It’s up to you to make that shift. Embrace what makes you unique instead of erasing it in the process. Put your best foot forward, let the entire world know what you want to do with your life and then conspire to make it happen. 2012 is right around the corner and it’s never too late to do what you love and love what you do.

Two of my main goals for 2011 included revamping my web and print portfolios. I’d done so many projects since my last version that I felt like my portfolios were no longer an accurate representation of my skill level. So, I got to work, first redeveloping the print version and then basing my web version off of that.

When I’m having a face-to-face meeting, I always present a print-based portfolio. Why, especially in this digital-crazy age? First and foremost, I feel like it’s more formal to present a book of work. Designers are always going to be drawn to the tactile no matter how much digital creeps in. Secondly, remember that your interviewer is not necessarily as young as you; they most likely created a print portfolio of their own at one point. If you’re still set on digital, bring in both; a print portfolio with the best of the best and then an iPad or laptop with even more projects and details if you are requested to show more.

I think of print and web portfolios in completely different ways. Here’s my personal strategy:

My print portfolio is the equivalent of a tightly edited short story. Measuring 11 x 17 inches and sandwiched between custom hardcovers, it is carefully curated to highlight a very select group of projects that flow from beginning to end. Additionally, it features a few projects that are too client-sensitive to share online and allows me to explain the process of these particular pieces in person. In comparison, my web portfolio is a much deeper archive with three times as many projects arranged in chronological order.

Why the difference in scope? When interviewing with a potential client or employer, you have a very short amount of time to share your work and the accompanying backstory, sometimes as little as twenty minutes. Because of this, what you choose to showcase has to be limited to what you consider your absolute best.

Often, this tightly edited body of work opens the door and leaves the interviewer hungry for more. What else do you have? What other clients have you worked with? This is your opportunity to lead them to your online portfolio where they can dig through a treasure trove of projects on their own time, at their own pace. This is your chance to go big and to even share more.

When putting together your print portfolio, here are some tips that can help you along the way:

1. Edit, edit, edit.

Limit the projects that you choose to showcase to the absolute best. A combination of projects completed for top clients mixed with those that you feel most confident about should round out the mix. A good number to keep in mind is 10 to 12 projects max (only if each project is not longer than 1 to 2 pages each — otherwise, include even less). As you gain more clients and a wider variety of work, it becomes harder to narrow down the amount of pieces that you feel are worthy of inclusion. I always try to get a second opinion (or two) before finalizing the mix. Remember that the people reviewing your portfolio usually have very tight time constraints so keep your book short, sweet and on-topic. The last thing you want to do is annoy the people in charge of hiring you!

2. Showcase as much professional work as possible.

While there’s nothing wrong with showcasing some school work (especially if the project is absolutely amazing), including client work in your portfolio projects a level of expertise and professionalism. It demonstrates that you are able to work in the real world with companies who have actual deadlines and budgets. Client work implies that you can handle feedback on your work while delivering solid results. Also, when working with clients outside of school, the deadlines tend to be tighter, the guidelines are often more firm and the the expectations for professionalism are higher. Interviewers want to know that you can handle the intensity, stress and demands while still delivering a quality outcome.

I interned at an ad agency my entire second year of school and worked as hard as I could to replace as many school projects in my book as possible. Within a year of graduating, I had maybe one still lurking. Now, I have none. It takes some time but work as hard as you can and as fast as you can to get real world projects in your book!

3. A portfolio is never truly finished.

You just printed your brand new portfolio; think you’re done? You might be for the moment but set a goal of revising your portfolio at least once per year. The reason I say this is because the longer you wait, the more overwhelming the process of revamping your portfolio becomes. For instance, I’d completed between 20 and 30 new projects since my last portfolio overhaul. The process of collecting assets and writing the descriptions was too much; I didn’t know where to start. If I’d kept a list of new projects I’d completed and took an hour to gather assets once each project was wrapped up, the process would have gone much faster. Now that I’m finished, every time I complete a new project that I can share publicly, I upload it to my web portfolio (along with a description) since it’s in chronological order so I can see what I’ve completed.

You never want to find yourself in the position of having a job suddenly end and get stuck revamping your portfolio before you can start looking for a new one. Always be prepared and ready to go!

4. Invest in a format that you’re passionate about.

Some designers present their portfolios as handmade books or even create specially made cards but I prefer to keep my presentation as clean and unfussy as possible. Since my work changes so often, I want the ease of reprinting and assembling the pages without too much time investment. For three years, I had been using a white glossy acrylic 11 x 17 portfolio cover by Pina Zangaro and I absolutely loved it. The simplicity, durability and expandability all played prominently into my decision to go with this format. As time went on and I did more student portfolio reviews, I realized that we often had the same portfolio covers. My business was growing a lot and I wanted to stand apart from the competition so I recently had covers custom made with my brand name embossed with silver foil. Everyone has different budget constraints and preferences so do some research to find the best fit for your brand.

5. Embrace simple layouts.

Remember, the focus should remain on your work, not your portfolio. For this reason, I recommend sticking with white backgrounds, clean layouts and developing a grid and margins that carry through from beginning to end. White space is your friend! Think of your portfolio like a design book — the pieces that you’ve chosen to showcase should speak for themselves; keep flourishes, gradients, drop shadows, patterned backgrounds and textures to a minimum.

6. Develop an order that works for you.

This is another area where everyone has a differing opinion but you really have to weigh what’s right for your needs and also consider who you’re meeting with. Creating an order usually begins with selecting two of your strongest pieces to begin and end with. The middle should be assembled in a way that creates an interesting mix through varying color schemes, styles and formats. I usually begin with a page of logos (since branding is one of my primary focuses) and then move back and forth between larger corporate clients and smaller, more creative clients to show variety and that I can handle jobs both big and small.

Though, when building a portfolio, don’t be afraid to break the rules. Last year, I had a meeting with a designer that I really admire. She had some interesting advice about how a portfolio should create a vision. Her idea revolved around beginning with flat, 2-D based work (such as print design and logos) building to interactive, web-based work and ending with 3-D based work (packaging design, retail displays, etc.) Though this advice won’t necessarily work for everyone, it’s always interesting to hear a new perspective.

In Closing.

Remember that everyone is going to have an opinion about your portfolio. What matters the most is that you’re proud and confident about your book since you’re the one that will be presenting it. Feedback is great and often, it will address details that you’ve overlooked but it’s important to filter it and to do what suits your work best. Your portfolio is your vision as a designer, not anyone else’s. A portfolio is never truly done but as designers, we need to learn to let go and to accept that we’ve done our best for that moment. As you grow as a designer, your portfolio has the potential to grow with you. Each project, each internship and each job should be viewed as a stepping stone to an even better portfolio.

Designers, what format do you prefer to present your portfolio in? Any tips or advice that you’d like to share?

I would consider myself to be very motivated but that motivation is mostly tied to doing things that I love, most visibly design and blogging. Conveniently enough, these are the two pieces of me that you happen to see online. When it comes to other parts of my life, trust me, I’m definitely not as motivated! Like most people, I strive to share what I’d consider to be my positive attributes online; this is done an effort to motivate others and to nurture their creativity. My blog is a snapshot of my life so it’s not going to show everything.

But, back to your question. Staying motivated can be incredibly difficult but I’ll let you in on something that I face on a daily basis: when you’re getting paid to do what you love and are up against deadlines, it doesn’t matter how bad you may feel. You have to deliver work to clients no matter what! Like everyone else, I have my bad days. Doing eight straight hours of production, having proofs come back with muddy colors and facing all-nighters to make a deadline can all be draining. But even on those days, I’ll complain in one short burst, get it out of my system and move on. Holding in the negativity will do nothing to help you (or your mental health). Find a release to wrap up a long day whether that’s gossiping with a friend or going to the gym and get a good night’s sleep. I bet you’ll wake up feeling fresh, motivated and inspired once again!

When I am lacking motivation, I switch up my routine to force myself to think in a fresh, new way. Sometimes, I’ll do a 10 minute yoga video. Stretching and clearing my mind really do make a world of difference. Also, working in a different medium for a short while can also help. When I’m feeling stressed, I’ll collage into my Fashion Notebook — focusing on piecing together colors and themes reset my brain. And, stepping outside of my normal work area and sitting somewhere with a notebook and pen also can do wonders. Give yourself the freedom to briefly walk away from anything that’s giving you trouble and see what comes out onto that paper, even if it’s nonsense. You never know; a brilliant new idea may be right around the corner.

What can you do to stay motivated?

1. Get Inspired.

Create a folder on your desktop and spend 30 minutes searching for fresh visual inspiration. Three great places to start are FFFFOUND!, Designspiration and We Heart It.

2. Make To-Do Lists.

Whether it’s typed into your iPhone or scribbled into a planner, making a list is a simple way to hold yourself accountable. If you’re just storing everything in your head, it can become jumbled, overwhelming and difficult to prioritize. Facing down exactly what you need to get done puts you on a mission to make progress. And it feels so good as you make your way through, crossing off each item, one by one.

3. Set Deadlines.

If the items on your to-do list are too open-ended, there’s not much motivation to get them finished. Hold yourself accountable by setting firm deadlines. If you can’t get something finished, carry it over to the next day’s to-do list until it gets crossed off. That way, it will haunt you until it’s done!

4. Keep A Schedule.

One of the best ways to stay motivated is to set a very structured schedule. Knowing that you only have a certain timeframe to complete a task keeps you focused and sharp. If you don’t have a defined schedule, everything just keeps flowing into the next day and so on because there’s no pressure to follow through.

5. Learn To Say No.

You’re only one person and there are only 24 hours in a day. If you’re consistently finding yourself to be lacking in motivation, ask yourself why. What are you filling your day with? Do you make time for your passions or are you just existing? Make a list of what you love to do and even if you only have 10 free minutes in your day, give yourself a much deserved break. Don’t let the world pass you by; give yourself the time to dream big, then set benchmarks that lead to accomplishments that make you happy. If you have a goal to strive towards, the motivation will follow.

Readers, what do you do to stay motivated? Any tips or tricks that you swear by?

The truth is that getting your blog noticed is a lot harder than it was a few years ago when there was a lot less competition out there. When I relaunched my website in a blog format in 2007, there was so much less saturation! And, there definitely weren’t nearly as many bloggers who were able to sustain a full-time living from their sites. But now that companies have realized the power of having real people pitching their products, bloggers have gained a powerful foothold into a number of industries (along with the advertising dollars). So, what can you do to stand out?

1. Consistency, consistency, consistency.

Of course it’s not necessary to blog every day — we all have varying amounts of time to contribute to our blogs. But, if you’re really serious about blogging and building an audience, keep a regular schedule that works for you. Is your goal to post once a week? Three times a week? Whatever your schedule, once you’ve been posting for awhile, readers begin to anticipate content at semi-regular intervals. If you need to take an extended break, make a note of it so that your readers know what to expect (instead of thinking that you’ve quite suddenly fallen off the face of the earth).

Think about consistency this way: Would you repeatedly frequent a business that was constantly closed without notice or, after a few tries, would you eventually give up? If your blog isn’t your business or livelihood, feel free to ignore this advice. If it is, you’ve got to be fiercely committed and goal driven if you want it to get noticed. Consistency counts because it builds a sense of reader loyalty.

2. Authenticity Rules Supreme.

When you’re first starting out and offers of freebies and other goodies start rolling in, make sure that you’re comfortable with the trade-off. What does the company want in return? If you don’t believe in a product, don’t share it with your readers under any circumstances. People can sense something fishy a million miles a way, even when it’s hidden behind a computer screen. Never, ever compromise your values or the pocket books of your readers. Ethics are a slippery slope, especially in blogging. Once you lose credibility, it’s a tough climb back to the top.

How do you stay authentic? Only share content that you wholeheartedly believe in. Use your unique voice and share experiences, advice and visions that are uniquely your own. Just be you.

3. Always take the high road.

Not everyone is going to understand or believe in what you’re doing. That’s how life is sometimes but it’s important to stay strong and to not give into unnecessary negativity. On the other hand, blogging, like any other profession can become seductive once a level of success sets in. It’s up to you to not lose touch with your readers. We’re all busy but do what you can, when you can. Don’t lose sight of what you’ve set out to do. Hold yourself and the content that you’re producing to the highest possible standards.

4. Share links and build your audience in the process.

No matter how established other bloggers out there are, everyone appreciates it when someone takes the time to link to their content. Producing original content can take some serious time and dedication and it’s a great feeling knowing that other bloggers like it enough to share it with their readers. If you continually share links to content of other bloggers, they will take notice and maybe even return the favor!

5. Use other platforms to your advantage.

When you’re starting out, it’s important to get the word out. To build momentum, pick a handful of platforms that you believe in. Depending on your focus, Twitter, Facebook and Google+ (along with dozens more) can help you reach new readers. If viewers like what they see, they can click through and check out your blog. It’s honest and organic. Don’t spam other blogs with generic comments. Instead, if you choose to leave a comment, be sincere and heartfelt – the chances of someone clicking through are much more likely!

I keep my self-imposed social media plan very simple on a daily basis. It goes like this:

Immediately after posting, I share a link to my article on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ as well as posting the article photos to Flickr. That’s it. If I had more time, I’d definitely use Tumblr as well but I’d want the content to be unique from what I was already posting on my blog. The five minutes I do spend spreading the word each day definitely contributes to my traffic. Bonus tip: services like Twitterfeed can automatically ping Twitter and Facebook with a link to your blog’s updates!

6. Knowledge is power. Share what you know.

How can you gain the adoration and respect of new followers? Open up and share. We all possess a well of knowledge and have something that makes us unique. By allowing others to learn from us, our human connections grow and so does the quality of our blog’s content. For instance, my passion is design and I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned through schooling, internships and client work. There’s so much insight that I’ve gained over the years through rebuilding my portfolio a million times, freelancing at agencies and learning how to get organized in the process. By sharing my personal experiences, hopefully someone else’s path will be smoother than mine was. Life experience is infinitely valuable and if we can help or inspire someone else, why not share it?

7. Produce original content.

This ties into sharing what you know. While some blogs thrive on the republishing of images and content of others, the easiest way to stand apart from the competition is to produce content that is uniquely your own. Shoot as many of your own photos as possible. Customize what you already have with fonts, photo filters and handwriting. Step away from the computer and experience life and then share what you’ve learned with your readers. Give them something that they can’t find anywhere else.

8. Keep your head up. It’s a long, winding road.

I started blogging at full capacity over four years ago when I was getting ready to start a design program, working a full-time retail job and living with many roommates. My life was much different then but blogging gave me a sense of structure through many uneasy transitions. It was a welcome outlet as I learned about design, traveled extensively, graduated and began working full-time as a designer. Along the way, my life completely shifted from being unfulfilling to working every day doing what I love and being settled in my own house with a wonderful husband and dog. Along the way, I never lost sight of my goals. At first, I just wanted 25,000 unique visitors a month. Then, 50,000. Then 75,000 and so on. I didn’t set lofty, unattainable goals but instead built momentum, slowly but surely. With the schedule I kept through school, I usually had to be up by 6:30 in the morning, putting a post together but it didn’t deter me because I really loved blogging.

Finally, don’t wait.

I’ve said this so many times before but it bears repeating! Even if you don’t have tons of readers, keep on blogging. Each post is an exercise in your growth as a writer and communicator. Many of the great bloggers that you admire have been chipping away at their craft for years and the quality of their posts has grown with practice. It’s okay to feel discouraged some days (we all do) but don’t give up. Set some realistic goals, ask yourself what purpose you’d like your blog to serve and build it, one reader at a time. Don’t make the process more difficult than it has to be. Just stay true to what you’ve set out to do. Good luck!

For the last few years, I’ve relied heavily on Moleskine planners to keep me organized. Let’s face it — staying on track can be especially difficult when you’re forgetting half of what needs to get done. Every day, I make a to-do list and cross it out as I go. If something doesn’t get finished, it gets carried over until I complete it. This method is super basic but I find that it keeps me accountable. Having a hard copy of my list to carry around makes it much more real compared to an online list that I can turn off and forget about. I know that there are fancier planner solutions out there but having everything compiled in one list in one place is foolproof. My Moleskine planners have been a security blanket of sorts since I was in college and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What’s your preferred method for keeping track of daily tasks? Any tips or tricks that you’d like to share?

Over the years, so many of you have asked me about my methods for organization. You want specifics. You want photos. You want me to reveal the nitty-gritty. Well, I’ve finally sat down and transcribed some of my simple everyday strategies for keeping belongings easy to locate and visually pleasing in the process!

This article is meant to touch on a variety of areas in my life and how I keep them organized. This is what works for me and hopefully it can be a starting point to help you to discover some methods that work for you. Perhaps it’s second nature for Virgos to be supremely organized. Orderly surroundings give me a sense of calmness and as laughable as this might sound, my surroundings are a reflection of how I feel on the inside. Yep, a cluttered space to me equals a cluttered mind! You’ll notice that overall, I try to keep it simple — depending on what I’m doing, I sort belongings by color (clothing, shoes and books), title and date (magazines), and subject (client files and digital inspiration). I’ve found that the more difficult you make the solution, the harder it becomes to keep it up.

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01. Shoes

I like the look of organizing shoes by color because what’s more cheery than having a mini rainbow nearby?! If organizing a collection by looks makes you happy, then so be it.

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02. Clothing

I have a fair amount of clothing but I do my best to clean out my closets regularly and to keep the selection as edited as possible. For bizarre finds, items I might just use for a themed shoot or clothing that has sentimental meaning that I just can’t part with, I use the small extra closet in my office for storage which I’ve dubbed my ‘Costume Closet.’ This keeps my regular closet much easier to navigate and appropriate for everyday wear.

Our house was built in 1928 and like most older houses, closet space is very minimal. For this reason, I have two large IKEA PAX Wardrobes that are set up in our oversized upstairs bathroom (it could easily fit 15 people; there’s just a toilet and sink). These closets allow for plenty of room for everything and a huge selection of customizable fixtures can be added.

My left closet is comprised of jackets, skirts and dresses (hanging) and pants, shorts and basic t-shirts (stacked on the lower shelves). The right closet is mostly made up of shirts, blouses, sweaters, cardigans and generally casual layers. Everything is arranged by color.

Below the hanging items, I have a color-coded drawer for socks and below that is an identical drawer for tights (also by color). The clear plastic organizers are from Target. The bottom of the closet contains a shoe rack which has a few odds and ends that I wouldn’t want to display — athletic shoes, flats, etc. And finally, the top of the closet contains a row of IKEA KASSETT Storage Boxes which house everything from extra shoe bags and scarves to childhood costumes and keepsakes. My system isn’t perfect but it makes sense to me and allows me to quickly find whatever I need.

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03. Books

I jumped on the bandwagon a few years back when this style of organization for books became trendy and couldn’t be happier with the outcome. The bookshelf is from West Elm and conveniently enough, it’s on wheels which makes cleaning super easy.

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04. Magazines

I’ve invested in quite a few packs of IKEA FLYT Magazine Files and choose to group my magazines by title and then date. I also have separate ones for reference materials and catalogs that I’ve saved for inspiration. These magazine files are great because they’re cardboard — when you’re finished with them, simply break them down and recycle!

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05. Makeup

A small cabinet in my office holds all of my makeup but I tend to keep the items I use on a daily basis all in one area. The Container Store has some fantastic makeup storage organizers and I found this acrylic option among their selection.

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06. Digital Files

This is the most important area of my life to stay organized in (and I’m not exaggerating). When clients hire me for a design job, it’s important to keep their assets organized and if they need a file a few years down the line, it’s my job to locate it. For this reason, I apply a job number to each new project that comes into my studio. For instance, #NT151 would be for job 151 (NT = Nubby Twiglet). This job number also directly correlates to the invoice number when I’m billing a client. Once a job is complete and final files have been sent, I move it to an Archives folder so that my Clients folder doesn’t get overly cluttered with closed jobs.

For digital inspiration, my system is much more easy-going. I have a folder on my desktop titled 2011 Pix and drop everything I’ve gathered online into it. Every week or so, I drop all the strays into labeled folders that make sense to me. They can be as open-ended as food, cars, cameras, fashion and so on. Any way you can think of to break up a few thousand inspirational images should work just fine!

I also keep a folder on my desktop labeled Blog 2011. Every time I make a post, I drop all the final web-ready JPEGS in there so that I have a clean backup of every image I’ve posted for that year.

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07. Digital Storage

I cannot stress this enough — keep your really important files backed up on TWO separate drives! I’ve heard horror stories of friends losing years’ worth of work when their external drive failed. I have two LaCie drives, (my favorite being the LaCie Starck 1 TB Drive) and I diligently back up my client files, photos and music from my main computer every few weeks.

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08. Online Digital Inspiration

Ever since I was in college, I’ve gathered up design-related inspirational images and uploaded them to a private Flickr folder. Now bursting at over 5,000 images, it’s a digital library at my fingertips that I use to gather research from for every new job that I start. The importance of having this inspiration saved online is that I can access it from anywhere — whether I’m freelancing, on vacation or in a meeting.

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09. Loose Inspiration and Reference Materials

I have a set of IKEA flat files in the corner of my office that house all my clippings, notebooks and printed inspiration. The drawers hold everything from silkscreened posters to old journals. Having all these items clearly separated yet all housed together has been a lifesaver!

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10. Collage Notebooks

I’ve been clipping visual inspiration from magazines since I was a teenager and those clippings can really pile up after awhile! I keep everything tidy by keeping notebooks for three specific categories: fashion, typography and interior design & home. As the clippings pile up, I collage them in, often categorized my theme and color. To see my collages, which I often scan for the blog, check out the Fashion Notebook, Decor Notebook and Typofiles sets on Flickr.

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In Closing: Being Organized Makes Life Feel Less Chaotic

I hope that these examples will inspire you to get your life organized in your own, unique way. Because I have a lot going on, having some basic organizational systems in place means that I’m rarely wasting time digging for items that I think I may have lost. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to organize your belongings; your system just has to make sense to YOU. If you have questions or want me to cover another area of organization in a follow-up article, let me know in the comments. Happy organizing!

What are you meant to do?

What’s holding you back from making your dreams a reality? There’s one thing that I know for sure: If you continually make excuses, there’s always going to be something that’s holding you back because life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. The best way to learn is to take chances, challenge yourself (and to learn from your mistakes).

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want the next steps for my business to be. Looking back, I’m glad that I didn’t wait to get started. I began developing the beginnings of my brand back in high school — my alias back then was slightly different but the color schemes and message had started to take shape. If I’d had more access to the internet and known other designers back in the late 90s, it probably would have moved along much faster and I probably wouldn’t have second-guessed myself so much. Kids these days have a much more defined view of the world! I began taking the idea of running my own business more seriously when I presented Nubbytwiglet.com as my senior project in college. I made a mini business plan, included mock-ups of products I wanted to develop and mood boards of graphics I wanted to create (I actually found this while cleaning out my office the other night!)

How do you get started on your desired path?

This is tricky because everyone defines success differently and there’s no surefire formula to hit your goals. It’s important to make learning your mission. Buy books and read blogs on your chosen subject. Find a mentor and make contact with like-minded folks. Apply to as many internships as possible and most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most professionals were in your position once and will hopefully be flattered that you’re seeking their advice. I’m lucky that so many people were willing to give me a chance early on and offer guidance.

One of the most common mistakes people make when they consider branching out on their own is telling themselves that there’s just too much competition. They convince themselves that the market is too flooded with their specific talent. If you embrace this mentality, you’ll always feel stuck. One of the points I make to students when I give my Freelance 101 presentation is to embrace what makes you unique; you should never be afraid to show your true self. The design world is becoming increasingly competitive and though there’s always going to be someone that’s more skilled than you, it’s important to increase your value by adding your own unique spin. For example, when I first launched this blog in 2007, I was afraid that sharing my outfit posts and content that was not directly related to design would mean that I’d be taken less seriously as a designer. But what I soon realized though is that by leaving these elements out, I was hiding a huge part of who I was. Because I opened up and shared my interest in fashion, I was able to gain many clients that wanted a more style-driven look including Forever 21 and Nike.

I’m noticing that interns these days are having to work harder than ever. A weak economy and a flood of fresh graduates shouldn’t be a deterrent though. When I applied for my first internship, it took me two whole months of emails and phone calls to even get an interview. I only had one year of community college completed and let’s face it — I knew the basics and that was it. I still did anything and everything I possibly could to be of value and that attitude paid off. You have to want what you’re after badly enough and in the process, you will be tested and stretched to your limits but this is how you learn and grow. Seek out as many internships as possible; they’re a low pressure way to learn the ropes and to decide if the day-to-day reality of your profession is a good fit.

What are you waiting for?

The bottom line is that there’s always going to be someone that’s more skilled, better connected and in possession of a fancier portfolio and website but I promise you that this isn’t everything. If you embrace what makes you unique, have a positive, can-do attitude and are determined to do whatever it takes to break into your chosen industry, chances are that you will go far. Stay positive, stay strong and lastly, start your journey now. DON’T WAIT. Do what you’re meant to do.

So many of you have been writing in with questions lately so I wanted to use this week to answer as many of the shorter ones as possible. Enjoy!

I’m almost 20, and even though I adore how they look, I don’t know how to walk in high heels. Really. I own a pair and I ‘practice’ walking in them around the house every now and then, but I don’t know if I’m doing it right.

As with anything, get comfortable and then work your way up! Start with a one to two inch chunky heel or wedge and wear them as much as possible until you feel like walking around in them is second nature. Your stride should look as natural as possible though it will take some time to get used to walking at a normal pace. I don’t think that any woman is born walking perfectly in heels!

I’ll let you in on a little secret — if you go through my photos, almost always, you’ll notice that I stick to wearing wedges. They are great because they give you that bit of extra height with a huge dose of stability. Nobody wants to hobble all around town! In truth, I own one pair of actual stilettos. Everything else in my shoe arsenal is mainly a wedge or a super chunky heel. My all-time favorite wedges are my patent gray Dries Van Notens and my most easy to wear heels are also by Dries Van Noten. Both pairs have really great non-slippery rubber soles. When it comes to shoes, aim for quality over quantity — take care of your feet!

I’m about to graduate high school next month and I’ve applied to a college for a two year diploma in graphic design. When I’m done with the two year diploma, I can upgrade for another year (it’s advanced graphic design). After those three years of studying, I get a one year transfer credit to a university towards a BFA degree. I could’ve applied for a BFA degree at the university now, but I didn’t, because their GD program is more studio art and art history. What would you say are the ups and downs of the choices I made?

Degree titles aside, you really have to focus on the program and route that you feel is the best match for your goals. Have you already taken the time to meet with advisors at both schools?

When you’re finished with college and applying for design jobs in particular, it doesn’t necessarily matter what your diploma says or what your exact path has been to earn that degree if your portfolio isn’t solid. In my personal experience, a great internship along with a solid portfolio and client list have gotten me further than what a piece of paper says I acomplished. I had my own reasons for seeking out a two year degree in design versus a four year degree. The most important reason was that I already had a four year degree in another major and I didn’t see any benefit in wasting the time and money to have two. Plus, my community college program was focused on preparing us for the real world as quickly as possible with the end goal of us having jobs by the time we graduated. I put in the time and effort and that held true.

Which program best fits your focus and budget? The less money you have to pay back when you finish, the better (thanks to the affordability of community college, my loans are almost gone). It sounds like you’ve already given your route some serious thought and who knows, after earn your two year diploma, you might be ready to work professionally and not need to transfer after all. Quite a few students in my two year program were.

Do you ever get tired or bored with what you do?

Tired, yes. We all get tired. Bored? Never. There’s always an opportunity to learn something new, even when you’re working on the most mundane projects. Realistically, this comes down to adopting a positive mindset and choosing to find value in every new experience. They say that practice makes perfect and I agree — you should always strive to find ways to improve your skill set and to become more rounded as a designer. For example, while I don’t find production work to be the most thrilling, I often work on projects with huge amounts of it because I want to sharpen what I already know. I chose my career because I loved it. If I didn’t love it, wouldn’t every day feel like torture? You’re only going to live once so you might as well do what you love. Of course you don’t have to love every little experience or project but you should strive to enjoy your overall path.

I have a question about time/energy. Young female entrepreneurs work insane hours, right? I want to launch myself as a freelance art writer. However, I get tired and sick pretty easily and am dealing with some tough personal stuff, so am having to learn to pace myself with how much work I take on at any one time. Do you have any advice on managing workload? Do you have to work a 60 hour week to be successful?

I am probably the wrong person to ask about this because I genuinely enjoy working; it provides me with both structure and purpose. Everyone is different though and it’s really important that you adopt a plan that’s best for your health and lifestyle, not just your career. Unfortunately, while freelancing provides some huge perks, the lack of structured hours and often intense deadlines can weigh you down. We all require varying amounts of sleep and downtime — if a job, self-imposed or otherwise starts taking a toll on your health, it’s definitely time to reconsider!

I have to stay super organized because I freelance at agencies as well as working with my own clients so there is a constant rotation of projects and deadlines. I keep a fairly simple routine for staying organized — I am a die-hard list maker. Every single day, I open up my Moleskine planner and write down everything that needs to be done. If something doesn’t get done, I carry it over to the next. Crossing items off my list makes me feel accountable for my time and that I’m not letting anything from emails, client work, appointments or household chores slip through the cracks.

Additionally, I try to keep a routine. Since everything around me can be crazy, I try to wake up at around the same time every morning, answer emails, re-write my to-do list and then unwind at night my catching up on my favorite blogs in Google Reader before starting any freelance work.

Success is a bit open-ended. Once you pinpoint what exactly you’d like to achieve with your freelance career and when, you can form a plan that will help you move forward in a way that works with your lifestyle. If your plan starts to not seem worthwhile, ask yourself why and reformulate your goals. Remember, your goals for you career don’t have to be all or nothing. Nobody reaches a level of huge success overnight.