December 22, 2022

How To Plan For A Kick-Ass Year

I bet you are planning for 2023 and thinking of all the things you want to accomplish. In this post, I’ll share with you my personal success system to do just that.

I used to plan my years doing like everyone else does: writing down the things I wanted to accomplish in my life and business.

Because of that, I had trouble hitting my goals as I felt that every new year added more overwhelm. I had way too many things on my plate.

Does this sound familiar to you?

I don't use that system anymore. Thanks to that, my business has continued to grow steadily throughout the past years.

This is how my system works:

#1 Reflect.

Look back at the things you accomplished this year that brought you joy and results.

These are some of the questions that can get you started:

- what were my favorite experiences?

- what felt easy?

- what felt hard?

- what did you love creating and working on?

- what do you never want to do again?

- what brought in the most revenue?

This will give you a lot of information about what works financially and what makes you happy.

I often say to students at The Lettering Seminar that "the solutions to your drawing are in your drawing". Observing and being critical of your work can be a powerful tool.

​Likewise, observing and being critical of what happens in your life and business can be powerful. After all, you want to strive for as many happy moments as possible!

​#2 Identify the big players

​Once you answer those questions and put a finger on what works, you move on to applying the 80/20 rule.

And you may wonder what the hell is that rule, Martina? 

​The 80/20 principle, also known as the Pareto Principle, is an aphorism that asserts that 80% of the results are driven by 20% of the efforts.

This rule applies to your creative work and your business, too!

Identifying what that powerful 20% exactly is and doubling down on that is what will help you thrive without burning out or spreading thin.

What are the things that are bringing the best results for you? How can you do more of it?

​#3 Simplify.

Eliminating complexity is the third part of this process. How can you let go of the things that don't serve you anymore?

Letting go is freakin' tough. Especially after investing a fair amount of time (and perhaps money) in something.

But holding on to it will keep you away from using that time and energy on the things that really matter and have an impact on your results.

Lastly, look at your notes, what are you left with? Do these goals light you up? There you are, you got it!

Now is the time to wrap up your sleeves, and draft a plan that will help you accomplish them.

In this podcast episode, I walk you through this system so that you can start planning for a kick-ass 2023 today.
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Click here to hear me guide you step-by-step.

Would love to hear back from you with some of the things that you have lined up for next year.

On my side, I know that nurturing my community of lettering artists and finding new ways to connect with you is my main goal for next year.

October 5, 2021

The honest truth about lettering.

It's time for me to be completely honest with you: letters alone cannot do it all. 

Lettering is all about storytelling. By drawing your letters in a certain style or with a certain shape you can evoke memories in the reader's mind and trigger feelings. This is the superpower of what we do!

But the truth is that commonly you need more than *just letters* to achieve that. Let me tell you why. 

I usually like to illustrate the power of storytelling with lettering by using book covers. With just one image, a book cover sums up a story and speaks to its readers. 

Look how different these stories are just by looking at their covers:

Book covers by Martina Flor

The shape of the letters plays a big role in telling these stories and connecting with the target reader, but without the decorative elements, frames and flourishes the piece would fall apart. Letters alone are just not making it. 

It took me years to realize how much decorative elements could support my work and help me not only create better compositions but also tell stories that would truly fascinate the reader and be memorable.

My learning curve was slow and shaky. I used to be afraid of messing it all up, so I'd add one decorative element or a flourish here and there. I played it safe.

Furthermore, I was spending ridiculous amounts of time in the process!

Throughout time (and tons of trial and error tbh), I developed systems and techniques to add decoration and flourishing to my designs in a way that allows me to add a whole new level of finishing in a time-efficient manner. 

Now, why would you need to learn how to add decoration and flourishing to your designs? 

  • they allow you to solve composition problems. Aleluya!
  • ​they can help you add an exquisite level of detail to your designs.
  • they can create that sense of wonder around your lettering.
  • they reinforce your storytelling.
  • they add a whole new level of finishing to the piece.
  • they allow you to create a personal mark that goes beyond the shape of the letters.​
    ​​

There's a reason why many professional artists dedicate time to incorporate decorative elements into their designs. 

Because I know that many lettering artists struggle with this, I created a training called Stunning Lettering. Click here to read more details.

In this intensive session I'll show you how to master the art of flourishing, decorate your lettering from the inside out, and bring a sense of wonder to your designs that delight your clients & peers. I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

Click here to join the training.

June 24, 2021

Letter Now! Podcast

Say hello to Letter Now! a podcast where we nurture the hand-lettering masters of tomorrow, today. 

Now, this is not another interview podcast, but it is one where my guests and I will be there to answer your questions and speak about the topics that are currently occupying your mind. This is not about us, it’s about YOU.

I named this podcast Letter Now! because I knew that if I’d put that magic word in there, “letter”, I was going to bring in all of you letter lovers and typography aficionados. But here’s my honest disclosure: this podcast won’t be about typography and letterforms. At least not exclusively.

It will be about something a lot more profound. I believe that your craft or whatever you love doing is a portal to discover more about yourself, and this is what this space will be all about. 

Go check out the first episode where I present the podcast. I’ll be releasing episodes every week (@stefankunz@belindaskou , @ivancastrolettering, @pandrdesignco, and more are lined up!). 

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,  Google Podcasts, YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. I hope you’ll join me!

Visit the podcast page to send us a message!

September 26, 2014

Handlettering at Pinterest DE

pinterestDE

Yesterday was Pinterest Germany house warming party in Berlin and they invited me to carry on an adventure. I hand lettered postcards for guests that they could take home as inspiration. I spent a wonderful evening drinking wine and drawing type. Yes, please!

Join thousands of readers in this community and upgrade your lettering skills! If you're as excited as I am, send this link to a friend, so they can subscribe too. 

August 15, 2014

About going after

 

Like every summer I have prepared an special mailing to hand picked Art Directors that I'd like to work with. As every time different, in this occasion I customised Moleskine cahier notebooks with hand made lettering, plus a special packaging for it.

01

Interestingly, I posted a pic of these some days ago on instagram and someone asked me " I can't believe you have to try to persuade art directors to work with you! As if they don't come knocking at your door!". On one side it was flattering, it's nice to hear that your work is appreciated. On the other hand I thought "I couldn't do it other way".

I'm happy to be going through a point in my career were work keeps coming in, through which I get to deal with fantastic creatives and professionals. However, I personally think that everything can change, even your joy for doing certain things and working with certain people. For that reason I keep myself moving, planing new stuff, reaching new individuals that I never reached and having dream jobs that I have to go after. I believe that this is a essential part of my creative life and I rather keep it going.

04

Today I'm sending this special mailing away hoping I get a call back from this special people I'm trying to reach.  But mostly I wish I'll have some new ones to go after next year and the year after.

Sparrstraße 20,
13353 Berlin, Germany (by appointment only)
+49 (0) 30 33877574 

Sparrstraße 20,
13353 Berlin, Germany (by appointment only)
+49 (0) 30 33877574 

Sparrstraße 20,
13353 Berlin, Germany (by appointment only)
+49 (0) 30 33877574 

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©2019 Studio Martina Flor. All rights reserved.

 

 ©2019 Studio Martina Flor. All rights reserved.