Today is my first day back as the owner of Big Leap Creative and I am rather giddy with excitement.
I’ve left this blog highly neglected during my time as chief content officer at Spin Sucks and I make no apologies for it. That was a great adventure; and one where I learned a ton.
As my very close friend Adora advised back in 2010 when I made the decision to pick up and move to Chicago for a year:
“Even if things don’t go as planned, it will, at a minimum open new doors.”
And she couldn’t be more right. The skills, the lessons, and my new friends and colleagues all bring a lot of opportunity to my business.
I started BLC in 2004, mostly out of necessity, because I left my ski resort job and didn’t have other job opportunities in the community. I wasn’t about to leave Sandpoint because I love it here, and I was with my boyfriend at the time, who has since become my husband.
I always knew BLC wasn’t done which is why I never did away with the website. But now, I am re-launching out of love and passion; not necessity. And I know this is a better reason.
What’s Next
I’m going to take some downtime in October to create the vision and the plan for the reinvented Big Leap Creative; and to focus on business development. (<— Um, yeah. That.)
We’ll be traveling back east to visit family, and I’ll be writing away, running, and mountain biking. I’ll have more time to work on my husband’s winery marketing which I’ve badly neglected.
Most importantly, I’m going to stop looking at the grass on the other side thinking its greener. It’s either the glasses I’m wearing, or the angle at which I’m looking at, because, dammit, the grass that I’m standing on looks pretty darn green to me!
While I’m working on that vision, I’ll also be thinking about this blog which will be on its beautiful new site in one month. Just what the world needs – another digital marketing blog, so I’ll be finding a way to contribute my unique voice in the space.
It might have to do with running up and down mountains to find clarity and balance in life. It might be about owning and growing a business. It will most definitely be about marketing using the latest technology.
But also? It might grapple with being an ambitious person who struggles to conquer anxiety on a regular basis. Things aren’t always what they appear to be and as I chat offline with friends and colleagues, I begin to realize I’m not alone here. I’ll be the first to admit there has been more than one Monday morning where I’ve watched my Facebook feed with a sinking feeling thinking I’m the only one who isn’t ready to “take on Monday with a fierce roar.”
I’d like to pledge to share the good and the bad of being in business and trying to find that emerald grass even if it means I have to put on my green lenses to make it so.
And one last thing! If you’re in the Inland Northwest, I’ll be speaking on Friday on using technology to shape marketing strategy. The details are here, and I hope to see you there.
Thanks to Jarrah’s Jungle for the photo.
[ssba]
yay, Lisa!!! Go get ’em and yes, the grass you’re standing on looks pretty darn green to me, too. I can’t wait to see what you write here. Maybe it will inspire me to jump back on my own blog and write a post or two. Hmm, soulati would be so ecstatic about that!
Dance on that grass, Lisa! Huzzah!
Woo-hoo!! Congrats!!! 🙂
I’m so looking forward to seeing what’s next!
Congrats Lisa, I’m extremely excited to watch you conquer this journey.
Woo hoo! So proud of you missy! Miss you!
Huge congrats to you Lisa:) And one day we’ll have to discuss that “balance” thing. I’m all about embracing imbalance and taking action. Life’s a rockin’ roller coaster, full of ups and downs and I say: the only time we’re balanced is when we’re dead and gone. So embrace the imbalance of it all, and enjoy the ride! Cheers! Kaarina
Well, I’d by lying if I didn’t say this isn’t bittersweet to me. We did what we could to launch Spin Sucks Pro… and most of it not launching on time was out of our control. This year you stepped up to help with client work, while we made enough money to switch development firms and for that I will always be grateful. Have fun with that biz dev thing! xoxo
Excited for you, Lisa. Given the great work you did for Gini, I think you are destined for success. Good luck!
Congrats! Can’t wait to read all the new posts!
Onward! Congrats!
@EricaAllison soulati Thanks, Erica – and you are an inspiration to me, with all you do AND kids. 🙂 One thing I’ve decided is to never feel guilty about not blogging or pressure to do so. Hopefully, you feel the same.
@BobReed No one wants to see me dance. Trust me. 🙂 Thanks, Bob. I’ll see you back in CA, as an owner again.
@belllindsay And to you, ma’am, and now to Drew as well!! W00T! Everything is looking up, baby!
@Sean McGinnis Thank you sir, and I from you as well, dontcha know.
@jennimacdonald Thank you thank you! You’ve been a good friend along the way – and I love that our paths crossed if only for a few minutes in Seattle. 🙂
@CristerDelaCruz I miss you, too. I’ll connect with you privately – we’ll be in DC very briefly. Maybe we can get a drink!
@KDillabough See? You’re so right, which is why I titled this the way I did. Sometimes we need to stop worrying about what we’re missing, and enjoy what we’re doing. I once was a ski columnist, and I interviewed a girl who said she had a mental illness, that she could never enjoy a powder day because she was always worried the snow was better on a different run. LOL.
And I’ll connect with you about connecting. 🙂 I agree, and thanks for your words of support.
@ginidietrich Sigh. I know. You and I have an expression for that, which I can’t say here, because I don’t think I’ll have F bombs on this blog either. But you know what I’m thinking. (About SSP)
And I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason. It was an awesome adventure, for which I have no regrets, and only took back a ton of lessons. (not learnings. not learnings. not learnings)
@Neicolec Thanks, Neicole. I really appreciate that. 🙂
@manamica I’m all ready – I just can’t wait to have my shiny new site. I’m sad we won’t get to hang out! We were just getting started!!!!!
@jeanniecw Here we go!
Good luck on the new/renewed business venture!
Good luck, Lisa! I’m looking forward to reading the new stuff…
Congrats on day one! I remember that feeling I had a mere 8 months ago! Best of luck on the new adventure. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got up your sleeves!
New adventures await and I can’t wait to subscribe to the RSS feed!
@Lisa Gerber Enjoy family, writing, mountain biking, running…take in the scenery, pause and refresh for all the great things to come. And on that note…I look forward to connecting, at your convenience. I have some ideas in store:) Cheers! Kaarina
If the new digital marketing blog is yours, then it will be a welcome addition to the bunch. Can’t wait to see the redesign.
What everyone else said…congrats and can’t wait to read more blog posts of yours 🙂
Hi Lisa! I am very excited for you. You have a unique voice and a great perspective. It is going to be exciting to see where this new chapter in life takes you.
I know you will continue to make me laugh and appreciate the simpler things in life like a good trail, good friends or even just a good view from a deck in the mountains.
#golisa
@Anthony_Rodriguez Thank you very much! looking forward to it.
@lauraclick You only started 8 months ago? Seriously? and then what happened after that feeling? All downhill? LOL!
@AmyPattiAdams Awww, thanks, Amy! I’m going to miss our happy wine hours. We’ll have to conspire to meet places again.
@HeatherTweedy I can’t wait either, and thank you for the awesome compliment!
@yvettepistorio Man, I’m really setting myself up here, aren’t I? I’ll write my blog posts, I’ll write my blog posts. 🙂
@hackmanj best hashtag ever. Not as good as #GoJoe, now that I think of it….. and thank you very much for that.
@Lisa Gerber I started two years ago while working a day job and then quit the day job to go consulting full time in February. It was something I had been working toward for a long time and it was exhilarating to finally make it happen!
It’s not all downhill – just different. You overcome one hurdle of making the leap and then you encounter new and different challenges. All very good though. 🙂 You’ll do great!
@Lisa Gerber I know!!! So exciting. It’s been a great month on the job/career move front for so many people I know. Something in the air, methinks! 😀
@Lisa Gerber If you want I can bug you if you aren’t writing them at least 3 times a week 😉
This post made me smile big Lisa. I knew you were a good writer, but the “feel” to this post is the exact reason why I bother to open emails in the first place—because I want to be moved and touched.
For whatever reason, I’m not moved too much online these days, but this one was golden.
Thank You. 🙂
Marcus
@Marcus_Sheridan Marcus, your comment means a lot to me. Thank you.
@lauraclick @Lisa Gerber Oh – I’m super late in responding to you but that takes sooooo much work to start a business while you’re working another job. It must have been really nice when you were able to leave, and I bet your growth started to increase after you did! But I get it – you have to get to a certain point before you can jump ship.
I do love it – I did it for 7 years. was happy to have a change, and now I’m excited to get back into it. 🙂