Chutes and Ladders

Have you ever had this day? You are on a high and then life sends you back down the chute just when you think you’ve almost made it. My intention when setting out on this journey was to share both the exciting and the difficult moments. My hope is to help other people see that it’s not always perfect or easy. After all, the big lesson behind Saving Soup is how failure is just part of the process. I will tell you, some days I HATE that lesson. Hitting that brick wall is never fun.  What I have learned after riding the chute more times that I care to count is this: just stop.   Don’t make any decisions or take any action, just stop.  I like to call it my “pity party”.   Take time to fully let the disappointment move through you and feel the anger, pain, sadness, etc.  Step away from it all for a moment and watch stupid tv, take a walk, take a nap, or, my favorite, eat chocolate.  It may take a day, or it may take a few days but eventually it will pass, or you will run out of chocolate.  Then it is time to start again and trust that you are on the right path.  At least, in this moment, that’s what I’m going to believe in.  

Welcome to the Journey

I would like to invite you on the journey of bringing my dream to life.   Learn how my animated show, Saving Soup, was born and join me as I navigate the path to build the brand.

The Day He Walked Into My Life

It was one year ago today that Soup first came to life. In that time, there have been moments of pride, moments of awe and moments of pure panic. What a crazy ride it has been! My hope has always been to leave a positive mark on this world. However, I am beginning to believe that the true benefit of finding your purpose in life isn’t about how you can impact the world, but how you will transform yourself. Perhaps that is what it is all about. 

Building a Brand

In a world where established brands have become the easy way out for most companies, building a brand from the bottom up is no easy task. Building a new brand when you aren’t one of the major players, most would say, is nearly impossible. So why even try? My answer. Why Not?

The world is in need of fresh new perspectives and they will come from somewhere. Where? No one can predict that. I have no idea if Saving Soup will reach even close to the success of Peppa Pig but what I do know is that Peppa was once an idea and was not a major success over night. It took people who kept pushing forward to build that brand to what it is today.

My belief is that success comes when you believe in something so strongly that “failure” is not a choice. Every day you wake up and you put one more foot forward even when you’ve got no clue if the ground you are standing on will hold you. There have certainly been days when I have questioned myself and I know there will be more. I think that is part of this process. One thing is for sure, regardless of the outcome, the ride is worth it!

To Err is D’Vine

Episode 2 is here! Here’s to the difficult decisions, the fear, and moments of doubt that brought me to this moment! Cheers to not letting any of it hold me back.

Just Jump

Jumping off the high dive is much easier the second time you are standing on the board. The first time you climb that ladder and look down at the pool below, it can be frightening.  Through your own experience of jumping, you learn that even though there is an element of fear, it is also exciting and empowering.  The next time up that ladder gives you a rush.  The fear is still there but it all feels much safer now that you know what happens after the jump.

Launching the show was much like jumping off the high dive for the first time. There was a great deal of fear. I played in my head everything that could go wrong. Feeling physically ill, I tried to delay. Fortunately, my husband was there to encourage me and, yes, nudge me a little. Once I jumped, I knew there was no going back. Despite all of the reasons I told myself that I would fail, I still hit the submit button. The truth is, of course, nothing bad came from making that decision. As a matter of fact, it was greeted with a great deal of positive support.

As I anxiously wait to release Episode 2, I have been reflecting at how different this climb has been from the first. There is still so much to learn and so much unknown ahead, but I look forward to it all.

What are you holding off completing because of the fears living inside your head?  It’s time to quiet the mind. Take a risk.  Climb the ladder.  Jump.