Friday, March 30, 2012

Week 14 - Thing 1 & Thing 2 Creative Courage Challenge


“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You!”  ~Dr. Seuss

This post is near to my heart it is true, as I may be Thing One or maybe Thing Two.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” -Shakespeare

Let us for a moment consider what a name “is”… It is defined as: the grouping of several letters of an alphabet, or other symbols, which represent the identification of a person an object or a community.
Well, thank you ever so much for the English lesson lady…but that doesn’t explain how we lament over choosing names for children or products, businesses or even family pets. This Thing or That Thing.  Nor does it explain the fierce attachments that we have to our own names and it certainly does not help me when I am agonizing over the name for my own business – a name that will be something which exudes all of the ideals, imagery and emotional repose that I would like for it to represent, the things that are me…
Some of you may have already chosen business names, some may simply be using their own name to represent their work, but all of you have put some thought into it at one time or another. You owned it, because it is YOU…I know what you are thinking…is this is part of our Creative Courage Challenge? The ability to choose a name??  Is that something I really need help with? Are you going to make us pick from Thing 1 & Thing 2?  LOL!!  Did I pique your internal Curious George? Well, although working through our creative courage challenges will in deed help you to discover your business name or even change your business name…BUT there is greater  creative courage to be divulged here in the Shimmerlings realm.  Ripped from the Headlines, Based on a True Story, Names have been changed to protect the innocent…okay, that last part isn’t true…but  I am in fact about to share a true to life story that is actually currently evolving and resolving….the story of Thing 1 and Thing 2…. what is in a name?

“How vain, without the merit, is the name.”  -Homer

I don’t know about you guys, but being in business I’m always wondering where I am listed on search engines, so I’ve gotten into the habit each Monday of googling “Shimmerlings” to see what pops up! I do a web search as well as an image search, and cross my fingers hoping I’m totally awesome!  I’ve been performing this act each week for several years; and there was never anything else that popped up except the Chi-Chi Universe, where Shimmerlings are beings in their web story universe.  Then not that long ago, I learned that it’s the name of a cat in Harry Potter book (but not the movie) and then shimmerlings had also  become a character in the online video game and THEN believe it or not even a fishing lure ( LOL!) …no biggie, though right? Totally different, no big whoop, nothing to worry about.
Well, late last year while performing my weekly search, there were suddenly a whole lot of otherShimmerlings links and images! Shimmerlings that aren’t mine …artisan jewelryShimmerlings….Shimmerlings with an whimsical touch! I frantically began researching this interloper to find out what was going on!!  How dare someone ELSE be creating wonderfully handcrafted artisan jewelry with a mystical aura and a ethereal whimsical touch….with the name of SHIMMERLINGS!!! I started scrolling from page to page looking at all these wonderful creations that didn’t belong to me, but could have easily been part of my work! Was my creative identity being stolen?!  I was on the verge of a panic attack by the fourth google page! This is MY name, I’ve had it for so many years…I can not be losing it now to someone who could be me!
While I began my research (okay, stalking) I found a website, an Etsy shop, a Blog and a even a Facebook Page! I couldn’t believe it! I had been usurped! Mimicked! Stolen! It was if I had just discovered that my father had another family in different state that had similar features to my own!  I felt completely devastated, and forlorn. I am currently in the midst of redesigning my whole site, which included a new logo design! This new Shimmerlings was exuding a great deal of the same passions that I have been!  I MUST  find out who this “Thing 2” was to my “Thing 1”!! (Of course I decided that I am Thing 1 -sheesh! ) My trademark application is ‘in process’ but could be years before I can legally challenge anyone! Aaaaahhh!! I had no real power here…what to do? What to do? In fear and frustration I let the stalking begin!

“I don’t want to lose my name because that’s how I know myself. There is a legacy here.” -Moon Unit Zappa

In my prowling (okay, stalking) I found out that this other “Shimmerlings” Artist was a resident in the UK…and truly even if she was in the US, short of my trademark approval, there really wasn’t anything I could do to demand that she cease and desist (*sigh* – realization sinks in).  I also found that she had only recently changed her business name, but she had been a jewelry artist for many years as well.
Her website was similar to mine, her work included some things I had been mulling over in my mind, her grasp of the mystic was as strong as mine, and she loved the fae as I did.  I was crestfallen and confused; did I have a doppelganger?? Was she a replicator? Was she my long lost identical twin sister? (hey, you never know!! What if my father did in fact have another family in different state?!)  I was beside myself in grief and wretchedness …. I didn’t know what to do…I felt totally defeated. (Full Disclosure: I cried for a few days while trying to decide what to do.) What? What? What was to be done?? Worry.. deep overwhelming worry that I was about to lose my business identity set in……I did the only thing I could do to remain as patient as this situation required…I opened a bottle of wine!
Drink in hand I mulled it over…I racked my brain, (leave it alone? make a demand? plead my case and ask for leniency?) I searched my heart, tried to put myself in Thing 2′s place (again YES I am Thing 1) I tried my best not to Judge Judy her and I tried to give credit where credit is due – she did create wonderful things, and everyone deserves to sparkle…. I could think of no other thing to do, but attempt to be kind and humbly ask this other artist to consider changing her name to something else that isn’t mine! Mine! Mine! MINE!! (sorry I channeled my 2 year old self there for a moment!)…Well, even the thought of asking that hurt me, as I read her post explaining how excited she was about her new name, and how much it meant to her. Because I remember that very same feeling so many years ago when the name came to me; it is unrivaled feeling of excitement to believe you have found just the right name to create and identify your business…but I had, in my mind, no other actual choice that would allow me to remain true to myself, but to simply ask for what I wished. I have always taught my children…you can’t get anything you don’t ask for. I decided to practice what I preached….imagine that! I mustered my moxie, I Embraced The Tickle, and I decided to plead my case.
I began to compile an email, heart racing and head spinning. My mind whirling and ceasing, quickly thoughtful and then blank…I deleted, erased, rewrote, reframed, pleaded, explained and fought the fear of the anticipated “Nothing You Can Do” response from this person I knew literally nothing about, but seemed to have so much in common with. My email finished, I read and re-read it, deciding it was as good as it would ever be…I decided to send it.   Heart pounding, palms sweating, eyes teary, my finger hovered over the send button on my keyboard momentarily…but I couldn’t do it! I put my finger down…  A moment later, I knew it must be done!  I was hovering again…then crossed the fingers on both hands, said a silent request to the Powers That Be that there be a friendly outcome and kind resolution to this scary experience… I squeezed my eyes shut, embraced the tickle and jabbed the SEND button! (*whew*) I let out the breath I didn’t even realize I was still holding in!! Yes, I was a bit dizzy, I was holding my breath for much longer than anyone should….
It’s done, hoping that I worded it well, hoping I didn’t offend, wishing there was something else I could do…but, alas there is nothing. It’s done, can’t take it back, no ‘unsend’ button…it’s out there – in the:  World. Wide. Web.  Out of my hands now, all I can do is wait for the response…………*sigh* …..waiting…..waiting….nerve racking….stomach churning… waiting…. pacing… wringing hands… waiting….and god it’s only been a few hours! ACK! Being that there is such a large time difference between the US Midwest and the UK, I tried to be calm, again I attempted to take my own advice and I did my best to Sit.Silent.Breathe.Be… this time my advice was hugely ineffective!!  I did the only thing I could do to remain as patient as this situation required…I opened another bottle of wine!
Well it wasn’t but the very next day that I received a response. There it was. in my mailbox. Shocked, Stunned and Scared… I just stared at it.  (I felt like Meg Ryan in “You’ve Got Mail) I wonder what it says? What if it’s the dreaded “too bad for you” response? Then what will I do?? I could just not read it, and go on with my life, couldn’t I? Waiting….what was I waiting for? It was the courage to send the letter that was the actual hard part, this is only fear!!  I couldn’t take it anymore…with heart pounding I clicked the email …and I held my breath while I read…. I will not include the entire email, but the following is the portion of that very first response to my (hopefully) humble request…
First let me say that I appreciate your honesty, and I will be equally open and honest with you. This is a lot of information for me to assimilate and I need a bit of time to process it all.  So I ask that you give me a few days to brainstorm a bit and see what I can come up with. You are right, we are both creative people and I certainly want no hard feelings or discourse. I believe in running my business, whether large or small, with integrity. We will figure something out.
What?! Whew! Slight relief!  Oh my god, I almost couldn’t believe it! I had prepared myself for the worst but had hoped for the best, and it looks as if I was coming out on the latter side of that confusion…BUT What impressed me most- what I has carried with me to this day… of the full email, of all the verses Angela wrote, of all of those words included above – the strongest to me were “we will figure something out” – WE. Not you figure out something for yourself, or too bad for you, or there’s nothing you can do.  Angela responded with “WE will work something out.”  I read it twice, and then three times to make certain that I hadn’t in my high hopes, possibly misinterpreted it …. With a rush of relief and tears of respite already on my cheeks, I had to take a few (okay many) deep breaths and then catch it before I could even hope to begin to respond.

“Human beings are the only creatures who are able to behave irrationally in the name of reason.”  -Ashley Montagu

From that day this lovely artist – who clearly cared as deeply about our shared name –  and I began to exchange many emails…it wasn’t too much longer within our conversations that with a heavy heart Angela offered to relinquish the Shimmerlings name. Saying it seemed the right thing to do.
She stated valuable reasoning such as the fact that I had had it for much longer and already had such a large web presence…but it was a heart wrenching decision for her, I have no doubt.  In my relief for her kindness, I developed a great deal of admiration for her strength, her integrity as a business woman, and her courage for daring to begin anew, especially as she had just felt that she had overcome that hurdle with her business…she had the courage to take it on again. Quite admirable in my mind!

“Do not say, ‘it is morning,’ and dismiss it with the name of yesterday. See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name.”  -Rabindranath Tagore

In our regular communications we talked about how each of us came to find the name, we bonded over the commonalities we had in our personalities, our business ideals, our plans for the future, and WE brainstormed together searching for a new name for her Shimmerlings. WE were in fact figuring something out; but it took the courage of both artists to do it with aplomb! I believe it took courage on my part to connect humbly with her initially, as it would have been easy enough to take the low road and let my anger, fear and frustration take the lead.  Although I firmly believe that it took a great deal MORE courage on Angela’s part to not only respond in kindness, but to be willing to relinquish the name she loved so much AND to start anew…again. If only all business people could work in this fashion, I believe that the world would be a much better place indeed. A little sprinkling of magic truly does go such a long way don’t you think? When I shared the news with a few friends, each of them were truly astonished, and one even said “Today you both renewed my faith in humanity”.
Through brainstorming, soul searching, conversing with important people in Angela’s life…a new name was brought forth to her…. EarthShine Designs!  It had come to her during a time when she thought she had already found another name. But it was this name that settled within her, felt proper in its place, and she courageously began afresh. (Here’s the story in Angela’s own words) Angela is currently working on all of her web presence thingys that we all know we must…and it would mean a great deal to me for everyone to look her up, give her a nod, remind her that she is chock o bock of Creative Courage, send her positive energy, and wish her luck. Because she most certainly deserves it!
There is no true way for me to express how genuinely grateful I am for this entire situation, for the reality check, for the internal proof how important my work, name and business are to me, as well as for my renewed belief in humanity, kindness and good business practices in general and of course, for my new friend!
Of all the “lessons” and challenges that I could have written about, none of it would not have really mattered if there weren’t some true examples of what Creative Courage will bring you if you practice it….I believe this is one of those examples. Take it to heart, believe in the powers that made you exceptional, and go forth into the world knowing it to be true, and be as Courageous as my new friend Angela truly is!
So….I suppose there is no actual challenge this week…but to take this story of courage, integrity and wonderful co-existence ruminate in your heart and your mind. Try to recall it while in your creative life you come to find a situation in which you can be the awesomest artist, in your life and the life of another. Learn to work in kindness – even in business. Remember that Creative Courage will bring your heart and mind into alignment with your business and create a wonderful blending of strengths! Just remember. See ya next week!

“You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.”   ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

JeaneMargherite Meria McMahon Murray Schintgen

(yep, that’s my name, don’t wear it out!)
 I would love for you to “check me out” in my other realms…..

…or is it??  : )

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