Leaning in is a term I have heard a lot in the last couple of years. It has multiple meanings but the definition that stands out to me is the one used in sports that means “shifting one’s body weight forward or toward someone or something.” In professional skiing, skiers lean into the turn. In track and field when there is a race to be won as in the Olympics the runners have to lean in with their whole body especially if it is a close race. The sports of gymnastics and tennis have many opportunities to lean in. Especially when the tennis player serves the ball. They are leaning forward with their whole body. When one leans in they do so trusting their bodies, minds, and training. There is no doubt or time for questioning. As in sports there are many opportunities to lean in in business. The following are examples from my business over the last 6 years that have required me to lean in
I started sketching in notebooks in the year 2015. The year 2016 was spent doing more elaborate sketches and teaching myself the art of calligraphy from my house. In 2017 I was asked to do my first two jobs. I had never been asked to put my writing in front of anyone before. I remember the client cold calling me one day and say I need someone to do my envelopes for me. At the time I hardly knew even what that meant. All I had was my black tombow brush pen. I chose at that moment to lean in. I studied other calligraphers envelopes and got a laser level and tackled the project. I had a very limited picture of what I could accomplish as a calligrapher but with that small picture I’m glad I leaned in. They were not perfect but the client was happy and it showed me that I really enjoyed envelope calligraphy.
After slowly working in 2017 and 2018 I finally had what would be considered a body of work. I decided it was time to make the body of work into a business. I hired my friend Alicia DiPerri to take pictures of me walking in downtown Greer for a website. I put what pictures I had of my work on the website and launched my business. I had the tiny thoughts in my head “Who do you think you are? Are you really ready to broadcast yourself like this? Nevertheless I had a fun day and I leaned into the fact that I needed to lean into the flow.
Shortly after launching my website, I taught myself pointed pen calligraphy (not easy, give yourself a solid 6 months). I said I would do modern calligraphy which is the very flowy easier form. But, I always that copperplate or traditional calligraphy was amazing but just too hard and fancy for me. Well, as the universe would have it I got a huge push. Those that know me know that I am not a person who enjoys cooking all the time. I was given a cookbook in 2012 by my mother in law by an amazing celebrity chef and his was quite literally the only cookbook i cooked out of. Well, in 2018 as the universe would have it, this celebrity chef’s assistant found my work on etsy and asked it I’d do envelopes for this chef’s party in California. He got me in touch with the chef by telephone. We had a nice conversation. And towards the end he said “I would like these to be in Copperplate calligraphy please”. Well I had never written one letter in copperplate calligraphy. I had about 5 seconds to decide if i was going to lean in or run in fear. I said “Ok, I’ll do it”. Well I spent about 2 weeks practicing, tracing and learning copperplate calligraphy. After hours and hours of practice, it was time to do the envelopes. It was at the time the opportunity of my career. This specific opportunity taught me that if you believe in yourself and lean in you can accomplish anything. After that job it gave me a confidence that I could go for more in my business and I did.
In 2019, I was asked to do a styled shoot with agates. I looked at other calligraphers agates on instagram and thought it was a great idea. Little did I know, that writing on an agate is like iceskating. You can hit it in the wrong way a fall, It is slippery and not easy. I put my work out there for the styled shoot and leaned into it and soon enough I got asked to do more agate place cards and now its my most requested product.
Around that time I had my biggest opportunity to lean in. Skillpop, a local business that hosts classes that include art, calligraphy, photography, marketing, etc. reached out to me and said we would like you to teach pointed pen calligraphy introduction classes. I remember my first thought was, “Me, really? I just started this business. But, I decided to lean in with what I knew. I was a former special ed teacher so I thought I’ll just teach this class as one of my special ed classes- slow, methodical, steady. I knew my students would need calligraphy letters to trace during the class so I researched other calligrapher’s tracing guides and I thought I’ll just make my own guides. Anyone who has seen my guides know they are “very special ed”. They are color coded to the direction of the strokes. When It came time to market my class, of course the nerves set in. “Would anyone come to a new calligraphers new class?” But, i trusted the process and two days before the class it sold out. We had a great night at Swoozies. Since that night I’ve taught about 5 classes for Skillpop and it is one of the most favorite parts of my business.