“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” —Mark Twain
My name is Alex, and I overanalyze. Sometimes it’s a good thing. I’m strategic, I’m deliberative, I consider all angles. Give me a problem and I’ll give you fifteen solutions, along with the pros and cons of each. I’m proud of my ability to strategize, but sometimes overthinking can stand in the way of creativity.
I’ve been working on starting a printmaking business for a while now. There is SO much to consider… everything from constructing a brand and building an effective marketing strategy, to pricing, shipping, and other logistics. Each is a complex problem with several solutions that could be effective.
The trouble is, I’ve been using all of these challenges as an excuse not to get started. Am I spending more money than I’ll make? What if I don’t sell a single print and I lose a ton of money? What does it mean about my work if no one buys it? These nagging doubts collect around my feet, cementing me to the ground.
And so, I want to figure out all the answers before I begin. The trouble is, life doesn’t work that way. The curveballs are inevitable, and sometimes the best way to learn is in the moment. It is through working through those tough times that we gain the resiliency and skills we need to thrive, whether it is in business or in life.
I’ve been realizing lately that often analysis is the enemy of creativity. My best, most creative work happens when the mind is free to wander, explore, and experiment. Greatness happens when you’re not afraid to fail.
And so, against my better judgment, I’ve decided to just start.
I’d like to invite you to take this journey with me. Not just the journey of starting a business, but a personal journey as well. Diving in is scary. Failure is hard. But it is through these failures that we learn and grow. Maybe I will fail spectacularly. But maybe I won’t.
Welcome to Wandering Paper Co.
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
—Helen Keller
Wandering Paper Co. | Global Block Prints 