It’s been awhile since my last update, but this post has been at the forefront if my mind for a few weeks now. I have just been a little gun shy about writing it, let alone posting, because it spells out an uncertain future for this blog as a whole.
Anyone who follows my Twitter feed knows that the company I work for is suffering pretty badly from the economic turn-down. We’ve recently had massive layoffs with rumors of more to come this month. Of course I’m not the first to write about the fear of a pink slip, and sadly, not the last. Fortunately, I have been given some reassurance that my job is safe for the immediate future, but I don’t want to be one of those folks that needs to figure out their backup plan after they’ve already been let go.
What the Hell are You Talking About Dave?
Good question, and one I plan to figure out the answer to very soon. The truth is, I haven’t completely fleshed out the idea to the fullest extent, but basically it means a future in freelance consulting (another term for unemployed). My strongest skill sets have always been marketing and graphic design and I’ve always served the automotive and/or small business segments.
The reason I’m still unsure about things is the last time I tried to start a consultancy to earn a little extra cash while still employed I almost got canned because of a single blog post. I’m a bit trepidatious, as you can probably imagine, but the idea of getting caught with my pants down is even scarier.
Two questions still remain though. First, how to I take the things I excel at the most and implement my new green ideology into them? Second, and more importantly to my readers, if I have to spend my free time focusing on ramping up my freelance career, what happens to this blog? One of the things I tried to resolve this past year is not putting so many irons in the fire. I can’t possibly imagine trying to maintain this blog consistently while I’m trying to point my life toward the future of a new career. I’m also painfully aware that even though I have a voice on the subject of green living, it’s not what I’m best at, and there are so many people who are way more knowledgeable. I firmly believe it is time to cater to my strengths.
I probably wouldn’t kill off The Greeniest because through this site I’ve met some really awesome folks and I can’t imagine turning my back on any of them. Perhaps the solutions is to back-burner this site until I can figure out how to work it into my regiment, posting only when I have divine epiphanies on greeniness.
To the first question, I have plenty of ideas about how to incorporate the green lifestyle into my marketing and design, but I’d like to here some of your thoughts in the comments. The future of my business and the businesses I work with depend on you now.
Flickr photo by Meredith Farmer
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Derek 12.04.08 at 11:32 am
Dave- I think there’s a world of opportunity out there to “green-up” marketing and design. Pointing out sustainable hosting providers, partnering with other green bloggers, and listing ways to go green with specific marketing efforts (recycled paper for print, highlighting specific green printing businesses, organic t-shirts, etc)
Maybe showcase your green design talents here?
Jennifer Smith 12.04.08 at 12:11 pm
Well Dave I do not have the knowledge to answer the how, but only that if you gotta make a change green collar is the way to go!
This would be why I now sit home and do what I did in an office, but I do it paperless and eco-friendly as I can and if you don’t like it, there are many other Virtual Assistants out there that will do it the unsustainable way! =P As an added bonus my money finally goes to bills, not gas and daycare! Yeah! It will work out. BTW, when it does and you need a VA to keep things straight, you know where to go! Keep us posted!
Jen
Eco-Office Gals
Dave Conrey 12.04.08 at 12:24 pm
Derek - I actually am thinking about moving all my hosting over to Dreamhost because I hear they are operating more sustainably these days, and have really decent pricing and packages available. I’m not sure if i want to position myself as The Green Marketer or merely have it as an added bonus to my services because people in the automotive industry that I am familiar with turn up their noses at green ideas. I need to bring it to them stealth-like. I do like the idea of a green business referral network. That’s definitely a project to consider for all our benefit.
Jennifer - I’ve been contemplating a VA recently because my life has been so damn hectic, so if I go that route, I’ll definitely be dropping you a line.
mt 12.04.08 at 8:04 pm
Cars & green & marketing & design come together in that magazine/blog thing I wished existed when I still worked with you guys. Beyond hybrids/plug-ins and alternative fuels (which everyone seems to stop at), there’s greener painting & washing methods/products, recycled/greener upholstery materials, retrofitting existing cars to run alternative fuels or go electric–new innovations every day from big companies and little start-ups (advertising dollars). That combined with a little bit of theory and DIY, both in reusing car stuff and fixing whatcha got and you got yourself something even I would read.
Don’t hold me responsible for the success or failure of such an endeavor, however. I don’t know jack about jack.
Dave Conrey 12.04.08 at 10:35 pm
Yeah, a certain individual that we both know, who gave the finger to the company to start his own magazine/blog thing is now out of work because he failed miserably. He’s now begging for freelance work. It was bizarre seeing him in the offices today. Not to say it’s not possible to do that kind of site fairly easily, but if I did go the more automotive route and failed, you better believe I’d blame you.
Tara Burner 12.08.08 at 10:57 am
Hey Dave
Ok, the way I see it is this…you’re talented and you have drive. You’ll make a go at it and succeed in any avenue you pursue. I think you have a lot to offer in the green realm and while you don’t want to blatantly shove the green factor in the auto industry that you deal in you can do it under wraps, providing them your excellent service and also being green in process.
As far as too many irons in the fire, you’re talking to queen of multi tasking, multiple businesses…with the right network of people who you can delegate work to (be it a VA or otherwise) I think you can do what has to be done and maintain this informative blog.
It’s going to sound cliche, but you have to do what your heart and mind tell you to do…it may not seem feasible or even possible at a time but think, feel, contemplate where you’re supposed to be and what you’re supposed to be doing and you’ll get there
on a side note, you could always do your artwork which rocks! Once things get situated here a bit more you know I’ll be commissioning you
MICHELE M 12.15.08 at 1:25 am
Didn’t know about this site but it’s looking very interesting!