Going the extra mile in your creative business.

Creative Business Tip – Give the unexpected.

There are ALWAYS opportunities to go the extra mile and gift others with a random act of kindness. In a creative business, it can be as simple as an encouraging word, a smile, a little humour, a small gift or extra creative touch. There are so many options.

Today I’m here to encourage you, that YOU too my friend, are an untapped vault of ideas when it comes to blessing others with the unexpected. It is simply a matter of being intentional in the moment.

Seeing we spend most of our time at work, this is a place we can shine when it comes to blessing others with a little extra. I’m sure there are many workplaces that desperately need it too. Perhaps yours?

In my creative business, these are a few gift ideas I have managed to add to my perceived responsibility to my customer or someone I work with.

• Add a hand painted quote in French to the base of a customers table to bless their home. (She LOVED it!)
• Send a gift to let them know I was thinking about their recent personal loss.
• Add a wrapped gift and dropped in the drawer of a desk so they’d find it later by surprise!
• Hand painted a floral design on the base of a piece of furniture so when they flipped it up they’d see something pretty and unexpected.
• Send numerous messages of encouragement or offers to pray to those who may appreciate the gesture
• Add extra unexpected features to a piece of furniture – without charging.
• Sent extra items in orders.
• Organise things that are not related to work, but the customer mentions a challenge I was able to help with or connected them with help.
• Drawn on the parcels a cute design to personalise the package.
• Hand written poems or cards.

There are many more but you get the idea. Perhaps they may spark ideas and help you think of some for your people.

In my creative business I try to be creative when adding value to the people I interact with. I try to treat everyone who steps into my studio as a good friend and listen carefully for clues. I has become a game in a way. It is so much fun that I have to be careful not to get too distracted by all the ideas when they start flowing. Still, carving out time to bless others in your creative business or even just your day, is totally worth it. I’m not talking about helping grow your businesses and work relationships, but just being someone who practices good deeds. Wouldn’t the world be much nicer if we were all more thoughtful?

Sometimes you won’t hear back and some may nor even be that grateful but it always does us good to do good. I love that saying….

Love is NEVER wasted.

Customers, work colleagues, employers and employees are all humans, who need encouragement, kindness and consideration. And who knows, it may catch on and return to you a little too. but in any case, it will feel good to know you gave a little extra to someone else that day – or each day!

Below is a paper scroll I made for a soon-to-be married couple. They had commissioned an old trunk makeover.
I created a story around the history of the trunk. I saved the rope knots removed from inside the trunk, tucking them inside the scroll.
 I offered a blessing for their marriage too. When the trunk was delivered they would have opened it to find the little gift. 

As I was painting the underside of this side table, I thought it would be nice to leave a wood section with a floral design.
It only cost a little time but may delight someone one day. Perhaps when they lift it into the car for transporting.
painting the backs or underside of furniture is an extra unexpected gift too. Most painters do not paint all the body.

Do you have some good ideas?

I’d love to read your comments on how you made a difference in a simple way to others.