Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Who am I? You decide.

WILL THE REAL MIKE METCALF PLEASE STAND UP?
Jim Metcalf, a hotel business tycoon in Hawai'i recently sold me my domain, mikemetcalf.com for a few hundred bucks (he was holding it onto for his son, Mike, but he didn't want it). I'm REALLY excited to finally own the domain, as I've had my eye on it for awhile. But now that I have, I'm not exactly sure what to do with it.

THE VALUE OF A GOOD PORTFOLIO
For web designers, a strong portfolio is far more important than a college degree or an awesome resume. Fortunately, I have a great job right now, but with child #2 on the way, it's become even more important for me to make sure I have something to fall back on. So my new website will basically be a place where I can strut my stuff, and hopefully serve as a means of bringing in extra work for Code Greene too!

I AM MY OWN WORST CLIENT
So I got the domain, I've got the skills, now I just need to put it together right? This should be a cinch right? I opened up Illustrator a few nights ago with hopes of coming up with a good logo for my new me, and ended up just staring into the void. I read an article about redesigning for yourself, and found some revealing advice. Before I can redesign, I need to rebrand. So who am I? What are my roots? How am I unique from the thousands and thousands of other designers in the market?

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN
I spent a morning writing down adjectives I thought described myself. It was a helpful exercise, but my own perception is not always parallel with how others might perceive me. And so I turn to you, dear friends... I need your help!

If you would be so kind, please write down 3 adjectives that you think describe who I am. Please be completely honest in your responses (it's ok to use words like "grotesque", "dastardly", or "obnoxious"). You might also use words such as "charming" or "definitely hotter than Taylor Lautner".

Once you write down your adjectives, please post them as a reply to this post along with how long you have known me, and your relationship to me.

EXAMPLE:
Name: Santa Claus
Adjectives: nice, skinny, ungrateful
Relationship: jolly friend
Time known: forever

RULES:
You are forbidden to read others' responses before posting your own. So write it down on paper before you scroll any further!

Did you write it down yet?

Ok, you can open up Notepad or Textedit too. You don't actually have to use a pen (I can tell you were worried).

Alright, got it? Sweet, post away.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Idea courtesy of Lea Alcantara. Thanks Lea!