Life Lines: Are you being served?
Today I stopped to think about this past week, and I tried to come up with a word or a thought that would characterize the week. What would sum up the things I had done, the things I had realized, the things I had wished. The word that came to mind was service. It's something that comes up in my life often. According to many "name guides," my name, Mollie, means servant of God. My primary spiritual gift seems to be the gift of service. And I've allowed service to play a big role in my life.
Have you ever seen the television show "Are You Being Served?" I first ran across this rather irreverent 1970s British comedy in reruns on PBS, and instantly loved it. Whenever the department store workers approach customers, they ask them, "Are you being served?" This answers to that question define my week.
I saw the sew-out for the embroidered shirt I worked on. The person that has the final say asked for a small adjustment to the art, one that I didn't see as necessary. In fact, his choice on the adjustment was the last choice I would have made. But he is the client, and I'm the designer. I can give my advice, but the bottom line is, I'm there to serve him. If asked, "Are you being served?", he would say "Yes." His actual words were, "You done good." It shouldn't be too long before I see a finished shirt!
Early in the week, my five-month-old baby sister had minor surgery. As I waited at home, taking care of the other kids, I saw God's plan once again. Because I wasn't at a full time job, and because I didn't have an overwhelming number of projects, I could better serve my family. If I were to ask my family, "Are you being served?", I think the answer would be, "Yes." As a side note, the baby is doing really well, and getting lots of hugs and snuggles from all of us.
One of my regular clients called to say that they got back the printed bandannas that I worked on. My part in the job was only to transfer a web-quality image into something that could actually be used for printing. Their call was to say that the bandannas didn't look too good. Instantly I felt bad. They were told by their vendor that it was because of the image type. After hearing more, I knew that much of the problem was due to poor communication from the vendor, but it still required my client coming back to me to fix it. They were okay with it, but don't want to lose them. If I ask them "Were you served?" I'm not so sure what the answer would be. Even though the fault was not entirely mine, that answer makes me sad.
I finished the first of two parts of my big project. I made an effort to get changes made and return the final file in a speedy manner. And it paid off. First, they offered to pay me in two parts, so I'll see a check sooner. And even better, I learned from someone that this client really likes working with me. He appreciates that follow through, that I respect his suggestions, and that I help "keep his duckies in a row." I'll take that as quite a complement! If I put the question "Are you being served?" to this Christian organization, I believe the answer would be "Yes," which is good, because like them, and I like working with them.
Okay, I'm done boring you with the events of my week. But let me sum up by saying that, although we've heard why graphic design doesn't always have to be about serving the client, much of it is. We work to make them happy and we serve as a way to help them communicate their message (and after all, they're the ones writing the check). I want to serve my clients, my friends, my family. And I want their experience to be the best possible. But most importantly, I want to serve my Lord. And hopefully, when I arrive in Heaven, I'll hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Life Lines is a first hand look at life after leaving a full time job and deciding to follow God given passions and dreams.
Have you ever seen the television show "Are You Being Served?" I first ran across this rather irreverent 1970s British comedy in reruns on PBS, and instantly loved it. Whenever the department store workers approach customers, they ask them, "Are you being served?" This answers to that question define my week.
I saw the sew-out for the embroidered shirt I worked on. The person that has the final say asked for a small adjustment to the art, one that I didn't see as necessary. In fact, his choice on the adjustment was the last choice I would have made. But he is the client, and I'm the designer. I can give my advice, but the bottom line is, I'm there to serve him. If asked, "Are you being served?", he would say "Yes." His actual words were, "You done good." It shouldn't be too long before I see a finished shirt!
Early in the week, my five-month-old baby sister had minor surgery. As I waited at home, taking care of the other kids, I saw God's plan once again. Because I wasn't at a full time job, and because I didn't have an overwhelming number of projects, I could better serve my family. If I were to ask my family, "Are you being served?", I think the answer would be, "Yes." As a side note, the baby is doing really well, and getting lots of hugs and snuggles from all of us.
One of my regular clients called to say that they got back the printed bandannas that I worked on. My part in the job was only to transfer a web-quality image into something that could actually be used for printing. Their call was to say that the bandannas didn't look too good. Instantly I felt bad. They were told by their vendor that it was because of the image type. After hearing more, I knew that much of the problem was due to poor communication from the vendor, but it still required my client coming back to me to fix it. They were okay with it, but don't want to lose them. If I ask them "Were you served?" I'm not so sure what the answer would be. Even though the fault was not entirely mine, that answer makes me sad.
I finished the first of two parts of my big project. I made an effort to get changes made and return the final file in a speedy manner. And it paid off. First, they offered to pay me in two parts, so I'll see a check sooner. And even better, I learned from someone that this client really likes working with me. He appreciates that follow through, that I respect his suggestions, and that I help "keep his duckies in a row." I'll take that as quite a complement! If I put the question "Are you being served?" to this Christian organization, I believe the answer would be "Yes," which is good, because like them, and I like working with them.
Okay, I'm done boring you with the events of my week. But let me sum up by saying that, although we've heard why graphic design doesn't always have to be about serving the client, much of it is. We work to make them happy and we serve as a way to help them communicate their message (and after all, they're the ones writing the check). I want to serve my clients, my friends, my family. And I want their experience to be the best possible. But most importantly, I want to serve my Lord. And hopefully, when I arrive in Heaven, I'll hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Life Lines is a first hand look at life after leaving a full time job and deciding to follow God given passions and dreams.
posted by mollie at 4:33 PM
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