From the Desk of Murray Lincoln

For your inspection

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/ and http://mistyhollow-digitalimages.blogspot.ca/

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Coming close to Mother Mary – and the First Miracle

Misty Hollow Carving and Misty Hollow Digital Images

These BLOGS are sponsored by my businesses.

“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

“Crop Circles’ Web Site” where all my images are available.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Coming close to Mother Mary – and the First Miracle

I began working with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, yesterday. The Blessed Virgin in the minds of good Christian people.

And in the minds of my Catholic friends she is highly revered. That is true especially about the Statue that has stood for so many years in Sacred Heart Church in Peterborough.

If you have followed my story, where I have been working in the Statues at the Sacred Heart Church, I have completed the restoration work in Jesus before Christmas 2012. The next in line for me to work on is this one of Mary.

Now in some circles there is mystery about Statues. As people focus their attention and pray while standing at the Statue – stuff happens. ‘Stuff’ may not be the best way to say it. Apologies, to my Christian friends. ‘Stuff’ is or could be Miracles… depending on the faith, the circumstances, or the way that God wants to connect to his people – or the person.

Miracles can be for the larger body, the whole church, or they can be for the individual.

Last Sunday I was the guest minister at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Peterborough. Following the Common Lectionary scriptures for day I spoke from John 5 – where Jesus makes wine from the water in the foot washing jugs – all 180+ gallons of it. I also had read from 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul speaks about the Gifts of the Spirit… knowledge and wisdom plus miracles caught my attention for the sermon.

Now remember this is a Presbyterian Church – rather reserved and sometimes quiet. I am neither. And I was very excited about what God could do – trying my best to motivate people to see what I saw and what I know to be the truth.

That is the stage set for what happened to me personally yesterday… when I was with the Statue of Mary.

Mary was painted over completely with heavy white paint. That took place somewhere about 45 years ago. Any photos that they have of the Statue back in her glory days – are Black and White and not at all good images.

How do I possibly know what is below the paint? Can I even remotely make this Statue look anywhere near as good as it must have been? Where do I start?

There was much cracked and chipped paint on the Statue before they painted it white. The person that painted the white never removed the cracked and chipped paint but rather just slathered the white stuff over top.

So I began by breaking loose the white paint and the old paint down below… right down the plaster base. The Statue is a mess. New paint will only cover it all for a while – so it needs to go done to base in many places.

As I chipped and scraped the surface around one area the Blue paint of Mary’s tunic started showing through. Then with one small scrape a tiny piece of Gold showed through. I worked slowly on that spot and there was way more gold showing through… but not just covering whole areas the way that the artist had done with Jesus!!!

Wow! What a moment it was when I started seeing the remarkable design that had been created by an artist over 100 years ago. Such love and care had gone into every stroke. The fine detail was over whelming to say the least.

The entire Blue Tunic that Mary is wearing is covered with this beautiful design. But it is not just gold it also maroons and dark reds mixed with deep blue… with fine lines of white… all in a very small area of perhaps ¾ inch.

As I stared at the art work that was appearing it literally took my breath away.

If I had painted over the spot to achieve a somewhat ‘restored’ look… new colours and new brightness no one would have ever been able to see what I saw yesterday. And if I had not accidentally pushed on that one tiny spot I would never have seen the bit of gold… and if I had not slowly scraped the outer layer of heavy white away I would never have seen the design.

Whoa! What a moment. I slid down to the floor and looked at the work before me. I cannot possibly clean off the whole area. In fact the actual work and design is in not very good shape at all. The best I can do is attempt to duplicate the art work as I repaint the tunic.

But there was more… and moment by moment I then saw more secrets that Mary had hidden from view.

I thought a lot about what has happened to me. I experienced a Personal Miracle. I really did! How and Why I am not sure yet! But something happened to me as I came very close to this Statue… and I saw the things that only the artist of 100+ years knew about.

I am heading over to work with Mary again this morning. I know what I have to look for next. That came early this morning when my eyes popped open.

I am super charged today and can’t wait to get started. Hmmm? Will there be other Miracles for other people that come near Mary in the months to come???

~ Murray Lincoln ~

For your inspection

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/ and http://mistyhollow-digitalimages.blogspot.ca/

With the help of my Digital Art Skills and a great computer... here is what it looked like originally and it is also my design guide as I do the work...

Monday, January 21, 2013

I Refuse to Participate in the Recession!

Misty Hollow Carving and Misty Hollow Digital Images

These BLOGS are sponsored by my businesses.

“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

“Crop Circles’ Web Site” where all my images are available.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I Refuse to Participate in the Recession!

The other day I bumped into another person that launched his business the same time that I launched ‘Misty Hollow’. I asked a simple question, “How is your business going?”

His reply was dismal. “I packed it in after two years. The recession hit me too hard. No one was interested in what I had to sell. I went back to doing what I did before I started my business. I am a Bar Tender… it pays. People that have problems with Recession – drink…”

As he told me more I realized that he and I were in the same place as we began. Then we continued in the same routine as our businesses grew. Then when the recession hit us it was very difficult. The crunch was greater than anyone expected.

Somehow I stayed alive and grew a little. He was not so lucky… or should I say willing.

To me it seemed like he was not willing to stick it out. However there was likely more to what I am sharing about his story. I only caught the surface.

Speaking with another business that launched a little ahead of mine but faced the same problems that we all did… I heard of a steady business growing however slowly. This person had a different attitude about what they were doing.

While other places had folded up and died… this business saw it simply as an opportunity to move ahead and picking up customers that others had dropped.

A key thing that another person had said stuck in my mind… “It is too bad that there are so many businesses have closed, I can’t buy what I want without driving a long ways!” People still need and want to buy even though money is tough to come by.

But I am not concerned about everyone’s business. My primary attention must be my own.

It is about attitude – and all about attitude.

Like the sign that I manufactured for this posting – “I refuse to participate in the Recession”

If I have to change what I am doing, produce something new, and/or try another route to my customers – I will. I cannot quit. I must weather the storms of the business world.

I have invested too much in to what I am doing to quit now. Attitude is everything.

So if you are feeling that you are about to fold up and move away from your vision… DON’T. On the other side of every storm is sunshine and possibility.

When the Winter of what you are doing is over, there will be a Springtime!

BTW...

~ Murray Lincoln ~

For your inspection

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/ and http://mistyhollow-digitalimages.blogspot.ca/

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Taking Steps to Survive a Nasty Recession as a Small Business

Misty Hollow Carving and Misty Hollow Digital Images

These BLOGS are sponsored by my businesses.

“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

“Crop Circles’ Web Site” where all my images are available.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Taking Steps to Survive a Nasty Recession as a Small Business

Recently I stated to a group of small business people I stated that one of my Goals for 2013 was “to survive the Recession”. It was kind of a broad overall statement that is not measureable in some folk’s mind. How can it be a Goal?

Some have stated that they wish to double their income in the next year. Fantastic! Good on them!

However with shrinking orders at times the small business that is struggling to keep going is a reality. Recession bites deeply into the pocket books of the little guy.

I started my business just before the Recession hit. I saw the potential success of my business and did very well for a period of time before the bottom came out of my bucket. The year after launching ‘Misty Hollow’ the crunch came.

I was doing the same things that I did before the crunch came and nothing was working. I did more of the same ‘harder’ and ‘faster’ but that didn’t work either.

It was then that I asked the magic question that I had asked before I began ‘Misty Hollow’. The question was, “What can I do with what I have?” And “If what I have done is not working, what can I change to make it more appealing for my potential customers?”

A secret shared with me by a customer recently, as she stopped by my weekly table presentation at the Mall, was invaluable. The secret shared with me was, “So what do you have new on your table today? I love the things that you make. You are so creative. What do you have new today?”

The first reaction could be from the small business owner, “What’s wrong with the old? Do you know how much time I have put into this product!?” But I didn’t give that inner feeling away.

I listened.

These are all potential customers coming. And all these potential customers have felt the pinch the same way that ‘Misty Hollow’ has felt it. But they have stopped by to be inspired and tempted to buy. They do have a special season of gifting coming up, anniversaries and weddings, and they will need a unique gift of some sort. This moment that they drop by is an opportunity to seed their imagination.

So my first ‘Recession Beater’ is ‘Something New’! I need to take time to create, carve, and build ‘Something New’. I cannot stop making the stuff that sold well before but I can make less of it when the stock is built up. In fact my times when sales are low is a time to build up what may be needed later.

Another customer gave me a huge hint that I really needed to hear. After she asked the price of the carved feather and I had told her that the feathers were between $80 and $150 each. She then made a statement that was vital for me to hear… if I was listening. She asked/stated… “Do you have anything less expensive? I really want to buy one from you but I cannot afford that much money right now. Things are very tight for us!”

My answer was quick and just for her… but maybe more for me as well… “Yes I will have one soon. In fact it will be just for you within the next two weeks. I can carve feathers that are not as expensive. When you drop by again I will have something for you!”

The feathers will not be as thin or take as long to do… but they will be beautiful.

As a small business owner, creator and operator I have a very short turnaround time. I can have something made new or made to order within two days… not two months, two years, of a lifetime! It can happen now! “Immediate” is a great step to breaking the Recession Blues.

If some of you have followed my adventures by way of this Blog over the past three months you will remember that I was challenged by a new friend of mine to do something very different from my carving. I was asked to work on a 100 year old statue of Jesus – for a local Catholic Church. The statue was painted white. Now they were looking for someone that would be willing to bring back the original colours of 100 years ago.

This was a very new idea for me. It was a whole new direction. It was not what ‘Misty Hollow Carving’ is all about. It was not what I started out to do in the first place. It was very great challenge that would take a lot of time and effort to do it right. There was also a great risk involved in that ‘Misty Hollow’ could potentially screw it up and earn a huge black mark against its reputation!!!

Fast forward from three months ago… the Jesus Statue looks better than it did in 1903. The congregation is thrilled with what they see. And yesterday I began work on Jesus’ Mother – Mary. Mary is a whole new challenge in that the detail is greater than on Jesus. And when Mary is looking great I will begin working on Joseph.

“Change is good”. That is one of my Recession Proofing steps to earn that Goal for 2013.

‘Misty Hollow Carving’, the original name for my business, is now better known as ‘Misty Hollow’. ‘Misty Hollow’ is bigger than a Carving Shop in a mysterious village somewhere… it is a vibrant business that will survive a nasty old Recession – with flying colours.

Gotta run now. I have a New Feather to carve today… and some new “Tatted Lace – Button Angels” to get done as well. One is headed to England and the others to parts of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New York, and North Carolina!

Recession = Busy, not Dead!

~ Murray Lincoln ~

For your inspection

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/ and http://mistyhollow-digitalimages.blogspot.ca/

Friday, January 18, 2013

Finding a Balance in Building my Business – ‘Misty Hollow’ and Me

Misty Hollow Carving and Misty Hollow Digital Images

These BLOGS are sponsored by my businesses.

“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

“Crop Circles’ Web Site” where all my images are available.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Finding a Balance in Building my Business – ‘Misty Hollow’ and Me

For the past four years as I have been building my business I have giving it my everything. If it succeeds it will be because of what I have done. If it fails it will be because of what I have done and what I have not done… or what was done when I was not watching. As I said yesterday I am plugged in totally. I have to be.

Now the last two guides or goals for me are the ‘Check ins’ and ‘Delay and Delegate’ – Important help steps for me as a small business owner.

Number Four: ‘Check ins’

Getting totally into what I do and working on every step with all my might I can lose focus with life in general.

I know this was true when I was working full time. The job back then required me to be working some weeks as many as 50 to 60 hours and then still be on call when I was needed. There were times that my family didn’t see me for days – even weeks. I was so important to the ‘company’ that I gave my entire being away. At least I thought I was so important – but the ‘company’ went on without me after I was gone – quite well.

That work ethic continued on in my life when I launched ‘Misty Hollow’. Working long hours was not hard when I saw what happened with my labour. When I witnessed a creative idea come to life and then deliver the great happiness to the recipient it drove me on.

I found working for myself was far more fun than working for the ‘company’.

But there was a problem. I became so immersed in what I was doing that my own family suffered. I needed to check in on what I needed to be doing at home. And even though I was primarily working at home (on the property) I was at times unplugged for what was happening.

I also realized that I at times became frustrated when family tried to interrupt what “Misty Hollow’ was needing me to do. It appeared that ‘they’ just didn’t understand… how important what I was doing was!!!

After a few mini crisis personally… and a few times I needed to shake my head… ‘Misty Hollow’ was not more important than my family.

But I could see how some of my friends that launched and built small businesses into bigger businesses had lost most everything. Families could easily fall apart when something takes over all of your life.

Simply put, I needed to ‘check in’ with the world that I lived in, with my family, with my friends, with the World outside the one of ‘Misty Hollow’.

Oh – believe me ‘Misty Hollow’ is now very real place where I can walk through and live in – if I chose to. But I cannot stay there. I live in another world as well.

‘Misty Hollow’ could not be possible without my family’s support and encouragement. That alone is one of the greatest ‘loans’ I have ever been given. The loan is of my wife’s time and encouragement… as well as my kids and grandkids. If I lose that ‘loan’ I will go bankrupt emotionally.

I have to ‘check in’ to the other world often. And that goes two ways. When in the family world I need to ‘check in’ on the ‘Misty Hollow’ world from time to time as well.

Number Five: ‘Delegate and Delay’

Nothing is more disastrous for building my business than a disaster that suddenly springs up.

Not long ago our roof was suddenly leaking… water dripping right down behind my computer! We knew that something had to be done. And in the old days I simply would taken time and do it – by myself.

But age and business has caught up to me. I do not have the time nor the ability any longer to do the work ALL BY MYSELF. That would have saved me money – but I just couldn’t do it.

I contacted a great friend of mine who is much younger and one of the best at doing a roofing job. He was willing and so we waited until he was able. The roof was done in a mere two days. If I had tried to do it would have been done maybe in two months… if I could have placed the shingles on the roof somehow… sheesh. I shudder at the thought.

Our shingling job is only one example. There are many jobs that I used to do to save us money. I can do almost everything. But it is not good to do them now. Most take way more energy than I have to say the least.

By getting great people to help me allows me more time for family and ‘Misty Hollow’.

There is a need to delegate these different tasks to someone else.

I have also found out one more valuable thing… I can delegate jobs that I shouldn’t be doing in ‘Misty Hollow’. I don’t need to try to carve, create and make everything. There are other businesses that could do a better job and take less time to do something than I can.

I truly hate to admit that I cannot do it all. I am invincible and unstoppable! BUT I CANNOT DO IT ALL – I have to give some of it away.

Oh boy that is hard to admit! But now that I did it – I feel better.

So there it is… my Five Points that I am continuing to work on as I enter 2013.

Now I have to run. I have date this morning with ‘The Blessed Virgin’ Mary over at the Catholic Church. Yesterday they gave her good bath and she is now ready for some restoration work! What an honour to spend time with Mother Mary for this next week or so.

God I love what I am doing!!!

~ Murray Lincoln ~

For your inspection

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/ and http://mistyhollow-digitalimages.blogspot.ca/

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Vacations/Time away – ‘Misty Hollow’ and Me

Misty Hollow Carving and Misty Hollow Digital Images

These BLOGS are sponsored by my businesses.

“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

“Crop Circles’ Web Site” where all my images are available.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Vacations/Time away – ‘Misty Hollow’ and Me

A few weeks ago I left my Cell Phone at home and didn’t realize that I had done so until I was a long ways away and time had run out to go back and pick it up. Talk about panic and helpless as the waves of anguish swept over me. I was unplugged and completely without my support, my life line, my ability to be at command central in My Life.

For as long as 14 years I have always had my Cell Phone on me… every single day and from about 6 AM until 11 PM. And now with the Text Messaging it is constantly beeping, jingling and telling me that someone somewhere needs help… or my attention.

I am plugged in totally. And for that reason the next three are hard to layout for the world to read… Number Three: ‘Vacations/Time away’, Number Four: ‘Check ins’ and Number Five: ‘Delegate and delay’.

Today I am dealing with my Vacation/Time Away – one major area in most small business owner’s struggle.

Number Three: Vacations/Time away

During the ‘working for someone else years’ vacations were kind of set and expected by the employer. In fact you would set your time away in conjunction with other employees. And when the kids were little it was set around their time away from school.

None of that exists any longer with the “Small Business Life”. Your passion to do more, make more, do more, fill orders and keep the whole thing running is nonstop. Add to that the need to be creative in every aspect of your business to keep it fresh, in front of the public, and available to vital customers that are presently connected or will be connected – leaves little room for time away.

My mentor at the very beginning of ‘Misty Hollow’s’ launch warned me that there will be little time for a vacation. She also told me that for one full year I needed to consider staying around our area and NOT Travel! Part of that was for the focus that was being needed. The other part was for the fact there was little time to step away from the constant effort that was required to get it going.

After the first, second and third year the effort was still needed. And in fact it had become part of my being. I thrived on the drive. I loved the possibility of the next sale – the next project… the next big project. Who needed a vacation when you were having this kind of excitement and growth? I could not take time away… I was addicted to ‘now’ and ‘here’ and ‘doing’!

A ‘personal audit’ of how I was really doing with the business and life stopped me short. Creativity had suffered. Rest was not easy. My body was hurting as well as my spirit inside.

In my fourth year of ‘Misty Hollow’ we started taking small Mini holidays each week. Sometime these were an hour or so long of unplugging from the ‘have to’ and trying on ‘gee this is fun’. Then we started doing a day here and there. What I had lost I found in creativity. Sleeping was better and the body improved.

Mind you I have not been able to plan for a Caribbean Cruise yet but have found time away. We have broken the “5 hours from Home Rule”. That is we actually get away to a spot that takes over 5 hours to get to… insuring that we will be away from it all. It takes some planning but is it ever good.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

For your inspection

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/ and http://mistyhollow-digitalimages.blogspot.ca/

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Business Goals and Personal Goals – ‘Misty Hollow’ and Me

Misty Hollow Carving and Misty Hollow Digital Images

These BLOGS are sponsored by my businesses.

“Misty Hollow Carving” was launched in October 2008

Misty Hollow Digital Images were launched on September 26, 2012.

“Crop Circles’ Web Site” where all my images are available.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Business Goals and Personal Goals – ‘Misty Hollow’ and Me

So have you set your 2013 Goals and/or Resolutions up already?

Many of my friends are setting their new Business Goals for 2013. I have done that also.

I toy with the idea of my Goals for the next year at the end of the year. Then when I arrive I kind of lose focus because of life. How about you?

I am the sole proprietor of a small and busy business. I am the CEO, COO and CAO of “Misty Hollow Carving” – also known as “Misty Hollow”. I am also the production line manager, shop foreman, and janitor. I am completely in charge of the Sales Force, Advertising Division, and Accounting, as well as personally handling all the major and minor accounts that have been developed over 4 years of building the business.

On the side I am also involved in keeping the staff of “Misty Hollow” healthy both physically and mentally. I am continually working on Balance in all areas of each employee’s life. And what makes it really fun is that there is only one person that does it all – “ME”.

I came across a great posting by another business owner. She happens to also be a mom and wife… which makes her about 10 times busier than I ever could imagine. I can see where her ideas are much like mine.

Today I will share two ideas - Schedules and Work/Life balance.

Number One: Set Schedules and Stick to them

We work with three calendars in our family, My Google Calendar, My wife’s written calendar and the one that dictates to what we all do – the one that is all about my 92 year old mother’s life. She lives with us.

My other life before launching “Misty Hollow” was one of constant service to people plus the regular everyday routine things that had to be done. Crisis could take place anytime of the day, night or week. The regular things that absolutely had to be done were worked on constantly. The Crisis that came up was worked on immediately. Panic and Steadiness guided most of my 35 years of doing what I did. If I compare it to other jobs it was like owning and running the local Ambulance service while painting houses each day for a living. Drop the brush and run to the Ambulance call… come back and pick up the brush.

Starting my “Misty Hollow” business became like owning six Ambulance services and three painting companies.

The only way to control what is taking place is by a good calendar and regularly checking with it. In four years of building “Misty Hollow” and keeping pace with an active, crisis filled life is keep to the schedule… and refer to the Calendar!

Number Two: Balance - Either Work, or be with your Family, but not both

“Misty Hollow” is a place in my mind and the minds of other people. But it is worked on in a number of places. It happens in my Garage Workshop where the physical wood products are created. It happens at the Mall where presentation, sales, and delivery take place. It happens at McDonalds and Star Bucks where the Wifi and Coffee stir imagination and new ideas are worked on. And it happens in an office area where the tedious things are done.

But at times I have to leave “Misty Hollow” and focus on family. I drop “Misty Hollow” and pick up on Family things that must be done. With just my wife and myself – we still do date nights and date days. We keep time to ourselves.

Then there are times when our grandkids and the clan show up. Everything stops business wise when they come. But we carefully schedule time for this. We know when they come and when they go. We spend time and celebrate family.

Add to that an aging and rather frail mother, that lives with us, takes more family time. Doctor’s appointments and test schedules take priority some weeks – over all else.

But taking the portable work of “Misty Hollow” along while waiting on the “Mom Event” – provides for work not to be interrupted too terribly much. As an artist and illustrator at “Misty Hollow” the material needed for that task comes along to the waiting room.

Tomorrow I will deal with Number Three: ‘Vacations/Time away’, Number Four: ‘Check ins’ and Number Five: ‘Delegate and delay’

But for now this post has to be wrapped up. The schedule for it today requires me to move on to the next steps of today.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

For your inspection