No. 03: Uncommon Collaboration - Taco Tuesday

Taco Tuesday 2

“When people chase what they love, they will inevitably seek out and immerse themselves in knowledge flows, drinking deeply from new creative wells even as they contribute their own experiences and insights along the way.” ― John Seely Brown, The Power of Pull

Our fish taco collaboration was decided upon because we had some fish leftover from another client shoot. Unfortunately, by the time we got around to using the fish the freezer had attacked it. Let me just take a second here to highlight how wonderful it is to collaborate with people who are not easily frustrated or stumped when facing challenges. The team immediately engaged a new plan and was able to find some fresh fish at a nearby market.

Taco Tuesday 3

In addition to being well networked, active on social media, and flexible, our collaborations seek to include individuals from different fields of expertise. This diversity is encouraged in Steven Johnson's book "Where Good Ideas Comes From":

"The entrepreneurs who built bridges outside of their islands were able to borrow or co-opt new ideas from these external environments and put them to use in a new context." - Steven Johnson, Where Great Ideas Come From

Taco Tuesday 4

By bringing together people from different industries we are able to not only challenge and encourage each other, we are also able to share edge ideas from our unique fields which others might be able to adapt to their own businesses. Our collaborators exchange information around marketing, technology, photography, video, and so much more! This free exchange of information is fostered by the fact we each have the mindset that we are hustling to put Seattle on the creative map. So the next time you meet someone from a different industry, see them through the lens of connections, there is treasure hidden in the person who stands before you. Also, I would encourage you to not be reluctant sharing ideas and information. Don't be fearful of competition, because the way I see it, the more you give the more you grow.

"But that secrecy, as we have seen, comes with great cost. Protecting ideas from copycats and competitors also protects them from other ideas that might improve them, might transform them from hints and hunches to true innovations. " - Steven Johnson, Where Great Ideas Come From

CollaboratorsMatt Broussard: @acooknamedmatt (Taco Creator!)Josiah Michael: @josiahmichael (Taco Tuesday Photographer)Kaleb Norman James: @kalebnormanjames (Tablescape Design)Esther Maria Swaty: @uncommoncartography (Collaboration Producer)Sarah Flotard: @sflotard (Guest/Food photographer)Megan Little: @meganmlittle (Guest/Fashion blogger)C. Wells Style: @cwellsstyle (Guest /Fashion blogger)Lauren Caron: @laurenlcaron (Guest/Interior designer)

BrandsVoss: @vossworld (used in Lemongrass Tempura Cod Taco Recipe)World Market: @worldmarket (table setting) Original New York Seltzer: @originalnewyorkseltzer (on the table)

If you need content for your website, social media, or an upcoming product launch please feel free to email me at esther@uncommoncartography.com and I can make sure to connect you with cost efficient resources that will capture your product story and showcase it in a compelling way.

No. 01 - Uncommon Collaboration: Matt Broussard and Danny Owens

“We are not our brother’s keeper.. in countless large and small ways we are our brother’s maker.” - Harry and Bonarvo Overstreet, Originals I first met Seattle cook and Instagram influencer, Matt Broussard (@cooknamedmatt), via a comment on Instagram, followed by us inboxing each other that “we should collaborate” at the same moment. When I met Matt a few days later at Elm Coffee Roasters, I appreciated how down to earth he was. Since the meeting, we have worked together on a series of projects, which many of you have seen on Instagram. Now I want to share the story of how these collaborations started and how they continue to evolve. I firmly believe the collaborative model in one that you can apply in your city for greater traction and exposure as artists and entrepreneurs.

Typically, when I first meet an artist or business, I do a quick assessment (many times this happens before even consciously planning to), I look at their appearance, their social media aesthetic, and engagement, as well as their website, and any products they might be offering/selling. I am drawn to problems that need to be solved and collaborating with individuals and companies who are working outside of the mainstream, who are scrappy, who have a product with potential, and who are working their asses off to make their dreams come true (not just waiting for success to come to them).

Matt I have learned is someone who seriously knows how to hustle. He works long hours at Palace Kitchen before coming home to cook, write recipes and blogs until 2-3am. His work ethic is a great example of dedication and discipline. When I first reviewed his social media and website, I could see that he was consistently producing, which I believe is a crucial key to success. It is somewhat easy to be captured by a spark of inspiration, but to always put out work is a whole different story. Many artists and creatives struggle with the ebb and flow of inspiration, and therefore find it challenging to keep producing and create momentum. When we get producing down to a discipline, the immediate challenge we face is upping our level of excellence (we must produce at an elite level to compete). For many passions are a side hustle, and they have to be careful about the time and financial investments that they make. But the reality is that even though many of us wear multiple hats, there is someone who can either help train us to take what we are producing to the next level or who can partner with us, in a mutually beneficial way, to get to the next plane.

Now you may be wondering where Danny Owens comes onto the scene?! Danny is a client of mine who is a photographer and creative director. I knew that Danny was looking to do more work in the food industry, and from our discussion, I knew that Matt could use some help with the photography he was creating to go alongside his recipes. I made an intro and set a date to collaborate. A week later we woke Matt up a little earlier than he may have liked, but he whipped up a mouthwatering steak with macadamia butter, fennel, beet cream, chorizo oil. Food is perhaps the best way to begin any new partnership. Stay tuned for more stories about collaboration.

“As people innovate and learn faster, they help to generate new waves of performance improvement for everybody while progressing toward their own higher goals.” - The Power of Pull, John Hagel III

If you need content for your website, social media, or an upcoming product launch please feel free to email me at esther@uncommoncartography.com and I can make sure to connect you with cost efficient resources that will capture your products story and showcase it in a compelling way.

Images By: Esther Maria Swaty and Danny Owens

A Pattern For Success

“A good host is the one who believes that his guest is carrying a promise he wants to reveal to anyone who shows genuine interest.

...

We will never believe that we have anything to give unless there is someone who is able to receive. Indeed, we discover our gifts in the eyes of the receiver. ” - Reaching Out, Henri J.M. Nouwen

This weekend I was asking myself how can I cultivate gratefulness and true selflessness in the collaborations I coordinate and participate in. Then you know immediately what came to my mind? Leaders set the example. You know that whole saying "if you want to change the world you must start with yourself"?

“There is a pattern that exists in organizations that achieve the greatest success, the ones that outmaneuver and outinnovate their competitors, the ones that command the greatest respect from inside and outside their organizations, the ones with the highest loyalty and lowest churn and ability to weather nearly every storm or challenge. These exceptional organizations all have cultures in which the leaders provide cover from above and the people on the ground look out for each other. This is the reason they are willing to push hard and take the kinds of risks they do. And the way any organization can achieve this is with empathy.” - Simone Sinek, Leaders Eat Last

"In 1909, the psychologist Edward Titchener translated the German Einfühlung (‘feeling into’) into English as ‘empathy’. Empathy can be defined as a person’s ability to recognize and share the emotions of another person, fictional character, or sentient being. It involves, first, seeing someone else’s situation from his perspective, and, second, sharing his emotions, including, if any, his distress.” - Neel Burton M.D.

In the gig/project based economy when we are not working in an organization or an institution we as individuals are defining our guiding principles. How will we relate to fellow creatives, entrepreneurs, dream chasers? Yes, there is a measure of calculating the return on our investment. But I am curious to see what happens when instead of putting profit first, we prioritize the well-being of people?

guiding principles: any principles or precepts that guide an organization throughout its life in all circumstances, irrespective of changes in its goals, strategies, type of work, or the top management.

Let’s practice this week being not only those who hustle but those who have empathy and see the promise that is buried within each individual we come into contact with. Because you and I are trying to accomplish some BIG things here. What happens when we begin to sprinkle every interaction with love and support?

Dream Defender,

Esther

Check out our blog to read more about: Tools, Feeding Your Curiosity and Thought Leaders.

Cut Out The Distractions, Focus On Growth

This past week the power of my relationships was highlighted in my life. We don’t travel through this life alone. We have community and as my dear Lindsey says “The connections of community... Make the impossible, possible”. Friends, clients, and strangers alike invested in me and cheered me on through a scary time. Now I am doing everything in my power to cut out distractions, and truly capitalize on the investment in my life (because with every investment there is a hope for a return).  I feel like I was given a lifeline, an opportunity, a bit of a buffer, the practical currency of a little more time to go HARD after my dream.

Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice. - Dr. Wayne Dyer, Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living The Wisdom of the Tao

We each are given the same amount of hours in our day. How are we spending it? Because the PRESENT is really all we have, there are no guarantees of future. Don’t let excuses hold you back. Don’t wait for the stars to perfectly align to go after what makes you come alive. Focus on GROWTH this next week, whether it’s personal, business, or in your community. Expect to see results from your INTENTIONALITY. 

“Men of genius themselves were great only by bringing all their power to bear on the point which they had decided to show their full measure.” - The Intellectual Life, Sertillanges

Two Core Abilities for Thriving in the New Economy 1. The ability to quickly master hard things. 2. The ability to produce at an elite level, in terms of both quality and speed.

The Core Components of Deliberate Practice 1. Your attention is focused tightly on a specific skill you’re trying to improve or an idea you’re trying to master. 2. You receive Feedback so you can correct your approach to keep your attention exactly where its most productive.  -  Cal Newport, Deep Work

Let's Do This! Esther

The Search For Happiness

Yesterday, a friend asked me if I was happy. Truly happy. I said “yes", but that once I didn’t have to stress about money, I felt I would be much happier. He responded half jokingly saying “That’s such materialism, all you really need is love, right?”. Then another friend messaged me a brutally honest link to an article about dating, she pondered “how will our culture ever recover from Tinder” which led us to discussing how “hipsters” don’t seem to know how to be content. I felt like I was beginning to notice a trend…“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness - it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” - Brene Brown

While it is incredibly important to challenge ourselves, to push for growth, it is just as vitally important to pause, to meditate, to have solitude, to be gratefulfor the beauty of the present moment. Too often we swing the pendulum. Black and white, is so much easier than walking the thin tightrope of grey. We are either hustling like crazy people or vegging out on Netflix (I’m so guilty! I mean have you seen Jessica Jones, it’s addicting). Our culture seems to be losing some of those simple moments of tradition, whether that be sitting down for a meal with family or bowing our heads for a moment of thankfulness. I mean the church has screwed up royally, after all it’s fabric is composed of people like you and I (who unfortunately don’t always have our shit together). But one thing I appreciate from my upbringing in the church and the south (two seriously politically incorrect subjects in one sentence) is that people who most often had the least to give, gave the most. After one rather brutal season of my life, I spent almost a week with a relative of mine, who was a nun at a monastery in the middle of nowhere. Being in her community revealed to me how a simple moment such as the sharing of an orange between two individuals can be a deep experience of love. Giving generously out of whatever you might have (wealth, talent, words) that is beautiful, that is happiness made tangible.

In today’s fast-paced world we need to surround ourselves with words, pictures, and people, that remind us to pause, to contemplate and to not take a single moment for granted. A mentor of mine has gifted me with several "giving keys” that help to remind me of what is important in my life. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Recently, an incredible friend of mine passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident. When his family went into his bedroom the day he died, they found a powerful quote scrawled on his board “Leave people better than you found them”.

“All human beings seek the happy life, but many confuse the means - for example, wealth and status - with that life itself. This misguided focus on the means to a good life makes people get further from the happy life. The really worthwhile things are the virtuous activities that make up the happy life, not the external means that may seem to produce it.” - Epictetus  

Experiment: What happens this week when instead of focusing on personal happiness, we try to infuse happiness into the lives of those around us?

Dream Defender, Esther Maria Swaty Uncommon Cartography

Thought Provoking Articles Inspiring Me This Week - Is Staying In The New Going Out? - In An Age Of Privilege, Not Everyone Is In The Same Boat - The Rise Of The Creative Citizen