You guys know that we’ve been looking for a designer for a long time.

Any business owner, new ones or the ones that’s been in the business for years know that the hardest thing to do is to find good people. Like it’s been said, 80% of management is finding the right people.

So I am always looking. Along the way I meet alot of great people that’s working with us right now. But lately I badly need another designer.

We’ve been actively looking for another one since Vienna, our last designer whom I hired over a Skype video call from Frankfurt (I know I needn’t say Frankfurt but it just sounds so cool, hahaha…).

But we found none. We put ads on the website, blast the timelines, nothing. Meanwhile the deadline and project piles are not getting shorter. Time was pressing.

Then a couple of days ago I said, “This gotta change. I gotta do something. I’m gonna pick up the phone and message 30 friends.”

Out of the 30 that I contacted personally that day, I got two leads. I called them over the phone. One was not what I am looking for, one was way out of my budget. The hunt was temporarily ceased, since I needed to get a lot of other things done also. I told myself like I’ve told myself a hundred times, “Why is it so hard to find people?”

Then out of the blue, on last Saturday morning, an email came into my inbox. An applicant. With a great portfolio. I picked up the phone. Great gal. In my budget. Long story short, I’m now counting the days until she can come to our office to work immediately. The hunt (this time) might be over.

Moral of the story:

I don’t get great applicants that much. Really. Not that much emails come in, and even rarer ones with a great portfolio, and definetely once in a year ones with a great personality and within my budget.

What’s with the timing then? After I made an effort, an active walk of that 30 calls towards the goal, this girl (without any connection whatsoever with that 30) came into my inbox.

For years I’ve been preaching this:

“Success is hardwork and God’s blessing.

Hardwork is everything you can do under the sun. It’s hard. It’s sweaty. It’s out of your comfort zone. It’s emotionally exhausting.

God’s blessing is other than hardwork.

The key: Blessings come after the hardwork.”

For stuff that we cannot do: moving the rain, a sudden trend towards your product, a supplier get sick that you can replace him and have that one big break, those are Gods.

But for the things that we can do: wake up early, read books, discipline, practice endlessly, doing your craft the best you can, getting outside of what is comfortable, working harder than the guys next to you, those are ours.

Don’t mix the two.

I say my prayers. But I’m moving my ass. Getting work done. Meeting people. Thinking hard. Reading books. Bearing my responsibilities. Taking risks. Doing what is not easy and comfortable.

And everytime, a door that these hands cannot open, opens. Heavens move. A reaction after my action.

For lots of people that come complaining about his life to me, I don’t know which one is more: his claims of an unfair God, or his Texas Hold’em Facebook status.

. . . . .

I believe this designer calling me is a blessing. Because that I cannot control.

But that happen after I made an effort. A good effort of calling 30 people. Crossing out and calling candidates.

The timing is miraculous. You’ll know that’s how I felt if you were in my shoes that Saturday morning.

. . . . .

Thank God. But move your asses.

*photo from Merapi sunrise taken by Lisa*