Leading with Heart: When Passion Becomes Smart Business
I've always been told I have tons of passion. Makes sense - IVP started as a passion project but then grew into a business. And it's there that I've wondered: am I too much passion and not enough business?
I choose people and projects because my heart is affected by both - and because I trust the artists who bring their hearts into the work alongside me. But my brain reminds me to be cautious. To go with the project that brings in more funds. But IVP's biggest project began with a gut feeling and collaborators who came into it with tons of...you guessed it - heart.
Winding Down (or some approximation thereof)
Maybe this is the beauty of existing in a creative field. The winding down of one thing is the birth and generation of another. It’s something I’ve learned during pregnancy: to create something new requires constant attention and energy. I might not always be conscious of it, but my body is directing all of its resources to developing this new human being. I think as artists, we must do the same. Because to cease is counter to the processes of life.
Moments of Non-Reflection: Just Being
This got me thinking about the origins of April itself. Some believe the name comes from the Latin word aperire, meaning “to open”—symbolizing the earth waking up after the cold of winter. Normally, this would push me toward action and growth. But when I look at the buds on trees, I see that they stay still and patient before they open to the world. They sit. They wait. They listen to nature. And I’m reminded of how powerful moments of stillness can be, especially when everything around us feels like it’s rushing forward.