Don't Limit Your Potential
Be a little creative, and have some fun
If you’re similar to me, you may feel as though there’s only so much you can do. Even though you work hard, things don’t always satisfy your unwavering desire to achieve greatness and fulfillment. This is a recurring problem I’ve dealt with for most of my life, and it’s something I’m trying to combat now and going forward.
I bring this up because I, along with many others, often carry a narrow perception of what “work” is: an extremely demanding, uncomfortable, and sometimes unpleasant process we endure because it’s necessary. And while that description may accurately reflect certain aspects of work, it ignores other parts, like creativity, fun, and curiosity, that can be just as valuable.
Take my current situation. As a quick side note, I’ll be talking primarily about Batters Up Coaching, which, if you don’t know, is a service-based business I’ve been running since mid-2024.
Some of the most demanding parts of running the business are showing up to 90% of the lessons, communicating back and forth with several clients and four coaches, figuring out transportation, and managing scheduling. And as you can infer, that work really is what I described earlier: demanding and sometimes unpleasant. Until a couple of weeks ago, that was basically what “defined” Batters Up Coaching in my mind, which honestly wasn’t all that appealing.
But then I had a realization: there are creative, fun parts of the business too, and I noticed this most when I updated the logo.
As you can see by the image above, there isn’t anything too special about the original logo. Sure, it’s simple and not hideous to look at, but it feels “standard.” And if you know me, “standard” or “average” isn’t good enough, nor does it reflect my curiosity or the level of care my team and I put into what we do.
After updating the logo, though, it has a lot more life and aesthetic appeal. It includes my school’s colors, “Est. 2024,” real baseball imagery, and a few other details that make it feel more intentional. You see it and you see something unique, at least to me and my team.
That gets back to the crux of it all: work doesn’t always have to be grueling. In fact, when you treat it like it must be grueling, you may be inadvertently setting an unnecessary limit for yourself, which is completely counterproductive. For me, the creative side of the work is not only satisfying, but surprisingly helpful. When I look at the updated logo, it genuinely makes me smile because it feels like it captures my hopes, work ethic, and vision in one simple image.
Even now, I’ve ordered 10 sample circle stickers of the logo from Sticker Mule, a platform I’ll most likely use for the product-based business I’m building with my brother (more on that in a future article). And think about it: yes, I’ll keep a few stickers for myself, my coaches, and my family, but (after purchasing more) I also want to hand them out to our clients, especially the ones who’ve been with us for a long time. That’s fun, but it’s also smart. It strengthens our bond with our customers, builds loyalty, and creates a small yet powerful moment of mutual benefit.
And the best part about this new way of seeing “work” is realizing how many other creative options are available. For example, I’ve been considering ordering merchandise, maybe from a site like Custom Ink, and putting the logo, and maybe a phrase or two, on t-shirts. That’s something I can do for publicity, yes, but also as a fun side project that makes the business feel more meaningful.
I’m also thinking about banners or long plastic signs, the ones you see around the perimeter of the outfield fence at Little League fields with businesses on them. The thought of having my business name and logo on an actual baseball field, where dozens of parents can see it and grow familiar with the brand, is honestly one of the coolest marketing ideas I can imagine, and potentially one of the best strategies I could use.
(Image credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/547398529686527101/)
So, I’d recommend you do your best not to see business as solely a ruthless battle to the top. Instead, see it as a place where you can express your creativity and curiosity through projects that are enjoyable and productive, often in ways that make you even more successful. Have some fun, and choose the smart way to grow, even if that way feels “too easy” or “too fun” to count as “real” work.
Such a great read!
Really like your new logo!