Asking for Help (For the Laughs)
One of the most satisfying parts of asking my children for help is creating the memories as we go through the process and witnessing them use their skills and learn new ones. Also, seeing the vision of my request come to fruition through our collaboration is rewarding as well!
Below are links to what I’ll tell you about:
- My Story
- Initial Request
- Research
- Updated Request
- Continuous Improvement
- Lesson for Dumber Self
- Next Step for You
This started when a family member suggested that I include original images in my blog, instead of grabbing the ones available on the internet that can be used without permission.
My Story
Aside from me, my immediate family has experience generating 2-D or 3-D depictions. That’s a bonus for me. However, how was I supposed to portray what I was looking for if I didn’t know the details of what I was going to write about nor what I wanted to focus on? I received the suggestion to come up with a title for my writing first and have the image based on that.
I didn’t want to be locked into the title nor did I want to waste time having the image re-created if I wanted to change the direction of my write-up during the writing process. Here’s what I began with instead:
Initial Request
I wrote up a proposal for my family to design a professional image that conveyed the idea of using transferable skills and learning new ones by volunteering and participating in a development program to figure out or fine-tune what a person really wanted to do at work. Also, I included what size was needed, when the draft and final versions were due, and where to save the files. Lastly, I requested that they let me know if they had questions or were interested.
Too Vague
When the family members read the requirements in the solicitation, a couple of them told me that they were unclear. So, we decided that they would wait until I could provide more specific details on what I wanted in the picture.
Research
After I completed the draft of the article that the visual was going to accompany, I was searching for examples to show the style that I was looking for. My older son saw what I was doing and said that he could create something that I was interested in. We further discussed what I was imagining.
Updated Request
After I browsed through enough sample photos, I inserted a description of the graphic that I wanted and shared items similar to what I was looking for.
Follow-up
I mentioned to my older son earlier the next afternoon that I had entered the additional details. Later in the evening, I asked if he could furnish a draft that day and he started working on it.
Discussions, Revisions, & Completion
Throughout the night, I answered questions that my son had and provided feedback on the different versions that he had finished. Also, I heard him get advice from another family member on how to remove parts of the image that I didn’t want. A little over 24 hours after I showed an example of the concept, my son gave me the final product!
Thinking through this simple case, I have already found ways to improve the process for the next time I need to solicit someone to create an illustration. Some of them are as follows:
Continuous Improvement
- Give an illustrative representation of what I’m visualizing when I call on someone for this type of service.
- Talk through the instructions with the creator in case anything needs clarification.
When trying something new, the journey to meet the goal may not be the smoothest, but here’s something to remember:
Lesson for Dumber Self
- Funny memories can make the journey worthwhile. For instance, my son wanted to know which programming language I wanted my image to show, but before I realized it, this was how the conversation went:
What language do you want it in? English.
– Older Son’s Question and My Answer
What will you do now?
Next Step for You
- Ask someone for help just for the potential of great memories during the process?
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