"A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done." - Ralph Lauren
So I am so super exited today to finally feature a fantastically motivational woman, who I can proudly say has been my first and foremost inspiration from the very start of my creative career. About 10 years ago, I walked into a small gift shop in Warne Ponds, in Geelong, looking for the perfect card to share how I felt to my friend. I stumbled across Adele Basheers, magnets, greeting cards, and mini journals, and ever since have loved her inspiring words, and collective creations of which make people smile, laugh, and feel like they matter in a world full of millions.
So, today, after Adele so kindly took the time out to answer a few questions that begged to be asked, I am featuring her interview regarding her start of her small business to a super huge global rise, what inspires her as a business woman, and how we can be inspired by her.
So take it away Adele, and thanks a bunch for sharing with us all :)
Intrinsic - Adele :)
Who is Adele ?
She's a slightly crazy, people loving, socially inclined entrepreneur who believes (nearly all of the time) that anything is possible!
What is Intrinsic?
Intrinsic is a magical place where dreams are created, relationships are healed, love is celebrated - and where you are encouraged to be the best you can be.
What inspires you to create the beautiful phrases, and products you represent?
Oh thank you : )
When I'm writing a card – particularly a longer verse, I'm nearly always inspired by someone I know. Our sympathy card was inspired by my grandfather who passed away many years ago. How I coped with his death is what I wanted to share with others to comfort them in their time of sadness. When friends of ours were going through some relationship challenges a few years ago I wrote a card for them about lasting love. Nearly all of our love cards are written for Jamie. I think people connect with the words because they are written with real people in mind.
We've just created and produced our first range of stationery all on our own and I was very much the muse for the range – both in terms of the messages and the design and colour.
For those of us who are starting out in our creative careers, what tips can you give to us?
Passion, Vision, Commitment, Action. They go hand in hand to making a success out of what you love.
Know what you want. Don't worry about what other people are doing or not doing – just know yourself better. In the early years I'd sometimes get worried that we weren't growing as fast as some of the other start-ups at the time. Many of those business are no longer around.
Who inspires you the most?
I'm inspired by ordinary people who overcome obstacles to make a difference, or do what they love.....oh, and the Dalai Lama.
Where do you see yourself as an artist in five years from now?
I'm studying psychology at them moment and I see people being my future canvas....I can't wait to colour their world!
What is your favorite Color?
I guess I'm really am a rainbow kind of a girl! Although Intrinsic is known for the “Adèle Basheer” quotes, it is our distinctive colour palettes that capture peoples attention. Colour has to resonate with me – and I can be known to play and play until I achieve just the right tone. It could be a rich yellow with just the right amount of 'butter' or a soft pink with a dash of peachiness for warmth.
Of course I definitely have favourites. Right now I love rich, regal purple and deep fuschia pink against earthy tones. My home studio is a shade between Tiffany and Duck Egg Blue with just a little less green – a colour I mixed myself! And I have eight different shades of red lipstick in my purse!
I owe my colour sense to my grandmother, a master craftswoman and my mother, a textile artist who each transferred their passion for colour to me.
Chocolate or coffee?
One good Italian coffee in the morning. But if I'm in Paris or New York, I can't go past La Maison Du Chocolat without a special treat!
How do you deal with stress?
When I'm being my best self, I meditate. This is the best antidote to stress I've ever found.
Time management is an acquired and learned process, how do you juggle your time between marketing, promoting, creating, and of course family!?
Mmm....big question! I don't feel I've mastered the art of time-management but I'm pretty good at time-juggling!
One reason Jamie and I began Intrinsic was to spend more time with our kids, Sam and Livvi, while they were young. We really contained Intrinsic's growth in the early days when we worked from home while the kids were at school.
Nearly all of our holidays were working holidays. We'd visit different states to see stores and take orders, and as the kids were with us we became masters at balancing fun excursions between appointments.
Jamie and I were very hands on in every aspect of our business. I spent days writing verses, he would sell the cards into the stores and at nights we would make and decorate the cards that were sold. Every Friday morning was reserved for planning and growing our business and we took most Friday afternoon's off. I think this way of working was instrumental to our early success.
How did you get to starting small, then expanding into the international market?
We were first approached by a card company in the UK about ten years ago. The CEO had purchased a number of our cards while on holiday here and loved them. Jamie and I went to the UK to meet the company and decided it wasn't the right partnership for us. While we were there though we met up with an Australian company who were just expanding into licensing. They knew Intrinsic very well and within six months we had our first licensing agreement. About six years ago Jamie and I began our venture into the US and we now work with four main companies who license various lines of greeting cards and stationery. Our contract with the Australian publisher finished in February last year and we decided not to renew so we could resume full control of our business.
Would you suggest using a marketing manager or company for expansion?
This is a really important question for artists to answer and really depends upon your goals. If you are not entrepreneurial and really dislike being in front of people to sell your art, if you are underfunded, or extremely time-poor, then an agent or a company which licenses art can be a really positive move.
On the other hand, if you want complete creative control of the product you produce, what is made and how it is made. On the other hand, if you want complete creative control of the product you produce, what is made and how it is made and are not caught up into having to be the 'next big thing' then I think doing it on your own - although challenging is extremely rewarding. I've done both and while there are pro's and con's for each, I found the latter far more satisfying.
What is your most treasured item in life?
My upbringing of constantly moving home taught me not to become attached to possessions and that the real treasures in life were certain moments in time or special people in my life.
So I have three treasures in my life (in fact I call them each “my precious”!): Jamie - my soulmate, partner and best friend.
Sam - my firstborn, a kindred spirit, truth seeker and wise beyond his years.
Livvi - my youngest – adventurer, creative soul – she brings a sparkle of light wherever she goes.
If you had three wishes what would they be?
Ooh La La! I always wanted a Genie in a bottle!
Right at this very minute, I'm wishing for a little more 'me' time.
My second wish is that I always remember the magic.
My global wish is for a peaceful, more loving world. To have peace in the world, we must start with peace in our communities. To have peace in our communities, we must first have peace in the family. To have peace in the family, we must cultivate a loving and forgiving heart. As with any great change, peace begins with the individual.
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So thats it!!! Adele's passionate creative drive is what inspires me, and many others in life, and I know one thing... shes been a role model to me, even though she had never met me :)
Thanks Adele and have a great year!
Well, its that time of day where I bid you farewell, and take control of my monday... Keep smiling, moving forward, and hanging onto faith, hope, and love, its what I have and do, and what you do too!
Sam
