It's always stuck with me since that day

Last year, I wrapped up a job with a couple where I digitally painted and installed a mural inside a three-storey elevator shaft.

Yeah.

Certainly a unique experience, and definitely one I would bet I won't have again.

But that job taught me so much about myself, my capabilities, my relationship building skills, and the value of problem solving.

The client couple are two of the most unique, interesting and deeply wonderful people I think I've ever created for. I met them through a Good Karma Network Facebook group of all places and our first site visit was at the site of their new home in the early stages of the build. I'm talking we needed to get on ladders to access the basement and top levels and the elevator shaft at that point was 2x4's, a blueprint plan and creative vision.

To give you an idea of the project, the elevator carriage (where you stand) had two sides open where you would see the wall of the elevator shaft, and the idea I pitched was to create a scene that linked all three floors together as you went up or down.

Cute right? You can see the video I created of the finished product here.​

Initially the plan was to physically paint inside the actual elevator shaft... but we quickly learned that would be silly and way better to paint it digitally and install it as a print. So I got to learning all about what fire-safe standard vinyl we could use and the information I needed to come back to them with.

Construction was slowed by covid and this caused delays on all fronts... but I kept developing the concept with them and reporting back how soon we could install once I was done.

I had so many site visits, but it was also walking distance from my house and they always had good wine to share and wonderful conversation that helped me learn more about them and interweave that into their mural.

We finally had the elevator shaft completed by construction crew and I had samples printed for testing... but we soon realised the construction crew hadn't accounted for the mural to be directly stuck on the walls, so they needed to be tidied up.

I helped source the man for the job to smooth it all out and paint it ready for installation, helping the client towards what was going to be an amazing result after a 2+ year journey.

Then came installation day and everything was going to plan. As the mural was going up, I was getting so excited and to be honest, a lil emotional. This whole mural was painted and created by me and I was so proud of what we had created together.

We had two sections complete and just installed the third... but as my installer hoisted himself out of the elevator shaft, he scratched the print and damaged it.

I was devastated.

I came into the client's study and told them the news, clearly showing my feelings on my face.

The next words to come out of my clients mouth have stuck with me since.

"We know it's not your fault, but we trust you to find the solution."

That is the power of relationships that are built over time and have that deep understanding that there's no fault or blame, but there is responsibility.

You're not responsible for when things go wrong outside of your control, but you are responsible to advise the best next steps.

You're not responsible for when others don't rise to the occasion and that impacts your workflow, but you are responsible for letting whoever needs to know about the delay and providing ways to solve that they can choose from.

You're not responsible for everything going to plan perfectly every time, but you are responsible for bringing back up solutions that keep things moving forward as the creative problem solver you are.

It's really easy to feel like the world ends when a deadline is missed or something goes wrong that impacts everything around it (CrowdStrike anyone?).

But everything is fixable, nothing is permanent, and all you can do is take the next challenge and ask yourself...

"Is this my fault or is it just the next problem to solve?"

My bet is that you're way more capable to solve problems than you think, look at all the problems you've solved to get you here. It's easier to solve a problem you know exists than preparing for a fictional one.

And even when they do happen, and they will, it will be how you solved what went wrong that matters most and takes you to that next level.

*geddit? An elevator joke*