We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michelle Meyer Aka Meesh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Michelle Meyer, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience comes from believing in yourself. If you get thrown it’s okay to take the time to have a seat and process, but knowing that is a flow state to move through ((not get stuck in)) and then be able to stand back up again. When going through periods where it seems hard to remember the spark, being able to self reflect, peel back the layers and remember the mission and why. Gratitude also is a great bench to rest on. Realizing all the good things that are can help pave the way back to center. when you need it. If it’s a tough situation that left things a wreck, own your part, instill the lesson, and know that there is another opportunity and you have upgraded tools to improve on the next go. I have a strong support system from the beginning with my family and have been fortunate that I have also been able to cultivate a community of peers who have believed in me and my goals, and that resilience really kicks in when you know you have people rooting for you and depending on you too, to do the dang thing !
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an artist & designer working in graphic design, metal, fashion, and neon. Graduate of Arizona State University with a BFA in Sculpture, ASU was a jump off point for many of my current avenues. There I learned to weld and use the CNC plasma, where I was able to take my ideas from the computer and bring them into 3D. It is also one of very few universities with a neon program, a medium I have been intrigued by since childhood. There I was able to learn the process of the craft, incorporating it into my work and later co-run a neon shop as part of my business. As a young child my godmother went to fashion school and taught me to sew and that time together seeing her creations and learning through projects we would do together influenced my interest in fashion and wearable arts.
I am the creator and founder of Snoodmen & Snood City. Snoodmen, its mascot, is a gesture based creature that personifies art as a verb. Snood is all about promoting interactive exchange and art in community. Snood City has served as a brand, creative collective, production house, entrepreneurial incubator, and community space. The motto is “stay unconventional” which is a prompt for people to think outside the norm and instigate curiosity though presentation and conversation.
2024 has been a time for transition and transformation. Getting back to my roots and recalibrating myself to focus on the personal. I was in PHX, AZ for over a decade…ran a business, art collective, store front, hosted monthly community events, co-curated a gallery… it was a lot ! Now is my time to recharge, refill the cup so it may again runneth over and support not just myself but the legacy I have been building.
My current endeavor is setting up shop from my relocation to the Chicagoland area and implementing a personal art practice, getting back into the act of physical creation of art. This is exciting for me because a lot of my art has been in community, running a business, or an ephemeral arena. All that has given me so much knowledge and experience, but I am looking forward to prioritizing my own personal creative aspirations and seeing what this next round has in store !
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. COMMUNICATION IS KEY ! Make the call, leave a message, follow up. Send the text, write the email, follow up. I am still honing this in too but it is so important. It allows me to get things done, check them off my list and not stress about it. Getting the answers I need to make decisions and continue on. If something isn’t clear, clarify. Stay on top of things, but if it gets to a point where you feel like you have to nag someone, recognize that as an answer and vote of character. Don’t ignore the things that bug you, and don’t let them fester. Be able to speak to it clearly and calmly. It doesn’t mean that wires wont still get crossed, or things happen, but if you can be in the habit of communication, it serves well.
2. If you are in business, keep your records organized. Get a filing cabinet and folders and label them. Records, Receipts, Expenses, Contracts..etc. Get a QuickBooks account or keep a spreadsheet. Input your receipts, find something that works for you. Because when time comes to do your taxes or you need to review a clause in your lease, or what have you, it sucks to scramble and it feels AMAZING when you can go right to where you know you kept the information.
3. Follow the energetic impulses. You were given the inspiration for a reason. It was meant to lead you on your path. You are your biggest cheerleader. Don’t let excuses or other people talk you out of what you know and feel is something that is calling you. If you know and feel it in your heart, follow it.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
“The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron
It been around for 30+ years ~ a really good reminder in reconnecting with your creative self.
Impactful Nuggets:
1. It’s never too late to begin. If you wait, you continue to be that much farther away. It’s either Day One or one day…what makes you think you would do it tomorrow if you aren’t willing to do it today ?
2. Treating yourself like a precious object makes you strong.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ibemeesh.com ….. www.snoodcity.com
- Instagram: @ibemeesh. ….. @snood_city
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCICPS2ruiBZsDL1TEAYlBTQ
Image Credits
Kelly Fox, Chris Loomis , Iryna Glavnyk,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
