Green Means Woah!

By Amy Bell

Welcome to the green edition! We are half way through the rainbow and this is when things get juicy. This is the part of the show where things can come to a halt or we add rocket fuel and head out to unexplored galaxies. Green in the world today is usually a sign for GO but when dealing with all things spiritual (as we do here) it can sometimes mean - WOAH! Go is scary. Go means this is ‘thing’ is real. Go means I have to dig in and commit to the goal I set out to accomplish. Go can mean a paralyzing fear of success.

Admittedly, this magazine we’ve all come to love, almost came to a screeching halt since the last Olive Book. We have put out nine editions, some came so easily and some were a little more challenging but this one, this was the edition that had me stumped. I realized that there are not just creative entrepreneurs reading it, we have all kinds of people interested in tuning in to the transformational power of colour.

This realization - plus the synchronicity of it being the green edition and green means new beginnings - had me thinking that I needed to change the name of the magazine to better connect with the different entrepreneurs engaging with it. I bounced around different names and found I was becoming obsessed and paralyzed at the same time. I was not liking the numerology of the names I was choosing and I was hitting roadblocks with copy write and urls that had been previously bought up by smart cookies a long time ago. I was pushing and forcing this idea of a name change and it was driving me crazy!

At the same time, I was really going inward. What did this magazine mean to me? What did it mean to the readers and writers? What was it’s purpose on this planet when there are so many other magazines and online articles that can help entrepreneurs?

I was struggling to define a vision for this baby of mine since so much has happened since the first edition in October of 2020. Not only globally but in my life as well. I had many conversations with my business coach and those that have been with the magazine since the beginning, but in the end I felt it was still United Colours of Design. I just needed to figure out the answers to all those questions I had.

I believe, after many hours of contemplation that the message on page 4 and 5 really express what this passion project of mine is and who it’s for. I invite you to flip back and read it if you have not already.

To keep with the ‘new beginning’ theme - that I was transfixed on during November and December in anticipation of this Green edition - I decided to do a bit of a design overhaul. The exercise of redesigning started with a photo shoot I had for another project I’m working on.

My last photo was taken about five years ago and the thought of being in front of the camera again was terrifying. I’m normally on the other side, the one who is asked by everyone, “Can you make me look thinner?”, “Can you get rid of my double chin?” “Can you change the colour of my blouse?” Now it was me in the hot seat coming face to face with my own demons. Have you ever seen yourself at 300%? Have you ever seen yourself at 300% with four other women in the room all waiting to see themselves at 300%? It was so interesting to me how I could truly see the beauty in those other women’s shots but I was having a heck of a time seeing my own.

I do admit that Maggie Habieda, the beautiful soul that did the photo shoot with all of us, was the least judgmental person I have ever met. She made me feel beautiful and loved and was so supportive. I don’t think I could have done that without her. Thank you Maggie!

Now armed with a new photo that I loved I was able to fall in love with the magazine again. I solidified my vision and mission with the help of my inner UCoD circle and I’m ready to slide down the other side of this rainbow.

A giant thank you to you, without you looking forward to the colour conversations each quarter there would be no magazine. Another giant thank you to the writers and creators who are willing and excited to look at their businesses differently so you can see colour in action.