The words “try again” or “don’t let it get to you” can sting when said at the wrong time.
Some days are harder than others. You’re trucking along pretty good then…BAM, your truck decides to jump ship.
It can be so easy to want to give up when things don’t go according to plan.
Analysis can help
Don’t let a set-back stop you from trying again. After the dirt and frustration settle; it’s a really good time to analyze what went wrong and learn from it.
In this particular instance; my plan was to apply a vinyl design onto paper to be able to frame it. I used the product Glad Press and Seal, printer paper and adhesive vinyl. I was using the press and seal instead of regular transfer paper so it wouldn’t damage the paper when I applied the vinyl. The press and seal is new to me; so I didn’t know that it builds up static cling. After removing the paper backing and getting ready to place the vinyl on the paper, I found out the hard way about the static issue. I had used printer paper instead of cardstock because that’s what I had and, honestly, I thought it would work. Well, the static cling from the press and seal pulled the lightweight paper up off the table and onto the vinyl all wrong. I tried to pull it apart, but to no avail.
Trash! All that work just to throw it away. Cutting the design, weeding the vinyl, transferring the design to the press and seal. It was a lot of work; not hard, but very time intensive. You can probably guess that I got upset in the moment. And you would be right. In the moment, I didn’t want to hear “it’ll be ok”.
Begin again
While the issue was still fresh in my mind, I asked the question of “what can I learn from this”. This is the time to allow yourself to really dive deep into what didn’t work. It could be a recipe that didn’t turn out right or a conversation that didn’t pan out like you thought it would. In my case, it was making a craft. Whatever the issue, begin again; only this time a little more wiser from knowing what didn’t work.
With more supplies in hand and knowing what NOT to do, I tried this idea again.
I cut out the vinyl design again. I bought white cardstock to use instead of the flimsy printer paper. Instead of trying to lay the design down onto the paper; I tried something else. I laid the press and seal down on the table with the vinyl adhesive side up and carefully laid the paper down onto it. This worked so much better; no static cling or placement accidents with the vinyl falling onto the paper in the wrong spot.
Whatever it may be, don’t be afraid to try again. I know, in the moment of frustration, you won’t want to hear it. I sure didn’t. But hopefully you’ve read this before your truck jumps ship or does anything crazy and these words will come to mind.
If something like this happens to you; don’t think of it as failure, but as an opportunity to gain some knowledge and move yourself forward. For me, I learned that press and seal does not play well with printer paper. But, on a bigger scale, I learned to not sit in that place of self-pity. It can be such a time suck and might make you do something rash when you’re thinking “nothing is working right”.
Get up. Dust yourself off. Give yourself grace to try again. Because Rome wasn’t built in a day.
