Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 26oC, hottish, Sunny and a clear sky.
My first goal for this week was to purchase my air ticket, which I accomplished yesterday. My second goal is to continue developing the websites.
I have noticed that once you master how to use one WordPress theme, the procedures are basically the same for all the others. I have been studying some competitor brands already in the market, so I have simplified my logo. Now, I need to finish off one or two websites. I aim to do this by the end of the month, or at worst, in the first couple of days of the following month.
I sent the links to the sites to Renato, whom I am giving classes to and who is a web designer. He liked ‘The Long Gringo’ but thought ‘PlacebBeads’ was a little flashy. I have learned in the process that what I am doing now is that effort is more important than intelligence. If we do not make an effort or try, intelligence is useless.
We must make an effort even when we do not feel like doing something. Because with effort comes action, and with action, we gain confidence. With confidence, anything is possible.
Effort + Action + Confidence=Results
The website ‘The Long Gringo’ is a bit more complex than ‘PlaceBeads’. I found it strange that even though I had downloaded, installed, and activated it; the website was not appearing. It seemed daunting at that moment as I did not know what to do.
I went to YouTube, looked up the template theme name, and found various videos showing how to set it up. After watching the first 5 minutes of the video, I could load the theme properly. In another 20 minutes, I had created my logo using AI. So, in half an hour, what was not working is now working, and it looks good. Again, it is down to YouTube being a great free source.
Effort + Action + Confidence=Results
I subscribed to Photoshop this morning so that I can create and make graphic designs anywhere I want. The subscription is very affordable, less than R$50.00 Reais a month, and it includes all the tools needed to create whatever I want in terms of photography and graphic design in general. If I am paying for it, I must use it to make money, not just for fun. I intend to use it a lot from now on.
I have always told my students that you can find anything on YouTube, and it is true. I was surprised to find tutorial videos about setting up a specific WordPress theme template. There are over four thousand WordPress theme templates, and the one I am using for ‘The Long Gringo’ has several tutorial videos. If you are resourceful, you can find what you need for free on Google and YouTube, and you do not have to buy online courses.
This morning, I completed another stage of the website. In the afternoon, I went to Catete, a neighbourhood next to Flamengo and toward the city centre, to buy white cloth. I need the white cloth to make mock-ups and take photos in my home studio for the bracelets. I have over 40 or 50 different bracelets, and I only need to take some good pictures to put on ‘PlaceBead’s’ website.
I already knew that there was an incredibly old textile shop in Catete. I found what I needed and bought a meter of fabric, which is more than enough.
The sales assistant was a man who was very poorly trained and not very good at his job. However, it was fine. This is very common here in Rio.
Going to Catete to buy some cloth was a pleasant trip. I walked from Botafogo through Flamengo and back, exploring the neighbourhoods, and returned via the beach. The weather was beautiful.
So, things are going well. Every day brings something positive. Maybe it happened all along, and I did not notice.
In bed by 11:00 pm.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
