Mapology Guides. Same vision. New possibilities.
As a one-woman business, the to-do list is as long as my arm and sometimes you just need to step back a little, regroup, gain some perspective and come back refreshed, with new eyes.
We can become so close to something we've created that we lose sight of its possibilities. It takes time, distance and a fresh perspective to see what was there all along.
I've spent the last few months reflecting on all of this, questioning the direction and allowing myself the time, space and quiet to work things out. My enthusiasm and passion for my business is steadfast. However, it is hard when it is all YOU and when your product is niche and not always understood.
One of the biggest insights was to stop wasting so much time on Instagram. And it isn't just the physical time, it's also the mental headspace. It's been so refreshing to not get caught up in all of it and free up enough time to hear myself think. I really needed that.
So, what has become clearer?
One of the biggest challenges has always been to communicating exactly what Mapology Guides is.
It started with a vision of creating a library of collectable, beautifully illustrated fold-out maps. That vision remains.
Mapology Guides are often much easier to appreciate once someone has actually experienced them. We're not just selling illustrated information. We're offering an experience of exploring information.
Opening an A6 map into a double-sided A2 illustrated world, where metaphor, storytelling and practical ideas come together, is not easy to communicate online. That's what distinguishes a Mapology Guide from a conventional book, greeting card or self-help product.
The themes we've explored: boundaries, overthinking, decision-making, creativity and finding meaning are complex subjects. Our maps make them more approachable, engaging and memorable.
But Mapology Guides isn't simply about self-awareness, It's about making ideas easier to understand through visual storytelling.
Self-awareness remains at its heart, but that wider understanding opens up many more possibilities. Visual learning isn't limited to personal growth. It can also help organisations communicate ideas, explain complicated subjects and engage audiences.
A refresh of the website was long overdue.
It's finally happened. I'm very happy with the changes and I hope visitors will be too. It's less about changing the look of the website and more about communicating what Mapology Guides is and the different ways people can discover, buy and work with us.
Through the website:
Discovering maps for yourself or as meaningful gifts.
Retailers/Wholesale: Bringing Mapology Guides into shops, galleries, museums and other unexpected places.
Organisations: Buying maps in quantity for employees, events, educational programmes or conferences.
Bespoke commissions: Creating entirely new illustrated maps to communicate complex subjects and ideas.
None of this is entirely new, but it's clearer in my mind and therefore in the way I communicate about the business.
I feel a renewed sense of possibility. And not necessarily knowing exactly where the next opportunity will come from is part of the adventure of running a business.
I'm excited about the future.