Bold Image

How do you sign your work? We all do things that bear our mark. Our skills are on display in everything we do, but especially in the things that bring us income or feed our passions.

J. Bourgholtzer, a photographer in Washington, Indiana in the first half of the 1900s, advertised with a flourish.

He mounted photographic prints to card stock imprinted with his bold signature, monogram, and location. And that was just on the photo side. The reverse was even more impressive.

The heavily inked signature is graced with stylish embellishments and lettering that leaves no question about his profession. The town name is printed in small capital letters along an arc, touting not only its prominence but also staking its claim as a lively burg.

That's how it was done years ago. Are you getting ideas about your own message? When people see your work, do they associate it with you? What clues are you giving them? Absolute quality? Completeness? Delivering on or before scheduled due dates? Perhaps it is all of the above.

I challenge each of us to approach our callings with the boldness of Bourgholtzer. Let's proudly imprint each thing we do with pride of ownership.