When you're pushing yourself forward, you're bound to make some embarrassing mistakes, you're bound to stumble. The important thing here is to dust yourself off and embrace the embarassment - see what you've learned. Chances are you won't stumble so easily the next time. While the blood leaves your blushed cheeks, remind yourself:
- How to stay creative
- How to stay above the drama
- How to surpass your competition
My way of embracing the embarrassment is to list my lessons learned in an attempt to grow and move forward. I do some wallowing in self-pity every once in a while just like everybody else though. Yes, I allow myself that - but not for long. I'm on a mission after all - gotta keep pushing pushing pushing, envisioning and moving.
Keep in mind - I'm so new to the game, still crawling through the lessons that keep piling on top of me. Maybe my list of lessons will be off and I'll have to revisit and edit it several times throughout the next year. However, I have a very good sense of myself, where I fit in and how to treat people in order to develop mutually beneficial relationships, so I think I'm on the right track. And if I'm wrong, at least I'm wrong while being self-reflective. Self-reflection is always a plus in my book. These are things I think about while I stretch in the morning or brush my teeth; my positive mantras to remind myself that although I may struggle, I do so in the name of personal development. No moving forward if I cower when tested.
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1) AUTHENTICITY IS KING (Inspired by Paul 107)
Be you and support what you believe in. Design things the way you want to design them. Forge your style. BE REAL. There are so many sickeningly fake people in this industry - all vying for your spot - being you, real, trustworthy, honest, may just be the thing that sets you apart. And at the end of the day, you'll feel happier for being true to yourself.
2) PLAY = FREEDOM = INNOVATION
Don't stress the project. You're doing what you love so just have fun and play around. Explore. Learn. Test. Be spontaneous. Don't plan your playing. This always, always, always leads to discoveries. And an open-mind, ready to learn is far more likely to discover something that hasn't yet been found. Plus, playing is exciting and keeps you keen on design/creation.
3) HOLD ON TIGHT TO YOUR COURAGE (Thanks Ze Frank)
No matter how confident you are in your skills and creative abilities - that confidence gets swept right out the door when there's a senior behind you complaining that you aren't doing it right or quickly enough. As I mentioned, those moments where your confidence wavers are bound to happen. The key is to embrace them and tap into your COURAGE to push through!
4) DON'T LET YOUR EGO GET IN THE WAY
You may be on a big creative/career streak but maintain your perspective:
- you always have LOTS to learn
- you didn't get here alone - you have lots of people supporting you (they deserve some credit)
- being cocky is unattractive
- being full of yourself prevents you from being critical of your work
5) MISTAKES KEEP YOU OUT OF YOUR BOX
Embrace your mistakes - they keep you learning and keep you out of your box. When you make mistakes, it takes you out of your comfort zone and pushes your abilities one step further. When creating - playing around often leads to mistakes. These mistakes can be special surprises that open up whole worlds to you.
6) REJECT NEGATIVITY/BITTERNESS/CYNICISM (Inspired by Michael Gillette)
Harder to reject than you'd think. When you catch yourself with negative thoughts, hating on people, being jealous -- just let it go. I believe in the power of the mind. I think positive and I expel positive and positive is reflected back to me. The same is true with negative. You won't get anywhere releasing negative energy!
7) SET DAILY GOALS AND TREAT YOURSELF FOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Time flies. If I don't set goals, the days roll by me and before I know it, I've gone a week without creating. That's just too long when you're trying to get your career going. I have so much to learn and doing nothing isn't going to get that stuff learnt. I need to get my 10000 hours in!
The treats are important because you need to reward yourself for hard work. Without the treats - the work starts to seem like a job. And there's no such thing as a creative zone if you never allow yourself to leave it and watch tv with a glass of wine (or whatever your vice may be).
8) PERFECTION IS LESS INTERESTING (Have had this one on my mind for a while but Ze Frank reminded me of it)
While in Italy, my drawing teacher always told me to let go of the need to have my drawings be perfect. I learnt during that trip that when you aren't interested in perfection, you art reveals your soul and your true intentions. Perfection lives in a shiny box but it's boring and it's not me.
9) DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY (Thanks Caster Parham)
Leave your emotions at the door. This will allow you to remain above the drama (there is lots and it can eat at you). People are dealing with their own stresses. Making their stresses your own is silly and useless.
10) SMILE AND SAY HELLO
As I mentioned, positive attracts positive. So many people live in their own bubble... a lot of it technology based. Step outside your bubble and make a connection. People will remember you for it.
11) KEEP LEARNING
Always and all ways. This will keep you at the top of your game and keep you interested in what you're doing.
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| Michael Gillette Ze Frank |
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| Stefan Sagmeister - Click the pic to read his list of things he's learnt! |
