Career Advice for Creatives
Over the past 15 years, I’ve worn every hat you can imagine as a creative professional. With job titles like graphic and web designer, social media manager, creative director, director of marketing, photographer, illustrator, and communications manager… if there was an opportunity to flex my creative muscles, I jumped at the opportunity.
And through the combination of personal projects, life experience, and meaningful self-work, I have my fair share of career advice for creative professionals. In this blog post, I’m going to give you nine pieces of advice to help you stay inspired, focused, and productive in your creative career.
1. Success can have so many different meanings for creative professionals. You get to define what success means to you.
Don’t chase after someone else’s dream. Instead establish what success means for you and build a life you love. That might mean letting go of specific job titles or focusing less on breaking six figures, if you prefer to prioritize work/life balance.
2. Eat the frog first thing every single day.
Instead of procrastinating, do the one task you’re dreading first so you can get out of the way. This frees up mental space and allows you to be more creative for the rest of the day.
3. No one will advocate for you if you aren’t willing to advocate for yourself.
It’s easy to assume that people are hyper-aware of your interests, needs, and expectations. But you have to remember that your coworkers and manager are dealing with their own set of goals and objectives.
It’s your job to remind them of the good work that you’re doing, the growth that you’ve made, and your goals for the future.
4. You have to have an emergency savings fund… ideally in a high-yield account.
In the creative industry, even the most secure jobs can be volatile. Save money for rainy days so that you don’t have the financial pressure of being without a consistent salary if you’re laid off. Once you’ve saved enough, you can consider creating a separate savings account to take a sabbatical.
5. No one can actually multitask – they lying.
The best way to complete a project effectively and efficiently is to give it your full focus. Make a to-do list at the beginning of the week and take projects one step at a time. This will lead to a higher quality of work overall and a defined sense of actively getting things done.
6. Work hard enough to get the job done well, but not so hard that it directly affects your health or your relationships.
One of the challenges of working in your zone of genius is deciding when to stop working. It’s important to create things that your clients will love and that you’re proud of, but sometimes pushing for perfection is a waste of energy and time.
Make sure to prioritize all the aspects of your life that matter: health, fitness, quality time with friends and family, self-care, and hobbies.
7. Always ask for $5-10,000 more than what they offered.
After multiple rounds of interviews, it’s easy to just be happy that you got a new creative job. But you could be leaving money on the table if you’re not negotiating for more pay when you get the offer. It’s always worth countering the offer to see if there’s some wiggle room in the budget.
8. Make time for creative exploration in your creative process.
With a demanding full-time creative job, it can be hard to make time for creative exploration. With tight deadlines and lots of projects, you have to carve out time to continue to grow in your creative profession.
Take time to create just because you want to create. Watch tutorials. Go to conferences. Connect with like-minded creatives. Inspiration is something you have to continually seek, even if it means doing it when you’re not on the clock.
9. If no one will hire you to do the work that you want to do, you can make it your side hustle.
Sometimes the only way you can actually build experience is to commit to learning a new skill on your own time. This is the beauty and the challenge of being a creative professional. You need experience to get the job, but often times in order to get experience, you have to start on your own.
If you’re trying to break into a new field, build new portfolio pieces that connect with the work you’re looking for. Once you have a portfolio, search for contract work or create self-initiated projects that help you become better at your craft.
Breaking Out of a Rut: Tips on How to Stay Motivated and Productive
Life is full of ups and downs, and it can be hard to stay motivated when things don’t go as planned. Whether it’s a tough day at work, a missed deadline, or just feeling stuck in a rut, there are many things that can steal our motivation.
Here are 5 common motivation-stealers and useful tactics on how to stay motivated and productive:
Procrastination:
Putting things off until the last minute can make any task feel overwhelming and make it harder to find the motivation to start.
To beat procrastination, try breaking down your tasks into smaller chunks and setting specific deadlines for yourself.
Negative thinking:
It’s easy to get bogged down in negative thoughts, but they can be a major motivation-killer.
To keep your motivation high, try practicing positive thinking and focusing on the good things in your life.
Lack of sleep:
When you’re tired, it’s hard to find the energy and motivation to do anything.
To keep your motivation high, make sure you’re getting enough sleep and taking care of your physical and mental health.
Fear of failure:
Sometimes, the fear of failure can be so overwhelming that it’s hard to even start.
To overcome this, try focusing on the progress you’re making and reminding yourself that failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Comparison:
Comparing yourself to others can be a surefire way to kill your motivation. Remember, everyone has their own journey and it’s important to focus on your own progress and goals.
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It’s important to remember that staying motivated can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and find motivation.
Sometimes, it takes a little extra effort to get out of a rut, but it’s worth it in the end.
The power of positive thinking can do wonders in keeping your motivation high. Self-care is equally important in staying motivated and achieving your goals. So, break out of your comfort zone, take a step back and breathe, and remind yourself that you’ve got this!
13 Thoughts on Life: Inspirational Ideas for cultivating joy
I’ve had my fair share of resets. Unexpected twists. Beautiful surprises. And terrible defeats. But I decided at the end of last year that 2023 is my year of intentional growth.
A year to dare to believe that all the good that I imagine is possible.
A year to put myself out there in new and unexpected ways.
A year to let down the barriers and allow my dreams to truly flourish.
This post collects 13 thoughts on life and inspirational ideas on how to have a more positive life.
1. This is your life and you are empowered to make changes as frequently as you see fit.
The only thing standing in the way of what you desire is dedicated effort and a positive mindset.
2. It’s okay to say how you’re really feeling.
If someone asks “How are you doing?” take a beat to consider your answer.
3. Books are the gateway to new worlds.
Try to read every single day. You will become a better writer and more likely to impress people with interesting tidbits.
4. Conflict is healthy. But remember, conflict does not equal having a screaming match.
You should be able to confidently say your opinion on things, but also be flexible enough to hear other people.
5. Time is your most precious gift.
Use it wisely.
6. You have to exercise a few times a week.
This has nothing to do with losing weight or trying to look hot. Just do it cause it will make you happier and healthier. For me, it’s a win if I get outside for a 20-minute walk. Commit to something small and get moving.
7. You have to eat vegetables every single day.
This seems obvious, but I know waaaay too many people that avoid their greens. Eat the salad. Or make some broccoli. They basically go with every meal.
8. Always be impeccable with your word.
If you say you’re going to do something you have to follow through. That goes for the promises you make to other people because you want to be trustworthy. But this also goes for the promises you make to yourself.
9. If being perfect stops you from completing projects, stop trying to be perfect.
As a recovering perfectionist its hard to ship something when I know its not perfect. But I’m learning that my 80% is pretty damn spectacular, in comparison to choosing not to finish.
10. Some days you will need a nap, a cry, or a vent session to reset.
You don’t have to be strong all the time. And you don’t have to be productive all the time. Listen to your brain, your body, and most importantly your heart.
11. Sometimes you’re going to have to take the risk.
There will never be a perfect time or perfect circumstance.
12. Everything that tastes good is basically bad for you.
Try to change your palette to think about the way food makes you feel after you’ve eaten it. For me, the hardest challenge is cutting back on the sweets. Switching to dark chocolate from cookies helps a bit, but I still have lots of work to do in this area.
13. Write in a journal regularly.
Write what you’re thankful for and what’s troubling you. It gives the perfect snapshot of where you are right now. Then try to reread those journals at least once a year to see how far you’ve come.
From Fear to Freedom: The Transformative Power of Allowing Yourself to be Vulnerable
When it comes to building meaningful connections with others, vulnerability is key. As researcher and author Brené Brown has shown, being open and honest about our thoughts, feelings, and experiences can lead to deeper and more fulfilling relationships. But for many of us, the idea of being vulnerable can be scary and overwhelming.
Vulnerability allows us to connect more deeply with others, build trust, and create a sense of intimacy. It also allows us to be more authentic and true to ourselves, which can lead to a greater sense of self-worth and self-acceptance. And perhaps most importantly, vulnerability allows us to grow and heal from past traumas and experiences.
So how can we begin to embrace the power of vulnerability? Here are five tips to help you get started:
1. Practice self-compassion: Be kind and understanding towards yourself as you navigate the process of being vulnerable. You don’t have to get things right on the first try. You just need to try.
2. Start small: Take baby steps towards vulnerability by sharing something small and manageable with a trusted friend or loved one. See how they react. And decide if you’d like to share more.
3. Learn to listen: Listening to others with empathy and understanding is an important aspect of vulnerability and creates space for you to be open and honest with the people you care about.
4. Be present: When you’re with others, be fully present and engaged in the conversation. Put down the phone. Let go of the distractions. And allow yourself to cherish the memory you’re making.
5. Let go of perfection: Remember that vulnerability is about being real and honest, not about being perfect. Perfection is boring. You’re a human being. So consider this your permission to be human.
Vulnerability is not always easy, but it is a powerful tool for creating meaningful connections and building deeper relationships. By learning to be vulnerable, we open ourselves up to the joys and rewards of a more authentic and fulfilling life. So go forth, be vulnerable, and see where it takes you!
Step outside your comfort zone
To live in the present is not to let go of the past
Your past is always with you
Every moment of hope.
Every painful defeat.
Every deep embrace.
Every broken heart.
The challenge — and I genuinely think this could be the beauty of living — is to not allow the past to limit the joy that’s possible in THIS moment.
To step confidently into new beginnings… even when it’s kinda scary.
Last week I announced The Reset Workshop, a 5-week mastermind I’m leading that helps you break free of unhelpful patterns and live with more passion, purpose, and energy.
And today I wanted to tell you more.
Your life doesn’t have to be in shambles to need a reset.
In fact, regularly checking in with yourself and making sure you’re on the right track or doing a little course correction if necessary is essential for living the life you want.
In this live group experience, you’ll:
- Check in with your mind, body, and spirit and build healthy self-care habits
- Take an inventory of what’s working and the tiny optimizations you want to make to build your ideal life
- Define your core values so you can connect with your deepest desires.
- Create daily, weekly, monthly, and annual rituals to honor the life you live.
- Use what you discovered to make a tactical plan for the future.
And when you’re ready to purchase, you can get $100 off with code “EARLYBIRD”
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