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I miss the mob." — Derek Sivers
Just read Anything You Want. What a great story with some interesting tips.
Gobbledygook
When talking to anyone about your work, your passion, your pursuit, drop the technical language. The whole point of communication is to build this bridge from ourselves to others. Throwing around words like “transparency” and “scalable” and “sustainable” might be putting potholes in your bridge. It’s jargon.
Our schools, our workplaces, and our society encourage this, but it turns out that this approach this doesn’t work. I’m just as guilty as anyone else in this department, but let’s call it like it is. This does not impress clients or friends and it will not make a sale for you. If your grandma can’t understand what you are saying or writing, than word it differently.
These words quickly become vehicles for passive-aggressive comments. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Other examples of this language include:
Think outside the box.
Translation: ”You aren’t creating anything interesting.”
Make it pop.
Translation: “Read my mind and make this exactly how I want it on the first try.”
I’ll have to flesh this out.
Translation: “This project will take time and money before we know if it’s good or not.”
This is problematic.
Translation: “Your idea is not going to work, but mine will.”
I could go on and on for this post, but I’d rather ask you. Post a comment with some annoying office jargon that you would like to see disappear forever.
Top 10 excuses for not starting
1) ”I don’t know what I want to do.” // Close your eyes. What do you do now in your free-time? What keeps you up at night? What gives you butterflies in your stomach from raw excitement and fear? Does anyone tell you that you are good at something? Does anyone tell you that you can’t do something? What would you do if you had infinite money? What do you want to do when you retire? Go and do one of those.
2) ”I don’t have enough money.” // Anyone with one of these or even one of these has almost everything they need to start something great.
3) ”I’m too busy. I don’t have the time.” // If it’s worth it to you, make time. Set aside 30 minutes a day or a couple nights a week with this.
4) ”I don’t know enough people.” // Forget about “networking”. Just become friends with people. It’s simple. Spark conversations, find the common ground, share your passions, & be honest. But start with the people you already know here, here or here.
5) ”I can’t make money AND do what I love.” // Yes you can IF you find a way to help someone else in the process. Use this if you need to.
6) ”I can’t afford to market myself.” // Market to the entire world instantly and for free with one of these. This and that are okay too.
7) ”I don’t have $2K to give a lawyer to set up an LLC.” // Make yourself legit for as low as a hundred bucks here.
8) ”I’m bad at multi-tasking, and I’m too ADD to manage multiple projects for clients.” // Pay $50 bucks a month to organize your to-do’s and eliminate your stress with this. And manage your clients with this.
9) ”I can’t do it by myself.” // Don’t worry, you are not alone. People here, here, here and here are all about starting and helping others start.
10) ”But what if I fail?” // What if you don’t? Or better yet, what if you don’t start something for yourself?
Give us what you’ve got.
These are a series of posters I produced to promote the creation of new ideas in our global culture. More specifically, new sustainable energy sources.
What is something you are passionate about? What could you make that could raise awareness or even raise funding for a worthy cause? Take a step today toward making something worth sharing. The world is waiting for your contribution.
Quit waiting to be picked
Everyone secretly knows this is true. These are simply over-exaggerated, over-embellished bios that make us all look more awesome than we actually are. The better we make ourselves look on paper, the more likely it is that we get picked, right? Wrong. Anyone can make a great resume these days. Which means maybe they have lost their value.
The places we work, our education or lack-there-of, and the amount of time that we have been doing what we do are mattering less and less. These things do not promise success anymore. Instead the smart employers and clients are now focusing on the actual work you have to show for. What have you finished and “shipped” for the world to see?
What if instead we spent our time starting things, finishing things, and sending them out to the world. With the internet, your art form can be produced, manufactured, and distributed easier, faster and cheaper than ever. You have less and less excuses. Of course, then we’ll be exposed to real rejection. So what? We will also be given the opportunity to see real growth and real success too.
Forget about resumes. Whether you work somewhere now or are looking for a great company to work for, you should start something today. Show it to people. Before you know it you will have a body of work (a portfolio) that will open doors for you.
To sum it up, don’t wait to be picked. Pick yourself!
Make art that matters
I don’t know about you, but this is an interesting season in my life right now. 2 months ago I took a step of faith to pursue my own work full time. What kind of work do I do? Well, I make things.
My work is taking a lot of forms. Right now it looks like branding, web design, app design, print design, copywriting, songwriting, and music production, among other things. But if I could sum it up in one word, I make art. Not just the kind of art that just hangs on a wall or tickles eardrums. My goal is to make art that matters. Art that might change things. Art that might change people. Art that might change how things get done.
But ultimately this rant is not about me. What exactly is that thing you have been wanting to pursue? What is that idea you have been thinking about for awhile now? What is your dream? What is your art?
Why not go out and do that thing?
“Well, it’s not that easy…” your thinking. So what is holding you back from starting? I’m not telling you to quit your job tomorrow or walk out on your family. But what do you have to lose if you pursue the work you are being called to? Or is there some other way to make baby steps to your goal? Do something in 2 weeks that will get you one step in the right direction.
Whatever it is, is it worth looking back on life and wishing you would’ve ____________?
On a similar note: Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art, just released his new book Do the Work. This is seriously one of the greatest books I’ve read. This is for anyone who wants do to anything bigger than themselves.
It’s time to start things
I’ve been talking entirely too long about starting, so now is the time to go ahead and make this happen. This is my new platform for starting things. This blog is about the exchange of great ideas, taking a stand, and making things that truly matter. Subjects might include but are not limited to design, business, experience, the web, culture, art, humanity, marketing and more. This is not just my platform though, this is for you: the graphic designer, the stay-at-home mom, the musician, the entrepreneur, the nine-to-five-er, the artist, the driven, the burn-outs, the hard-workers and the keep-it-simple-stupid folks.
Let’s start new conversations, new ideas, and make the world a better place. It’s time to give the world whatever you have to offer. Now-ish.