012: What Holds You Back?
Topics Discussed and Key Points
•Types of dream stealers
•Impostor syndrome and feeling “too in over your head”
•The importance of just starting even with little knowledge and experience
•Social media and the temptation to compare yourself to others
•Tips to overcome tech-related challenges or personal skill gaps
•“No man is an island”: creatives and community
•How and where to network for productive connections—even if you’re an introvert
Finding and taking action on your strengths as a creative is no easy feat. As you take your first steps in becoming a professional in your field, you’ll find that the biggest obstacles to prospering as an artist don’t often involve money or even skill. Rather, as a creative, the challenges you’ll often be dealing with revolve around fear.
Drawing from their own personal experiences, Roben-Marie and Sandi discuss the fear-based issues that can hold you back in any creative pursuit.
Don’t worry too much about distractions that can hold you back from focusing on your creative process. Rather, be wary of those fears that stop you from going all-in on your dream. After all, your “why” is where it all starts.
One of the most common fears for creatives takes the form of “impostor syndrome.” This is when a nagging feeling at the back of your mind causes you to ask, “Who am I to take something like this on?” Drown out those voices that threaten to derail your journey.
Roben-Marie and Sandi encourage every type of artist to simply start even if you don’t feel you have enough knowledge or experience. Most creative skills are learned as you go through the motions anyway. After all, if it’s experience you want, there’s no better way to acquire some than by going to work.
Also remember not to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. In our social media-powered age, this temptation is more constant in our day-to-day lives than ever before. Roben-Marie and Sandi, however, offer a solution to curbing this common temptation: size up another person’s skill only in order to open up the possibility for support and collaboration.
“Connect with and seek help from those who have the talent you lack.”
Building or becoming part of a productive community is the secret weapon for artists. Collaborating with others can potentially solve current problems and prevent future ones. For example: Got a tech-related gap in your skills? Connect with and seek help from those who have the talent you lack. Need feedback or an accountability partner/group for your project? Find some like-minded people to brainstorm with.
Introverts and extroverts alike can equally benefit from a great community. If nothing else, being with people who have your back can give you the courage you need to overcome those fears that are getting in the way of your creative pursuits.
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