Take a good hard look at some form of creative output that catches your eye.

Then, create a few statements based on what you see.

It can be as simple as something like:

“I enjoy this specific part because it makes me feel happy.”

Now that you’ve noted a few key characteristics about the piece it’s time to ask yourself more questions:

“What would I change and why?”

“If I took out this bit, would that effect the outcome?”

“Did the designer/writer/videographer/etc viewpoint come across effectively?”

The more questions you can ask yourself here the better prepared you’ll be for the next step.

Take one of the questions that stands out most and push it one notch further…

Something like:

“The middle part of the piece stinks so bad I have a hard time enjoying it.”

Assumptions will be different for everyone, especially in creative pursuits. So don’t get too hung up on this step.

Take that assumption and craft it into a prediction that can be tested at a later date.

Something like:

“I think that if I change the middle part to be more colorful that it will resonate more with my target audience.”

It’s important that the prediction you’re making is as specific as possible because every future creative change will be gut checked against it.

This is where the most mistakes get made.

Without a prediction to test your work will be judged purely based on its structure and decoration. And that’s where things are most likely to spiral out of control.

Instead, keeping feedback targeted toward testing the prediction will allow the work to stand on its own two feet.

And prevent comments from becoming too personal.

Taking the outcome of the test you can then begin to repeat these steps in order.

This helps to more easily pinpoint what needs to be changed, and WHY, so that you can more efficiently work toward a more applicable solution for everyone involved.

The goal in this step is to get to a better (you’ll never get to perfect) output to prove, or disprove, the prediction.

This process is what is internalized by every level of director that exists. And the more you can run your own work through it before reaching the eyes of someone else in a stuffy meeting room…the better you’ll be able to:

- Speak to your decision making

- Showcase your process

- Sell the solution

And best of all, because you’ve externalized the creative process you’ll start to lessen those “world is ending” feelings you get by receiving feedback.

Head on over to thecalculatedcreative.com for more actionable tips to help you move from inspiration to realization.

The reason you’re not getting interviews or landing freelance gigs?

Nobody gets hired via cold pitches or applications alone.

By taking a different approach you can stop being ghosted…

And start landing more work.

Here’s how to network in 6 easy steps:

What companies do you really want to work for?

Are you open to relocation?

Do you need 100% remote work?

The more clear you are on your ideal outcome the easier it will be to:

- Put together an action plan to get there
- Start going after accomplishing it

Find the company on Linkedin.

Hit that “connect” button on individuals surrounding your dream companies & roles.

Having that 1st level connection is key…

Otherwise the rest of these steps will fall flat on their face.

Once someone accepts your connection request send them:

“Hey XXX, just wanted to reach out and say how much I enjoyed *mention relevant project here*”

Short & sweet.

Don’t oversell yourself at the risk of being labeled spam.

Start posting more about your work & thinking.

Comment on posts from people you enjoy.

Begin building your network by creating trust and real relationships.

The goal here is to add more value than you’re extracting by means of your direct messages.

(hint — treat it just like you would use IG with friends and family…only limit the cursing)

Set aside time every day to browse your feed.

You’ll start seeing jobs pop up before apps even go online.

Allowing you to apply before 90% of others even see it.

The best part? You’ll have a direct line in with your 1st level connections you made in step number two above.

Certain messages not working?

Tweak them.

Specific posts doing better?

Create more content around those topics.

Pay attention to what is & isn’t working so you can make small changes.

Over time they’ll add up to break throughs in landing career changing jobs…all while building a robust network along the way.

Networking doesn’t have to be as difficult and time consuming as it may seem. And by shifting even a tiny amount of focus from other social platforms to a place like Linkedin can have huge benefits in the longevity of your career. Get out there and find the others.

Head on over to thecalculatedcreative.com for more actionable tips to help you move from inspiration to realization.

Creative roles are difficult by nature.

And that difficulty gets amplified by tight deadlines, high stress, and changing environments.

But learning to adapt quickly can be your way through the uncertainty.

Leading you to places you would have never imagined in your wildest dreams.

But how do you go about adapting when you feel like you can’t find solid ground?

By creating a shift in perspective.

Here’s how to do it in 3 easy steps:

Instead of saying “Why do I suck at this?” change the the question to “What happens if I continue down this path?”

Are your current choices taking you toward, or away from, where you want to go?

If you’re on a path that won’t get you to where you want to be then you have no option but to change.

Use the potential negative outcome to your benefit!

It can become your catalyst for change.

Hard things are difficult to accomplish by nature.

But most people give up simply because their tolerance for dealing with difficult stuff for long periods of time is so low.

So how do you build up your frustration tolerance?

Step 1 — Accept it

Step 2 — Label it

Step 3 — Create realistic affirmations

The idea isn’t to create a vision for yourself that isn’t achievable.

Your goal is being able to see the world for what it is and to be realistic about how you’re going to work within it.

Thoughts are not facts.

And emotions are not commands.

This doesn’t mean that they aren’t real but that sometimes your brain and body are hardwired to react in ways that aren’t beneficial.

And just because you can feel a thought or emotion doesn’t mean you need to act on it.

Next time a strong thought or emotion surfaces ask yourself:

1. Is it true?

2. How does this make me feel?

3. Is this a productive thought?

4. What would it be like if I didn’t believe this thought?

All of which help you to remove yourself from spiraling thought patterns and into a space where you can more actively build the future of your dreams.

 

Head on over to thecalculatedcreative.com for more actionable tips to help you move from inspiration to realization.