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Articles: You

How To Change The World (In About 10 Minutes)

For the past decade, there have been a ton of media (books, shows, blogs) focused on finding your purpose. Many of them emphasize identifying your personal brand, finding that exact right fit in a job, or setting off on a massive hero’s quest to eliminate some social ill. In the wake of this upsurge of “Oh The Places You’ll Go” messages I find many people a little disenfranchised, cynical and in a general state of “purpose paralysis” (which is characterized by the lack of movement caused by an inability to define one’s exact purpose in life.) Not good, and in my opinion, not necessary. (more…)

AC Circles: We’re Getting The Gang Together!

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One of the goals of AC since the beginning has been to help creatives connect with one another and to be a starting point for conversations about how to do brilliant work sustainably. (In fact, there is an entire chapter in the upcoming AC book about the importance of relationships to the creative process.)

I’m thrilled to announce that we’re launching AC Circles, which are once-per-month meet-ups designed to help AC community members connect, share their work and discuss the dynamics of creating-on-demand.

Anyone can host an AC Circle, and we’re going to holding (optional) monthly online sessions with hosts to share tips for how to have a better meet-up. (If you sign up to host, you’ll receive an invite to sign-up for these optional monthly sessions.)

Interested in starting an AC Circle in your area?
Read more about how they work or start one now!

When Is An Experience “Real”?

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I’m sure that many of you have seen this video of Japanese pop star Hatsune Miku. While my initial reaction was disbelief that a hologram could draw thousands of fans to a live setting, it provoked me to spend some time thinking about what makes an experience “real” versus “artificial”. The fans thronging to this show seem unconcerned that the object of their attention is the fabrication of a tech firm. Whether Hatsune Miku is a real person or a fabrication seems to mean little in the context of an experience like this.

At the same time, I’m uneasy with the thought that someone sitting in a lab could create a pop phenom using algorithms and 3D modeling. What does this say about the consumption of art and the concern of the consumer for how “organic” something is?

Will we see ad campaigns cranked out by computer algorithm? What about the pragmatic illustrations and visual art we experience?

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on what Hatsune Miku means about the definition of art, entertainment and the nature of experience. Anyone?

Running Away From Something Is Not A Strategy

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I was in a conversation with a young creative the other day. In the midst of our conversation there was much discussion about work dissatisfaction, frustration with his inability to find creative expression, and relational tension. He expressed a desire to launch a new venture or do something to change his current situation.

My advice was a simple question: are you running from something, or running to something?

There is a significant difference between the two. When you spend your life running from dissatisfaction, it will follow you everywhere. It reminds me of one of my favorite Benjamin Franklin quotes:

The discontented man finds no easy chair.

Running from discomfort is not a life strategy. It is not a career plan. It’s not even a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon. We need to make certain that we’re making our choices based upon what we’re moving toward rather than what we’re moving away from.

The same applies to our creative process. Defining creative direction by declaring what we’re not isn’t a strategy. This doesn’t motivate people on the team to do their best work. There must be a clear definition of what we are, where we are headed, and some rails that help us stay aligned and moving in the right direction.

In whatever work you’re doing right now, or whatever you’re charged with, do you know where you’re going, or are you driving by looking in the rear view mirror? You need to make sure you’re running toward, not running away from.

(Photo by Vincepal)

Finding A Mentor

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A few years ago my friend Kevin decided to get a few guy-friends from undergrad and B-school together for a weekend getaway on a farm in Lexington, KY. The idea was to get some younger, bright business people together with some more experienced mentors for an entire weekend to discuss life, business and the intersection of the two. Over the years we’ve moved from city to city and had some fantastic mentors commit to spending the entire weekend building into us. We’ve also had some great guests including Harry Baxter, Jason Fried, John Y. Brown, and others spend an entire day with us discussing the intricacies of business and life strategy.

These yearly get-togethers have become something that I anticipate for months in advance because I get so much out of spending time with and absorbing wisdom from the participants. They have really reinforced for me the importance of mentorship, and relationship in general, to a healthy life. I’ve learned things that have significantly accelerated my growth in business, and how I think about what I really want from life.

Who builds into you? Where do you go to get inspiration and advice? Do you have a network of mentors in your life who provide support, encouragement and experience-based wisdom? We all need one, but how do you find it?

Look Up

One of the best places to find a mentor, or several of them, is to look within your own industry for people who are a little farther down the path. It’s still surprising to me how willing people are to help out if you simply extend yourself to them. Most people who have achieved a degree of success in their life and career are looking for a way to give back to the industry that has helped them. You may have to try a few times and with different people, (people are busy, after all), but eventually if you are persistent you will find someone willing to spend time with you.

What’s the ask? I’d suggest that you don’t immediately jump to “will you be my lifelong mentor?” but instead simply ask if you could take them out to lunch for an hour at their convenience. Be totally flexible. I don’t care if they want to eat at Masa, pick up the bill. Yes, they probably make a lot more money than you do, but picking up the bill is a reminder to you that this is an investment in your career and an indication to the other person that you recognize that their time is valuable.

I tend to reach out to the several mentor-figures in my life about twice per year, or when I’m at a significant turning point in my life. This is about the right frequency and prevents them from feeling like they are obligating themselves. If they want to meet more than that, let them initiate.

Also, if you see opportunities to help your mentor by utilizing your skills, offer to do so. It’s a great way to show appreciation for their advice and help. If you design, offer to design. If you build websites, offer to help them when they need it. While they are the expert in their own area, you are the expert in yours. Look for ways you can support your mentor.

Look Sideways

If you can’t think of any mentor candidates on your own, ask your peers if they know of anyone who would fit the bill. They may have friends, relatives or others who would make good candidates.

Don’t overlook the fact that many of your peers are mentoring candidates in ways that go beyond your job. For example, they may have experiences in some area of interest that could help you develop your skills or grow in some desired way. Being at your same level organizationally doesn’t mean that they aren’t farther along in other ways. It’s important that you understand what you want and then look for people who can help you get there.

It’s absolutely critical that you have mentor-figures in your life. It can make all the difference in helping you avoid common pitfalls and recognize career opportunities.

Q: if you have a mentor, help us all out. How did you find them?

Chasing Vapor

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Do you have real goals or do you simply have vaporous visions of some distant, ideal self?

Many people wish that they could introduce themselves in a certain way at social gatherings or be seen as a certain kind of person, but when it comes to the actual doing of the work, they’re really not all that interested.

I was in conversation with a friend a few days ago about his aspirations and I asked point blank “do you really want to be a writer, or do you just love the idea of being a writer?” It’s a question that some people don’t really wrestle with and as a result they spend months or years chasing vapor. (Or worse, they get what they thought they wanted and it wasn’t at all what they expected. Hello bitterness.) During my time in the music business I met a lot of newly famous musicians who hated life. Why? Because they loved the idea of being famous more than they loved the idea of being on the road 300 days a year playing the same songs night after night. They didn’t love the music. The music was just a means to an end. And once they arrived at the end, it wasn’t quite what they expected.

Many people love the idea of themselves as self-employed, but don’t want to actually do the hard work of developing a business plan. They just like to fantasize about the lifestyle of a business owner.

Many people love the idea of themselves as a writer, yet they don’t write everyday. They just like to think of how they would be perceived. They want to be known as a writer, but they don’t really want to do the writing.

Many people like the idea of being a good parent, but they don’t have basic disciplines in their life to support the relationships within their family.

If you really want to do things – not just be enamoured with the idea of doing them – you must begin today to do the small things that others don’t. You must choose today to do the work, whatever that is in your case. If you don’t, you may find that what you’re chasing only holds false promises.

Are you working toward concrete goals, or are you chasing vapor?

(Photo Credit: Vincepal)

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