Written by: Courtlyn Jones, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As we enter a new year with new beginnings, it’s so important to set your intentions and release what no longer serves us. This can be bad habits, toxic people, negative self-talk, limiting beliefs, or whatever it is that holds you back.
Have you ever been afraid to say an idea out loud during a meeting because you were worried that it wasn’t going to be taken seriously?
Or maybe you feared it would just be shut down immediately and didn’t want to embarrass yourself so you sat there quietly, waiting for the meeting to be over?
I’ve been there countless times, and every single time I’ve regretted it because using your voice and sharing your ideas is crucial if you want to be successful.
Let’s talk about imposter syndrome because it can be your biggest enemy. In the creative industry, there’s a lot of competition. We might not even be trying to compete with anyone, but someone else is always trying to compete with us. This isn’t only limited to the creative industry, but for the sake of this article, we’re gonna keep it narrowed.
Imposter syndrome can make us feel small and unworthy. It can make us feel that we do not deserve our blessings or we’re not good enough to be doing the job or career that we want or currently have. Sometimes, it makes us feel like we’re just not good enough in general.
Doesn’t that sound awful?
Who wants to have a voice in their head constantly telling us that we’re not worthy of the things that we want?
This is one of the biggest struggles of being a Creative. There are so many times when a creative person is looked down upon because they may have an idea that is “outlandish” or seems “idiotic” to some people. Even though this is not a new concept, it still holds a lot of people back from shining their light.
If you haven’t read my previous article, The Struggles of a Creative: Part One, you should check it out. I wrote about working with difficult clients who don’t know what they want and how it can be hard to speak up and express your ideas, even though the client hired YOU for your creative expertise. Now, more than ever, is the time to speak up because the world needs new ideas. We’ve all seen how life has changed since this pandemic hit, and we’re still not back to “normal.” We may never get back to how life used to be, and that might not be a bad thing, but it means that change is still in the air.
The year 2022 needs to be your time. It’s time to use your creative gifts and introduce yourself to the world. I’ve launched my company, The Design Database, with the intention to help empower Creatives to build their dream careers and show off their amazing talents. Was it scary to quit a job and build my own platform, knowing that I’d be “competing” against other large already established companies, like Fiverr and Upwork? On one hand, absolutely! On the other hand, not really. I say this because I know that the Universe is abundant. There are so many people and companies who are doing the same thing BUT they all still have a lot of amazing customers. Why? Because everyone has their own uniqueness to them, and just because customers use one service, platform, or product, doesn’t mean they won’t try another one.
One of the biggest struggles of being a Creative is being too afraid to try. In 2021, we have seen content-creators blowing up all over social media, and yet so many people are still afraid to post their content because they are worried that no one will be interested. Remember the saying “You’ll never know unless you try?” I’ve seen amazing artists, designers, musicians, actors, and dancers showcasing their talents on TikTok and making a profit from just being themselves.
Here is my advice for 2022: Post your content. Start your creative business. Show off your work. Use your gifts. Use your voice. Speak up and share your ideas.
How many times have you heard this before? Several times, I’m sure.
You may be thinking that it’s easier said than done and you’re afraid of being laughed at or judged, but why would you hold yourself back from changing your life and doing what you love and what makes you happy because you’re worried about the opinions of strangers who are most likely only trolling you because they are jealous of that fact that you’re doing what they’re too afraid or unable to do themselves?
That’s a genuine question that you need to ask yourself.
See, now what’s holding you back?
Whether you’re a Creative now or someone who aspires to be a Creative, go after your dreams. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.
Check out my next articles for more tips about surviving the creative industry and visit The Design Database to connect with other Creatives that are going through the same struggles as you.
If you’re a graphic designer specifically, you may also want to check out the podcast The Struggle of a Graphic Designer by Lodesigns Studio.
Courtlyn Jones, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Courtlyn Jones is a graphic designer and creative entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Founder of The Design Database, a new online platform and community designed to be a support system for Creatives (artists, designers, illustrators, photographers, writers, and more). With her platform, Creatives can connect with clients who are looking to hire now, connect with other Creatives in the community to form partnerships, gain inspiration, and make new friends, and also host and sell their work. She has partnered up with other amazing businesses who share the same mission as her to support Creatives by providing tools and resources to help these independent workers be successful in their careers. Her mission is to help create change in the creative community and bring people together because she believes that when Creatives come together, true magic happens!
