I love these posts and how you bust all that "advice" that is saturating the internet and particularly your statement about "adding value". It was when I dropped that idea that I started enjoying writing online.
"It’s about what you do with what you know" - this is the thing! I've been in the process of building a new career for the last 5-6 years, and have been working on personal projects for 2-3 years, but thought I had to build this and that skill and improve this and that before I can show up. Then I suddenly got a request from a potential client and started realising I already know enough to get started, so this weekend I'm building my business website.
Oh how exciting Susanne. I think that “advice” followings trending cycles like anything else. I feel like we’ve overdone the marketing cycle and we need to refocus on a more internally driven artistic lense. That is my goal at least. I’m happy this resonated with you
“Growth is a direct result of following your own curiosity, developing your own theories, and testing them out.” I love this. And to share with others. I read a quote once that made all the difference in the world to me. It was by Yogi Bhajan: “To learn something, read about it. To understand something, write about it. To master it, teach it.” Until then, I thought I had to master something before I could teach it. This gave me permission to share what I’ve learned and experienced. It changed my life. In many ways, you’re saying the same thing.
Yes it is about developing your own systems and processes. Others can help you get there but you will never get it from just one person. You have to piece it together through life experiences, trial and error, books, course etc.
Great post! Big parts of this were what I was doing when I started my comic strip - without knowing the things you've said here. I think the testing part for me was when I started doodling characters in a sketch pad and putting them up on social media not for the purpose of being "discovered," but to see for myself if I had the discipline to do any of this at all. I never thought about monetization - it was me trying out what I could do and seeing what it looked like when I put it up. It was nothing like what my strip is like now - the characters looked different, there was no grand idea behind it, and it was throwing things up against the wall to see what stuck. It was from there I discovered that I had that discipline and that once established, then I could attend to character appearance and development, the introduction of new characters, story arcs and such. In a sense, it was me "showing up," but less to be seen (though I was) and more to discover. I'm glad I've done it this way and I now would advise anyone being anything in graphic art to do the same.
Thanks so much for sharing your own experience. Following your own curiosity and focusing on your own skills and abilities so so much more important than worrying about what other people think of you or your work
I like your point on goals, you've articulated your view of them similar to how I see them - I refer to 'goals' loosely as they are more so a framework of where I want my achievements to arise.
Like you said, having a reference than a fixed goal that is not grounded in experimentation and action is meaningless and is a source of temporary motivation.
It’s interesting that you say develop a vision instead of setting goals. I’ve always felt pressured by goals and never really satisfied when ticking off said goals. A vision is far more motivating for me and something we continue to develop rather than just ✅ off the list. Another great article Benjamin, thank you 🙂
Thank you for the support as always Shelly. I do think the moment goals become rigid and set they loose their power. Things are always changing a growing and we have to be able to adapt with those changes
This is great “advice” Benjamin, especially on building your own systems and testing them out. That hit a chord for me as it made me think about how many times I’ve paid for courses and implemented what they had in them but didn’t do it for me until I started doing things in my way. Really love this piece! Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks Sheila. Yes it is tricky. The magic really starts when you go after your own internal calling and make use of abilities which come easily to you
- Growth requires experimenting, not just learning. So test your offer/service with yourself/family/friends instead of waiting for people to come.
- Test one thing at a time. Track how it goes.
- Teach your lessons to others. That's it. Don't overcomplicate content creation. You struggle with articulation. What's better than teaching to practice structuring your understanding.
Truthfully, I wrote a book, which I did not publish. I'm now going back to identify and fill in the gaps in my own understanding, desiring to weave the information and words in a new more solidified way, because if the unfolding story isn't really clear to me, it will be even less so for my readers.
I love these posts and how you bust all that "advice" that is saturating the internet and particularly your statement about "adding value". It was when I dropped that idea that I started enjoying writing online.
"It’s about what you do with what you know" - this is the thing! I've been in the process of building a new career for the last 5-6 years, and have been working on personal projects for 2-3 years, but thought I had to build this and that skill and improve this and that before I can show up. Then I suddenly got a request from a potential client and started realising I already know enough to get started, so this weekend I'm building my business website.
Keep your great posts coming!
Oh how exciting Susanne. I think that “advice” followings trending cycles like anything else. I feel like we’ve overdone the marketing cycle and we need to refocus on a more internally driven artistic lense. That is my goal at least. I’m happy this resonated with you
“Growth is a direct result of following your own curiosity, developing your own theories, and testing them out.” I love this. And to share with others. I read a quote once that made all the difference in the world to me. It was by Yogi Bhajan: “To learn something, read about it. To understand something, write about it. To master it, teach it.” Until then, I thought I had to master something before I could teach it. This gave me permission to share what I’ve learned and experienced. It changed my life. In many ways, you’re saying the same thing.
Oh that is a great quote. Yes exactly. Somehow counter intuitive but that is the path to mastery
" When I stopped taking this as advice and started developing my own system for learning I started to make progress immediately."
Thanks for sharing. I read on. My conclusion, for the person to succeed, the system, method, or approach must be their own.
You must become the expert or the master and not just follow the advice, whims, or follies of others.
That is where I think I am headed.
Yes it is about developing your own systems and processes. Others can help you get there but you will never get it from just one person. You have to piece it together through life experiences, trial and error, books, course etc.
Great post! Big parts of this were what I was doing when I started my comic strip - without knowing the things you've said here. I think the testing part for me was when I started doodling characters in a sketch pad and putting them up on social media not for the purpose of being "discovered," but to see for myself if I had the discipline to do any of this at all. I never thought about monetization - it was me trying out what I could do and seeing what it looked like when I put it up. It was nothing like what my strip is like now - the characters looked different, there was no grand idea behind it, and it was throwing things up against the wall to see what stuck. It was from there I discovered that I had that discipline and that once established, then I could attend to character appearance and development, the introduction of new characters, story arcs and such. In a sense, it was me "showing up," but less to be seen (though I was) and more to discover. I'm glad I've done it this way and I now would advise anyone being anything in graphic art to do the same.
Thanks so much for sharing your own experience. Following your own curiosity and focusing on your own skills and abilities so so much more important than worrying about what other people think of you or your work
I like your point on goals, you've articulated your view of them similar to how I see them - I refer to 'goals' loosely as they are more so a framework of where I want my achievements to arise.
Like you said, having a reference than a fixed goal that is not grounded in experimentation and action is meaningless and is a source of temporary motivation.
Glad to hear I’m not the only one. We have to be able to move with flexibility that’s the dance between focus and shiny object syndrome
Such a great piece Benjamin. I laughed out loud at “However I believe goal setting to be a sophisticated form of mental masturbation.”
Haha it’s true…well at least that’s what it’s been like for me. I think it’s why New Year’s resolutions never work
It’s interesting that you say develop a vision instead of setting goals. I’ve always felt pressured by goals and never really satisfied when ticking off said goals. A vision is far more motivating for me and something we continue to develop rather than just ✅ off the list. Another great article Benjamin, thank you 🙂
Thank you for the support as always Shelly. I do think the moment goals become rigid and set they loose their power. Things are always changing a growing and we have to be able to adapt with those changes
This is great “advice” Benjamin, especially on building your own systems and testing them out. That hit a chord for me as it made me think about how many times I’ve paid for courses and implemented what they had in them but didn’t do it for me until I started doing things in my way. Really love this piece! Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks Sheila. Yes it is tricky. The magic really starts when you go after your own internal calling and make use of abilities which come easily to you
My note capture:
- Growth requires experimenting, not just learning. So test your offer/service with yourself/family/friends instead of waiting for people to come.
- Test one thing at a time. Track how it goes.
- Teach your lessons to others. That's it. Don't overcomplicate content creation. You struggle with articulation. What's better than teaching to practice structuring your understanding.
Theenkss for inspiring :)
Yes that’s it Regav. And for me the most important thing is that it’s continuing to help improve my thinking and creative process
My favorite part of your post:
Explaining concepts to someone else forces you to organize your thoughts and identify gaps in your understanding.
Teaching isn’t just about helping others—it’s one of the most powerful ways to solidify your own knowledge.
Because you put into words what I’ve really experienced in my first month on Substack.
I do think the teacher often gets more out of it than the student…it really took me a long time to learn this
Truthfully, I wrote a book, which I did not publish. I'm now going back to identify and fill in the gaps in my own understanding, desiring to weave the information and words in a new more solidified way, because if the unfolding story isn't really clear to me, it will be even less so for my readers.
I really like this!
Thank you. Glad to hear it :)
SIGH