The Creative Mentor Part 6: Art School // Pandemic // Stress // Systems are not Smart
Part 6 we talk a lot about how life loves to get in the way
This podcast took place during the pandemic and adjusting all of our systems into a new digital space, shuffling life around, and figuring out how to work from home. That showed a lot of pain points in how we all work in general and how we work together.
Art School
Depending on who you talk to, art school is great, or it sucks. Going to college in general is growing into something that is more and more for the financially privileged so people have started asking “Do I need to go to art school?” This is a tough question for me to directly answer for anyone. Instead, I frame a few things up to help you evaluate it’s value to you.
Consider this:
What is school for? Are you going because you enjoy being a student? Or do you want to learn how to work?
Do you need a portfolio to get into your profession? Taking time to make art and develop your voice is important, and depending on your discipline, is very key to getting creative work.
Is it financially viable to you? Can you find a way to afford it?
Do you have time to spend on school? We all work to make ends meet, and we try our best to balance our life with our school or work, do you have space in your life to go to school?
Working through Traumatic Events
Between the pandemic, George Floyd and the insurrection those of us who were working [or even those of us who weren’t] had a lot on our plate to deal with - let alone watching it all unfold from home wile we worked. It’s important to acknowledge that the pandemic changed A LOT of things for people as individuals. It changed everyone’s perspective on what is normal and what is important. As we work through this in the coming years, it’s normal to feel disconnected from your work, your purpose, etc. As well as be frustrated you’re not where you want to be. I try to remember that no one asked for this. It’s happening to all of us, and no one has “the answer” for this feeling.
Managing Stress
Dude, this is so hard. Especially with the pandemic and everything. All of our different lives compounded on themselves through the pandemic and if we weren’t already stressed at work, we just got another serving of stress. here’s some steps I take to keep it together:
It’s ok to feel emotional about any feedback. Be emotional, but do not respond to any correspondence until you are less emotional.
Your inner monologue voice is typically the harshest. Did you read any correspondence in your voice vs the sender?
Give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Most the time, it’s just not that personal.
If you’re having a rough day, take a step back. It’s ok to pause through the workday to take care of yourself.
Nothing is a waste of time. Anything you create, you’ve been paid for either through salary, or your freelance contracts. Stop being pissed about it
Remember: No one wants to be the bad guy at work, no one wants to fail at their job, and we all are working towards the same end goal. People who you keep in your life love you, they want you to be happy and they’re not here to do you any harm, they’re on your team.
We are all in this together
Systems are Not Smart
Humans LOVE a good system. But we’re not perfect and neither are our systems. I am positive you’ve come across an overly complicated system that didn’t help you. School is one of those systems in it doesn’t prepare you for working. Some argue it doesn’t even help prepare you for thinking! The reality is though, these systems don’t know any better, they’re only as good as their weakest leader.
The best thing you can do for yourself is prepare to take it in stride and help yourself by not trying to perfect anything. Some jobs will have no growth paths for you to be promoted or get a raise, other will. Some jobs will have no management software to help you manage your tasks, you’ll have to figure it out. Some places have all the right people in place, and a system that makes sense and it’s awesome and manageable and you love it. I say all of that because the best thing you can do is create touch points in your head of how you want the stepping stones of your career to work, and what systems you will, or will not tolerate as a signal for you to move on. If you walk into any job with that general expectation you’ll be golden.