Creative Secret of Life – Just Ask

Well it did not take long for me to reveal the secret of life here on the blog! Actually this is a common theme that will come up often in my posts and there are a few more secrets that are tent poles, supporting your creative life, but this one is probably one of the most important.

Creative artists are sometimes wired to be a little more demure than other people. You may be more focused on your craft, work and brand, and spend less time asking people for favors. But the key is to not be shy about it. Lots of successful people I know ask me for things often. I look at it as an opportunity to help and welcome it. I can’t help everyone all the time, but I do try to do my best.

Lets take photographers. When ramping up a photography career, you’ll often see a creative artist who is really focused on photographing events, people and other subjects. But so often they grumble about the lack of money that the work is bringing in. Sometimes they don’t see the value they provide. Or they once asked a few times for money, got shot down, and decided not to bring it up again with anyone. Of course they would do it for free because they love it, but it’s quite compelling to do something you love and get paid as well.

Professionals do this too. Even a seasoned pro with a successful operation will often be a bit shy about asking for the sale. They have lined up a great proposal, worked to get a client interested and then often leave it to them to let them know. Asking for the sale is important. It’s a black and white question. It’s probably more aggressive than you may be comfy with, but asking in general is a path to getting what you want and need.

I actually happen to know a few “serial askers”, really these are people who ask everyone for everything. I am floored by how much people do for them. Even more amazing is everyone is not grumbling, they are happy to help because the people are grateful to have the support. These people know what they lack and know to ask for help to fill in the needs.

Getting help is another main area. Most creative projects take resources. If you are planning anything it helps to have people involved. You may think people are too busy or may not be interested, but believe me, you may be surprised who steps up to help you in your mission. This can apply to your income as well. You may work at an agency and not be making the amount you think you should, or not as much as your peers. Ask for a raise, it can’t hurt and it merely will convey that you are on the rise and want more, as opposed to having your head down behind the monitor and quietly settling. Being a creative director for years, I was always impressed with the employees who worked for me who wanted more. I always thought to myself that these were the people on the rise who were going to make it.

Asking really is an art form that few master, but the ones that do have a lot of abundance. They are surrounded with people willing to help, they have the support they need in many areas, they have moved to higher steps not because they waited to be asked, but because they advanced the effort to move forward.

Ben Franklin said if you ever want to make a friend, ask them to do you a favor. Don’t limit asking to just your inner circle, journey out of your group of friends and ask new people to help, contribute and assist you in your path to what you need. The more comfy you get with asking, the better you get at it, the more you ask, the more you can receive.

I always tell people, “How do you get anything you want in life?”

“Ask.”

Are you comfy with asking? Have you been waiting to ask someone something but have been hesitating? What have you asked for lately?

Give it a try, and let me know if it works. And if you need any more advice or help, just ask me…

(And hey…do me a favor and leave a comment and/or retweet…thanks! Just figured I would ask…)

Poker Face – Mastering the Art of Creative Coolness

Who do you know who is not cool? Think back to past business associates and contacts. Think about their emotions. The ones that did not hold back. The ones that really said what was on their mind. Do you remember one that got very emotional? Often frustrated? Seemed to be stressed out a lot? Some people find it very hard to keep their emotions in check. Especially in the creative industry. And well lots of industries.

But the problem is it sends a very defined signal to everyone. And it could keep you from advancing in your career. Flying off the handle, letting your emotions get control, even on rare occasions, may cause someone to pause the next time they have an opportunity with you in mind.

Master the fine art of coolness. Be rather unreadable. Why? People will often fill in the blanks with favorable opinions of you. It’s hard to judge someone who is almost impossible to judge. But very easy to comment on someone who is a roller coaster of emotions. And this goes for co-workers and connections as well. You may flip out with a designer you disagree with, but, well you would never do that in front of a client. Actually, don’t do it in front of anyone.

What if someone is driving you crazy? Well then their mission may be to push your buttons. Being unfazed is the right path, because once you snap back and react, then they’ve got you. You advertise your weakness to be toyed with. First to them and then to everyone.

The best course of action is to work at not be engaged in swaying emotions in your professional career. Having an appearance of calm, or more of an unreadable poker face, will often be your best strategy. Snapping and going off the deep end, even briefly, sends a radar ripple that goes a lot wider than you can imagine, once legendary stories of your behavior start to become prevalent. Being in the creative industry, I know a lot of these types of people, I am sure you do as well.

So try taking a breath…and practicing to be cool. You’ll find the better you get at it, the cooler you will become. And the better it will be for your creative career.

So…are we cool?

If Your Name Keeps Coming Up Make Your Move

Have you ever had someone say, your name keeps coming up? That’s a good sign. It often means that the person has heard about you through multiple sources, often completely unrelated. This is a signal directly to you that your circle of influence is expanding. All that you are doing to promote yourself and bring your brand to a wider scope is working. The great part is the ball is already rolling, you now have a couple (or more) recommendations.

When working with a new client, the most important aspect is often not skills but trust. A new client wants to get to know and trust you, because they are often putting their career, business or brand right in your hands. Selling yourself and working to gain trust can be tricky and time consuming. However if “your name keeps coming up” this could easily provide some trust already through testimonials from your contacts. In fact chances are the potential client has been looking for something right in line with what you do. So the fact that they are now chatting with you, and had a few in-person or virtual references about you, is a fantastic start. This opportunity is one of the best ones to have and it is definitely the time to make a strong move.

So next time you hear your name has come up, focus in with laser precision on this specific opportunity. Other friends and colleagues have started the momentum for you, just grab the ball and run with it.

Is Creative Competition Wearing You Down?

When I look back over my career the past several years, I can see a few. I can see a competitor or two I may have focused on. Just a bit. A wee bit too much. I don’t do that anymore, and its been an extremely welcome relief. Most creative people have competition and adversaries. It’s good to have a little healthy competition, it can spike you up to move a little faster or further than you typically might.

It’s actually good to be in touch with the competition, be on their radar and make sure you are on theirs. There is always a chance for future collaboration and keeping them closer may make it easier, thinking strategically, to see what their next move might be. Competitors who are unwilling to connect and are completely focused on keeping their circle of connections and clients tight, working hard to exclude you, demonstrate a trait of exclusion rather than unity. Don’t be that guy (or girl).

When you work hard to avoid all contact with the competition, chances are good that you are actually immersed in them more than ever. You may be sifting through their website for clues on their next move and recent success. You might be talking to mutual friends, wondering if the competition you have targeted may have any new plans, and fishing for info on what they could be up to.

The worse part is, you could be having a fabulous week, with several levels of successful projects, but if you hear the competition nailed a big client, you may feel like all that you accomplished is more meaningless.

The problem occurs because you are working to control the uncontrollable. Someone outside of your influence and outside of your circle, is doing things you don’t like, and its really putting a bee in your bonnet. Ok, maybe not a bee. But something sharp. It’s easy to let this slide into obsession, where you spend more time focused on that person than on your own creative business.

Now it is easy to have some healthy competition, but don’t be completely focused on crushing the competition. First of all the news being broadcast about the other person is all good, and the many failed attempts and lost opportunities of your counterpart is not usually conveyed. Chances are great they are suffering a lot of frustration along with the success. They may have just done a big project, but they may have just lost a big client. You never know.

Use the opportunity to step up your own marketing. Just the fact that you are hearing good things about your competition, means that they are doing a good job of getting the word out. Do the same. Redirect and use the news to focus more on your own marketing. Pour more effort into your enterprise. Don’t obsess over something and someone you have no control over.

And if all else fails, grab a cup of coffee and connect with the person. You’ll have numerous stories to share and defenses should easily come down. Because chances are, the big competition you are eyeing is most likely watching you just as closely.

It’s never productive or beneficial to waste time on the affairs of others. And remember, the easiest way to eliminate a perceived enemy, is to make them a friend.

Generate Some Mystery In Your Creative Career

Andy Warhol was famous, and infamous, for saying very little. In the press, on TV, during interviews. But instead of the public losing interest because he was boring, the opposite happened, they got more and more intrigued.

It’s hard not to be chatty these days, with so many digital ways to get your words out there. But having an element of mystery can really help you rise higher in people’s minds. You can often leave them wanting more. Warhol was an extreme part of the spectrum obviously. It would be difficult to have a televised interview or web feature and answer in either one word answers or repeat the question back to the person doing the interview (as Warhol often did).

But keep Warhol in mind. Google him and check out YouTube. He was an astute listener and observer. And the more he seemed unfazed by the proceedings, the more the public wondered about his opinion, making him world famous for several decades. The less he talked about his next move, the more people thought about what his next move might be. Our eyes were on him, because we wanted to see the world through his eyes.

You can’t build an audience by being quiet, but as your circle grows, mix in some mystery, keep people guessing. Keep people on the edge of their seats and away from glancing at their watch. Rather than always telling people, position it so people are always asking you. Generate some mystery.

Be Around Who You Want To Be

It could not be simpler. Look at your circle of work, creative and business related contacts. The people you socialize with in person, at mixers, meetings, etc. Are you the top dog? Having more talent, drive and ambition than the others? Or are you on the other end? Often working hard to keep up career-wise, constantly trying to figure out successful people, seeing others ramp up financially and with much more abundance than yourself. Believe it or not, this is where to be, trying to catch up. It will prompt you to remain in motion as opposed to being content.

Think of it as surfing. You’re the top guy, you are the big wave. People around you want to catch it, move up to your level. It’s a great feeling of satisfaction, and you’ll often be showered with praise, but may feel stagnant suddenly, with little incentive around you to move on to bigger and better levels. The other side is you are in shallow water, wanting to catch a wave, and looking to see who can push you in a higher direction.

Want to be a big time blogger? Hang out with and connect with successful bloggers. Can’t wait to launch your own TV show? Be around people who have really done it in broadcast already. Want to ramp up in your music skills? Be around expert musicians, connect with those way above your skill set. You’ll learn a lot and the wave will sweep you up into not only achieving higher levels but wanting higher levels. If you are constantly around people who started a blog but never continued, always dreamed of a TV show and who are interested in music, but do not have the time to focus on it, well similar scenarios will probably happen to you.

Attitude is important too. Be around those who have the right attitude. Those who are positive and don’t bad-mouth others, are big dreamers, enjoy successful careers and are inspiring to be around are the best. Know that you will likely feel uncomfortable being around these overachievers, but stick with it and watch for waves. Being around those underachieving will be immensely more comfortable, often more fun and will stroke your ego in much more satisfying ways, but will ultimately provide little direction and movement for you. Leading to months (or years) of possible personal and professional stagnation.

So make sure who you want to be is close around you. And if they are not in too much contact, work hard to increase that contact. Those who are not interested in achieving, growing and advancing their empire, don’t ditch them all, just dial their involvement in your life down a bit.

Reorganizing your social palette can dramatically redesign your career path. Just decide on the balance of how dedicated you need to be to current contacts moving slowly and how much you want to infuse your life with more advanced connections that will move your career and life dramatically forward.