Since my 1 year anniversary at Sprint in June, I've been trying to grasp what it is I want to become/do in the future. Sprint has shown me so many things that I do and don't enjoy with in a corporate creative studio. But this is all I personally know as a "Professional." I consider myself a jack of all trades and enjoy the idea of this; Which doesn't help in my search of a specialized service to promote. I'm not sure what I want to do in the future and I've been told, "That's fine! You have so much time ahead of you." But I'm a control freak in many aspects, even though I don't confess it out-loud. My future is something I consistently put in a chokehold. I "think" I know what I want, yet the universe and my surroundings always surprise me. Although I'm afraid/skeptical of everything that presents itself to me, except freelance work (which I can "control"). But is it okay to be a freelance/contract artist forever? What will/could this become, can it be consistently supportive? How do I make it consistent? Would I learn more being a full-time employee? Would I learn more as an employee underneath those I look up to?
This video considers the idea of a specialized profession which needs to be defined to promote yourself to be found by clients. Which in-turn creates the consistency of projects that support a freelance artist. More importantly, it try's to bring to light pros and cons in both areas.
Around the seventeen minute mark, Chris and Jose consider the idea of a T-shaped designer from Tom Kelley, Partner at Ideo. Becoming a specialized designer in one discipline yet keeping your profession balanced with two other sub-disciplines, 50-25-25. Chris then warns not to become a minus symbol, or 50-50. Something to think about as I work to find my T-shaped discipline.
An article popped up from AIGA, "After a Decade of Freelance Music Video-making, Hans Lo Succumbs to the Lure of Full-Time Work." The article touches on the mindset of a long-time self-sufficient MoGraph artist. Though it is the first time I've heard about him, it seems like he's been answering the same questions I've been asking.
"It sounds really cold but I think if you’re very artistic or really creative about what you’re doing and want to have control over it, you’re always going to find other stuff that’s more appealing to that creative side. But the corporate stuff will fund you and allow you to indulge in those projects."
Maybe I'm too comfortable with where I am financially, to explore other opportunities. Thus the fear and anxiety of change. But isn't comfortable bad, I don't exercise my creativity enough while being comfortable. Which is why I'm starting this blog.
I don't think I have found the solution. Maybe the solution is that I need not fear what hasn't happened.