My main challenge is wasting time on trying to make my story on my website perfect. I always feel the website can look better or the story can be worded better so I don't share my website. I like the advice of launching a website with the bare bones minimum, I'm giving myself a deadline this weekend to share it on all my social media! Thanks Chris & Futur team!
I would say not knowing how to present myself as someone who people would be attracted to. What if who you are and your story isn’t interesting, relatable or appealing? I think the reason why some people are more successful is because they are very self aware, do all these cool things, travel, or idk maybe they have beautiful dogs or something.
My challenge is despising capitalism too much to care. Let's all just bail out of this sick system and it's sick impositions, inhumane demands on the ever insufficient individual and eternal spiralling out of control growth cancerous nightmare.
My challenge would be to go and actually do the work! After some great assignments I thought the rest of the world would find me, too 🤩 Truth is: nobody cares. You’re easily forgotten. Only if I do the work, like presenting and showing myself, someone might find me again.
What I really like is how, unlike many people who are featured on The Futur looking for Chris's guidance, Priscilla stood her ground and wasn't a "yes-man", nodding her head to everything Chris said. She actually stood her ground, openly questioned some things, stood by her beliefs and opinions and explained her POVs on them, which only then Chris managed to sway to the side on which she needs to be on in order to solve the problems she's experiencing.
That honest and mild Chris smile, when he knows exactly what people are feeling and what it is all about - priceless ! And by the way, Matthew - your chilly intros/outros are charming ! Thank you !
@@freshsage6809you are the French star of this video? You are wonderful to having done this and really show your obstacles and vulnerability. I am german, I very much feel like I have something to give to the world but never thought that my US /German background is one of them. Funny! You are so valuable!! The world really needs you. Thanks so much. This has been super helpful to all of us who try to stay behind our work and liking it (to a degree). 🫶
that's exactly it. Even though you know exactly your roadmap boiled down in a bullet point your first and last limit to overcome is the perception of ourself, the psychological dimention that holds us back, the fear of being judged nad that no rational argument can effectively overcome. We move in a professional and grown up environment, but probably some of those limits pertains to the more personal and childish dimensions that some of us, for good or for bad, still maintain. The candid encouragements that a peer can give constitutes a powerful social proof that, time after time, builds up our self confidence. After all we are still emotional being who sometimes need others approvals so badly, no matter what our prefrontal cortex may came up with. The trick is that the self sabotage at the base of our lack of confidence starts from the belief that we should sell our work to ourselves, but we have so many reference that we will never be satisfied approaching it this way. Fundamentals keep you afloat and allow you to move forward; they can be enough to win a client whose most important value in these case is to validate your work, to confirm your skills and to prove to yourself you are good enough to be competitive. We just need a f*cking social proof, because at the end of the day we all crave to be appreciated. That's it, nothing more, nothing less.
Not only creatives. People who are generally mindsetted in a way to value the final work/output more than what they have to say about it. I think it is a believe and value system. So I guess many (of us) have to ask ourselves if we are really cutout to be self sufficient entrepreneurs aka marketers and sales people! Because those are the things we will have to do more than getting great work out / at least 50/50! I personally find that once that is understood, things become easier. And lighter. And more fun! 🎉
If there is someone that knows how to transform anything into great content is Chris, the GOAT in the new Era of Social Media. I'm very happy that we can learn from the best, unlike in the past, were some of the great designers never shared their secret at all.
Yes I love this woman. Thank you for doing this and being so open. We wouldn't have this content without that. Thanks Priscilla and thanks to The Futur.
Even though you know exactly your roadmap boiled down in a bullet point your first and last limit to overcome is the perception of yourelf, the psychological dimention that holds us back, the fear of being judged that no rational argument can effectively overcome. We move in a professional and grown up environment, but probably some of those limits pertains to the more personal and childish dimensions that some of us, for good or for bad, still maintain. The candid encouragements that a peer can give constitutes a powerful social proof that, time after time, builds up our self confidence. Afterall we are emotional being who sometimes need others approvals so badly, no matter what our prefrontal cortex may came up with. The trick is that the self sabotage at the base of our lack of confidence starts from the belief that we try to sell our work to ourselves, but we have so many reference that we will never be satisfied approaching it this way. Fundamentals keep you afloat and allow you to move forward; they can be enough to win a client whose most important value in these case is to validate your work, to confirm your skills and to prove to yourself you are good enough to be competitive. We just need a f*cking social proof, because at the end of the day we all crave to be appreciated, and in a more or less aware way, many of us are afraid to lose at this game and, ultimatelly, to be proven to not be what they believe to be. That's it, nothing more, nothing less. So, here is my trick: you don't have to put yourself out there to sell something; you do it to find new acquiatances, people who share interests with you, somebody who would chat with you beyond the mere job itself. To do so your communication should be personal befor being professional...no difference with how it works offline ;) If you'd like to dive deeper in this conversation drop me a line, I'm based in Berlin, always interested in listening different stories and to share mine.
I love the reinforcement that the work by itself is not what is special. It is the whole story, history, and uniqueness of the self paired with the work that will help clients decide why they should hire you over anyone else. Be who you are, like Chris said "Celebrate who you are".
This conversation also goes back to the fact that people want to work with people they know and/or like. So yes your story matters. As one of many examples, I once automatically qualified for an opportunity because one of the employers and I were both from Maryland. That sparked excitement and delight during the interview. People love to lean in to stories. It's why we watch movies and tell stories to our friends and loved ones. The entire culture of human existence is built upon storytelling. We all know there are people with lesser skills that get the better opportunities simply because they put themselves out there in a certain way or they speak with confidence. Grateful to this channel for these lessons that are cemented within me. Confidence (not arrogance) goes a long way. I've seen it many times. Edit: Ha. Left this comment before the conclusion of the video. The Futur is on it. Covered the basis of this comment at 26:49
Ugh this video hit me right in the heart. I am sort of in the same situation as this lady, though a bit worse off. I worked as the sole designer (in house) at the same company for 12 years. One morning in February of this year we were informed that the company had run into severe financial troubles and we were all basically laid off on the spot. My boss will not allow me to use anything that I did there in my portfolio out of paranoia that I would be selling or giving away very industry specific designs (even though the company is bankrupted and operationally paralyzed). The only portfolio that I have is student work that I would these days consider to be pretty janky. I will respect my former boss's copyright concerns so I am currently working on an entirely new portfolio from scratch with fake client work. I've never had my own professional website and i've never really done any kind of social media. I am completely daunted by the prospect of getting the work completed, building a website, putting everything out there on social media and being judged on it, but I am beginning to get desperate so it's what I am going to do.
I got into this spot when I subcontracted to a larger agency for a few years. You should always be doing projects under your own banner so this doesn't happen again. That's what I learned from my own experiences.
I relate to this a lot. Earlier this year I was starting from scratch and when I was doing this I wish someone had reminded me that the portfolio and website doesn't have to be perfect. So, in case you forget, shipped is better than perfect. You won't be judged nearly as much as you think.
@@LukeDuckworth I think I might have to get "Done is better than perfect" tattooed on myself to remind me because the perfectionist within is fighting me tooth and nail through this.
I love this, and I’ve missed these types of video. It’s funny how the perspective we have of ourselves is so often different from how others see us. With a bit of work on Priscilla’s confidence, I believe she could achieve whatever level of success that she desires. She has a great persona and I think she could win a lot of work. I’m looking forward to following her progress in this series. Kudos Chris and team 👌🏻
Bang on! Amazing chat - and I note the time stamp, 2 years ago, did she do it? YES SHE DID! Super-solid advice. Chris really is across the pool with a towel, sandwich and twenty thousand dollars, saying shut up and swim ^^ Thanks so much. Pro group looks legit
YES. "Lean in to who you are." There is always going to be someone who does what you do. There is always going to be someone who does what you do better than you do it. But for some people, the way you do it is exactly what they need.
Man i wish a had the money to buy this pro course. I really think this would benefit me right now. What an amazing thing you guys are doing. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Chris you are the best coach out there! I feel like I'm cheating by watching this incredible free content (even though, I buy from The Futur and I'm a Sustaining member) Matthew - great MC too!
5 star 🌟 content here! I ❤️ how you zoom in on Pricillas branding. It’s indeed hard to read the ingredients from inside the jar. I love the break done in the beginning and the summery at the end. Awesome sauce you guys!
Thanks for sharing this content TheFutur. My challenges are putting mysef out there, as a very private person also a loner. Being present in all platforms and making time for everything with little ones.
A lot of this is the same techniques you would use on a client, but that's the rub. Designing for yourself or positioning yourself is extremely challenging. I can help clients tell their brand stories all day long, but doing it for myself is an almost impossible task. Some of it is indecisiveness about who I am (because I'm a lot of things and don't want to be pigeonholed), some of it is trying to make everything perfect so nothing gets completed. I think a lot of us understand the logic of what Chris is saying, but get stuck the moment we try to turn the lens on ourselves. Can you recommend any techniques to help that process go smoother?
Justin Ogleby that is the reason why you hire a personal coach to work on you and helping you "see" or "define" your brand. Chris mentioned that here, and in other videos. Anyway I can feel you, it hurt when you know you are a multidisciplinary/multi-potential designer and have to market yourself as a specialist on one field. But that's how it works Justin! Position yourself as a specialist, but be a specialized generalist.
Great content as usual! ❤ Love how raw the conversation is. With everyday that passes I become a more firm believer that it is all about mindset in life! How you look at things and how you present them is what defines those things. Looking forward to the rest of the series 😊
I like that. It takes work to get work. I was traditionally trained in multimedia arts and I'm not only setting up my website/portfolio so I can get clients but I'm working on changing my mindset. We have to change our personality (our behaviors, ways of thinking) to be that person that we want to be.
This was a real welcomed kick in the teeth of reality and love. Thank you guys for really framing the mentality that we should shape as working artists in such a competitive landscape.
Well, this episode is only 3 hours short :) Fastest 30min I've had in a while. The whole conversation is something each and every one of us can relate to. Can't wait for the next episode.
Epic episode, I see a bit myself through it! The resistance once again! I know that I am not alone in that case and that confort me. Through that episode, Chris gave us the opportunity to see us better and shine our self confidence! Thank you so much as always!
Thank you Priscilla and Chris, true. that. :) I am at this point of development at the moment so this vid really registers. Getting out there has been a challenge for me because I have felt that the work should be more important that my face, but the truth is that people want to connect with other people because we have a human need to belong. Also my story has been rather eventful and it's been one hell of a climb to get out from under, so I needed to a certain point before I could come at it from the correct mindset. I am going to get my story out there and get out from behind the work (and my computer) and show my face and share with others how nature in many ways has saved me from ruining my life and changed my productivity and desire to make a contribution to society. Perhaps this will inspire others as well so they don't lose hope or give up on themselves. Here is some of my experience with Your Work Alone Will Not Get You More Work - perhaps it can be of help to someone else. Bottom line is my second business model failed because 1) I didn't scale 2) I needed to unlearn a lot of old mindset junk from childhood because I was in my own way and 3) I didn't market or negotiate appropriately, partly due to my previous business experience where I was really lucky to buy a very small but great client list and build by referral through their friends and associates. I made bank, and the clients were AWESOME. I didn't have to do marketing. Well, that was an anomaly, and I soon came to learn a massive lesson. On my second venture here in NYC,even though Hortus' work got really amazing exposure on our maiden project in Frame, Scientific American, Vogue, Fast Company, The NYer, the cover of TIME for Kids.. That was not enough!
This is an amazing episode for me personally as I struggle with pretty much the same challenges as Priscilla here in London UK - I even named myself secret.studio because not many know about it - I particularly like the idea of turning the tables around to somehow make a path strike out to tell my story promote my brand to help make a difference and gain more awarenesss for myself in the saturated marketplace - And I have to say its encouraging to hear Chris point out that just because you do great work that this and ding more work or working harder does not mean you will get more work - that can come more from generating interest in the brand and story more than the work alone. Just like Priscilla im a bit of an introvert and not too great at selling myself - i dont think i ever will be great at selling myself, but i believe i can improve beyond what I have now -
So many home-run points here.. I'm so glad you got to document and share this. I preach this but I don't always practice it because I'm too critical of how to tell my story. But the best teacher is starting and failing so I'm just going to fucken start (full force).
Absolutely loved this. As a designer I can say that I'm fighting the same resistance as Priscilla to put myself out there and focus on anything else besides my work. But the truth is marketing is just as if not more important than the portfolio.
This is gold. One takeaway: The thinking that created the problem , will not solve the problem. I just Googled her and found that she seems to be doing quite well, now.
This was super fascinating! As it described the problem by a real life human being rather than the great how-to. I would love to see more of those videos of yours! Is there a part 2 of this one? My take-away: do 3 case studies! 🎉
It takes work to get work. There has to be some challenge or everyone would have work. We want there to be some pain to keep out the riff-raff. DEEP. All agencies should treat themselves as their most important client. Referrals will get you some work, true. But marketing your own agency every day will get you more work, and from circles you are not already a member of.
After watching this I realised as team lead for an in house design team. I have to promote our team to get the better work, even though we are known in house. I'm going to set up a SharePoint site and promote our work internally. Unfortunately there is a bigger inhouse design and comms section that keeps telling people we can't design and they have go through them, even though our team has been around since the 90s.
People do business with people they like KNOW & trust. Yes, one can see a designers work via socials, but in this day & age its WAY beyond just the skill. People want connection, they want something to engage with , they want value - what's in it for them. Show up , share, give . Start from the heart, tell you story, give MORE to others, provide them with something other than your creative offerings. I haven't handed out a business card in over a year, ive never paid for an ad anywhere, I dont do "business networking groups" although I do involve myself in community projects to help out I do a fundraiser for a cause once a year & host a big morning tea for cancer fund-raising & help in other local issues even tho it has nothing to do with design people just remember my name & know I offer brand creative !! BUT I am extremely active on social platforms, I share every single day, do videos, share my process, I do my best to provide something informative, to give thought provoking reads. I talk to people who contact me in DM & fb in & I voice message them to build a relationship I dont care if they are just someone with a passion that wants to chat & bounce ideas, or if it is a potential client who has said they cant afford my creative I want to help regardless & will give what ever idea/share whatever I possibly can regardless. I am constantly learning & from the learning giving that back. Nope its not easy & it wasn't meant to be easy otherwise everyone would have it as Chris said. Its 2am now (this is my normal tho) & im working on my next blog post, designing carousel posts, writing up a proposal whilst finishing some client creative & on/off speaking to a very young girl in her 20s who wants to follow her passion in the design game! However im doing all this because I LOVE it & I live it every single day 16 hrs because this is lifestyle. . One must put in the hard yards to receive. All of my clients are word of mouth , many of them say "ive been watching you on social media for x months " when they reach out. gosh if facebook. instagram & linked in blew up id be up sh*t creek lol but the end message is , show up, share, put your face out there, people love PASSION! I share my thoughts & beliefs , what I was doing before I started officially .. I once was a full time carer for my mum who had a liver transplant & I share that story too, so people can learn about me & again many have made a connection , one client said - it feels like youre one of my friends lol because I share the journey on facebook / ig on the daily! I share client creatives, but also share process, I share things I see & love in life, .. im saying all this to show some who may say "its too much work": - YES it is ALOT of work but when you start from the heart you want is so damn bad , you will thrive on ALL of it, & when you follow passion, show up share & give ...success will follow (whatever you deem success) I believe it is having the courage to step out of your comfort zone & follow that dream.. When you do, your be rewarded woking with AMAZING clients, when you know your purpose & have a vision , you automatically vibe that & attract the right paying clients... IT IS SO WORTH IT! Sorry for my ramble but THIS is something very close to my heart, because I started at 0 & I mean literally 0 it is possible. if you want it so badly! I love the future , chris, ben , matt ,Melinda you guys are a HUGE part of my learning curves & my ability to up my game. Im never comfortable I. always want to be better than I was the day before, I love learning more & more... Its a continuous process to stay fresh, relevant , out there , inspired & yeh ... BEST thing ever !!! I loved this interview I SOOOO need to join this pro group I hear about with you guys!!! go get it xxx xx Loz from Aus ( @lozchaidesign )
@@thefutur Still watching other videos ive missed of yours!!! I just LOVE you guys, call me crazy but this is the LIFE :) you have no idea how valuable your information is ... I owe you guys so damn much, I should be giving you a % of my project earnings lol, not that it would amount to much compared... BUTTTT I should be spending on that in investing in the pro group, im not sure I am eligible though? :) I would LOVE to be part of your fam some how .. I mean I consume your content every day / or night without fail! seriously if I could show you 2015 loz compared to 2019 loz you really wouldn't think its the same person... not that I'm anywhere near a "success" & I still have a mountain load to keep on learning .. but I'm pretty shocked still that I am able to make a living doing what I bleeeeeeeed , its with huge thanks to you as well :) you guys are honestly priceless. Nothing like you here in Australia... IF you ever have a :sister" TF here in Australia , I shot gun a role, or at least an audition, lol its 3,51 now , I'm sad I when I have to sleep such a waste of time but it's very essential lol x
I think what Chris is trying to say here is that when you go into relationships, whether it be a boyfriend or girlfriend, or an interview people first look at you, this is what you are the people want to work with as well as your skills being brought to the table
The Futur has an amazing production team and we all know chris is very talented, but if he didn't have a personality, I wouldn't watch his videos. if that makes any sense..
watching this as I'm trying to update my own website and hating every minute of it, at least I don't feel so bad now that she said she doesn't have one
I understand the creative mindset and Perscilla's mindset - what's the point in creating the work if there's nothing special enough about it alone - what's the point in creating anything that hundreds others that can already create - I struggle with this
It seems to me that the most challenging obstacle for a lot of designers today is to embrace the shift inmindset required for success in todays industry. This requires adopting a new attitude, and accepting a new belief system. This isn’t the easiest thing to do but I believe that if some can do this they will have a greater chance at success in today’s global market place
But my best case study was for the biggest job I've done, but the agency hiring me was COMPLETELY incompetent and unqualified to lead, and risked running the entire project to the ground, but I pulled miracles out of my ass and saved the day (and project) despite them. How do I lay this out in a case study about my ability to navigate & problem solve, without awkwardly putting the agency on blast? Because a lot of things only really make sense if I lay out how stupid the agency was being, and then how I adapted.
@@oivero I think I getcha now. I actually have a spec spot I made about a UFC fight a couple of years ago. So, basically, make case studies around things like that?
Thanks for great advice as always! Around 20 minutes Chris tells the story about violinolist. For me the question still remains: Where should I get the opera? I have the feeling that to get for example Nike as a client you are mostly required to have other of these massive brands as clients. Sure you can get there but you can't present yourself like you are playing in the opera when you're not.
Great advice about Behance and Dribbble. I've had at least the Behance 'portfolio' dormant for a while, so have just starting uploading work to my own portfolio on there.
Fear really keeps ppl stuck..if u just look at social media, ppl luv knowing about other ppl lol so when u put YOU out there and get a lil personal that's what will make u look different from someone who has your SAME skills. 💯
No Sir. You are not just a bald asian guy. You are Saitama(one punch man). You Do super hero stuff. You are my hero. Thank you for The Futur. Thank you for your Compassion.
I see one of the biggest hurdles for the creative person is to believe or act like they believe their own hype (I mean this in a positive light). I'm wondering if extroverts have an easier time believing this than introverts... even after training. Often times the only significant different between a successful person and an unsuccessful person is confidence.
Chris, thanks for this video! I've got a burning question: I want to start making my own content to help creatives improve their social lives. With no connections and zero presence, should I start with a CZcams Channel or a podcast?
Salu Priscilla, ça va? The asset, you might have overseen so far, is the age of your domain! The age of the domain is an important factor with Google algorithm to consider authority. The soon you start to blog you have the keywords with each post PLUS your domain authority!
Really great vid. Is there going to be a follow up? Curious also how long it took for her to reprogram her beliefs of her work/talent vs self branding if she did? Thanks!
Thanks so much for this video. But I have a question. What if you haven't discovered who you truly are creatively and that makes you undervalue yourself. How do you break that anxiety and lack of confidence?.
Forgive me for this question if it's been addressed already, what exactly do you mean by a case study? Are we talking about techniques we use, like a theory-based technical tutorial or more of trends in the industry and using other data with references to prove our case? Are there any examples you would recommend we review Chris? Thanks in advance-Micah
Hi guys. Love your stuff as always! Is there a way you will do a video on how to do a portfolio for art school? I know you got many for applying for jobs, but applying for an art school is quite different, right? Thank you so much
I really believe in what chris said, but i think he make more money with his classes and with this channel than really designer work, for me, it's mean a lot...
What challenges do you face when putting yourself out there? What bits of advice from this video will you apply? Leave us a comment and let us know.
My main challenge is wasting time on trying to make my story on my website perfect. I always feel the website can look better or the story can be worded better so I don't share my website. I like the advice of launching a website with the bare bones minimum, I'm giving myself a deadline this weekend to share it on all my social media! Thanks Chris & Futur team!
I would say not knowing how to present myself as someone who people would be attracted to. What if who you are and your story isn’t interesting, relatable or appealing? I think the reason why some people are more successful is because they are very self aware, do all these cool things, travel, or idk maybe they have beautiful dogs or something.
My challenge is despising capitalism too much to care. Let's all just bail out of this sick system and it's sick impositions, inhumane demands on the ever insufficient individual and eternal spiralling out of control growth cancerous nightmare.
My challenge would be to go and actually do the work! After some great assignments I thought the rest of the world would find me, too 🤩 Truth is: nobody cares. You’re easily forgotten. Only if I do the work, like presenting and showing myself, someone might find me again.
Thank you for yet another great video. Can I have the names of the people you mention at 22:10 please?
What I really like is how, unlike many people who are featured on The Futur looking for Chris's guidance, Priscilla stood her ground and wasn't a "yes-man", nodding her head to everything Chris said.
She actually stood her ground, openly questioned some things, stood by her beliefs and opinions and explained her POVs on them, which only then Chris managed to sway to the side on which she needs to be on in order to solve the problems she's experiencing.
Love this video of Chris trying to change someone's mindset. It's so cool to see in real time, the gears turning, the counter arguments, etc
Wow, this episode was so relevant to my situation. Felt like Chris was talking to me. Great advice!
Glad to hear
That honest and mild Chris smile, when he knows exactly what people are feeling and what it is all about - priceless ! And by the way, Matthew - your chilly intros/outros are charming ! Thank you !
Priscilla, thank you so much for being brave and sharing your story. It’s not easy.
Thanks for the great content, Chris and team!
Thanks 🙏
Agreed, it was a brave step... and many are thankful to know they aren’t the only ones feeling that way!
@@freshsage6809you are the French star of this video? You are wonderful to having done this and really show your obstacles and vulnerability. I am german, I very much feel like I have something to give to the world but never thought that my US /German background is one of them. Funny! You are so valuable!! The world really needs you. Thanks so much. This has been super helpful to all of us who try to stay behind our work and liking it (to a degree). 🫶
Who would agree with me that Matthew's voice is just so relaxing.
He should make audio books
Most creatives are just too afraid to put themselves out there. That's it
that's exactly it. Even though you know exactly your roadmap boiled down in a bullet point your first and last limit to overcome is the perception of ourself, the psychological dimention that holds us back, the fear of being judged nad that no rational argument can effectively overcome.
We move in a professional and grown up environment, but probably some of those limits pertains to the more personal and childish dimensions that some of us, for good or for bad, still maintain. The candid encouragements that a peer can give constitutes a powerful social proof that, time after time, builds up our self confidence.
After all we are still emotional being who sometimes need others approvals so badly, no matter what our prefrontal cortex may came up with.
The trick is that the self sabotage at the base of our lack of confidence starts from the belief that we should sell our work to ourselves, but we have so many reference that we will never be satisfied approaching it this way.
Fundamentals keep you afloat and allow you to move forward; they can be enough to win a client whose most important value in these case is to validate your work, to confirm your skills and to prove to yourself you are good enough to be competitive.
We just need a f*cking social proof, because at the end of the day we all crave to be appreciated.
That's it, nothing more, nothing less.
facts!
Not only creatives. People who are generally mindsetted in a way to value the final work/output more than what they have to say about it.
I think it is a believe and value system. So I guess many (of us) have to ask ourselves if we are really cutout to be self sufficient entrepreneurs aka marketers and sales people! Because those are the things we will have to do more than getting great work out / at least 50/50!
I personally find that once that is understood, things become easier. And lighter. And more fun! 🎉
If there is someone that knows how to transform anything into great content is Chris, the GOAT in the new Era of Social Media. I'm very happy that we can learn from the best, unlike in the past, were some of the great designers never shared their secret at all.
It’s a new era
Yes I love this woman. Thank you for doing this and being so open. We wouldn't have this content without that. Thanks Priscilla and thanks to The Futur.
Even though you know exactly your roadmap boiled down in a bullet point your first and last limit to overcome is the perception of yourelf, the psychological dimention that holds us back, the fear of being judged that no rational argument can effectively overcome.
We move in a professional and grown up environment, but probably some of those limits pertains to the more personal and childish dimensions that some of us, for good or for bad, still maintain. The candid encouragements that a peer can give constitutes a powerful social proof that, time after time, builds up our self confidence.
Afterall we are emotional being who sometimes need others approvals so badly, no matter what our prefrontal cortex may came up with.
The trick is that the self sabotage at the base of our lack of confidence starts from the belief that we try to sell our work to ourselves, but we have so many reference that we will never be satisfied approaching it this way.
Fundamentals keep you afloat and allow you to move forward; they can be enough to win a client whose most important value in these case is to validate your work, to confirm your skills and to prove to yourself you are good enough to be competitive.
We just need a f*cking social proof, because at the end of the day we all crave to be appreciated, and in a more or less aware way, many of us are afraid to lose at this game and, ultimatelly, to be proven to not be what they believe to be.
That's it, nothing more, nothing less.
So, here is my trick: you don't have to put yourself out there to sell something; you do it to find new acquiatances, people who share interests with you, somebody who would chat with you beyond the mere job itself. To do so your communication should be personal befor being professional...no difference with how it works offline ;)
If you'd like to dive deeper in this conversation drop me a line, I'm based in Berlin, always interested in listening different stories and to share mine.
Good work does not equal more work. That’s gold.
I love the reinforcement that the work by itself is not what is special. It is the whole story, history, and uniqueness of the self paired with the work that will help clients decide why they should hire you over anyone else. Be who you are, like Chris said "Celebrate who you are".
This conversation also goes back to the fact that people want to work with people they know and/or like. So yes your story matters. As one of many examples, I once automatically qualified for an opportunity because one of the employers and I were both from Maryland. That sparked excitement and delight during the interview. People love to lean in to stories. It's why we watch movies and tell stories to our friends and loved ones. The entire culture of human existence is built upon storytelling.
We all know there are people with lesser skills that get the better opportunities simply because they put themselves out there in a certain way or they speak with confidence. Grateful to this channel for these lessons that are cemented within me. Confidence (not arrogance) goes a long way. I've seen it many times.
Edit:
Ha. Left this comment before the conclusion of the video. The Futur is on it. Covered the basis of this comment at 26:49
Ugh this video hit me right in the heart. I am sort of in the same situation as this lady, though a bit worse off. I worked as the sole designer (in house) at the same company for 12 years. One morning in February of this year we were informed that the company had run into severe financial troubles and we were all basically laid off on the spot. My boss will not allow me to use anything that I did there in my portfolio out of paranoia that I would be selling or giving away very industry specific designs (even though the company is bankrupted and operationally paralyzed). The only portfolio that I have is student work that I would these days consider to be pretty janky. I will respect my former boss's copyright concerns so I am currently working on an entirely new portfolio from scratch with fake client work. I've never had my own professional website and i've never really done any kind of social media. I am completely daunted by the prospect of getting the work completed, building a website, putting everything out there on social media and being judged on it, but I am beginning to get desperate so it's what I am going to do.
I got into this spot when I subcontracted to a larger agency for a few years. You should always be doing projects under your own banner so this doesn't happen again. That's what I learned from my own experiences.
@@LockedownSEO how did you balance that with a full-time also?
I relate to this a lot. Earlier this year I was starting from scratch and when I was doing this I wish someone had reminded me that the portfolio and website doesn't have to be perfect. So, in case you forget, shipped is better than perfect. You won't be judged nearly as much as you think.
@@LukeDuckworth I think I might have to get "Done is better than perfect" tattooed on myself to remind me because the perfectionist within is fighting me tooth and nail through this.
I love this, and I’ve missed these types of video. It’s funny how the perspective we have of ourselves is so often different from how others see us. With a bit of work on Priscilla’s confidence, I believe she could achieve whatever level of success that she desires. She has a great persona and I think she could win a lot of work. I’m looking forward to following her progress in this series. Kudos Chris and team 👌🏻
I love how you helped her build up her story and add some confidence to her persona. That was very emotional. Great job!
Bang on! Amazing chat - and I note the time stamp, 2 years ago, did she do it? YES SHE DID! Super-solid advice. Chris really is across the pool with a towel, sandwich and twenty thousand dollars, saying shut up and swim ^^ Thanks so much. Pro group looks legit
Join us. Https://thefutur.com/pro-group
YES. "Lean in to who you are." There is always going to be someone who does what you do. There is always going to be someone who does what you do better than you do it. But for some people, the way you do it is exactly what they need.
The time stamps in the beginning of the video was a great touch, got me right where i needed to be.
Man i wish a had the money to buy this pro course. I really think this would benefit me right now. What an amazing thing you guys are doing. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Make some money and join us when you can.
Loving this series with Priscilla - I am identifying a lot of myself in her 👏
Chris you are the best coach out there! I feel like I'm cheating by watching this incredible free content (even though, I buy from The Futur and I'm a Sustaining member) Matthew - great MC too!
Thank you for your support.
5 star 🌟 content here! I ❤️ how you zoom in on Pricillas branding. It’s indeed hard to read the ingredients from inside the jar. I love the break done in the beginning and the summery at the end. Awesome sauce you guys!
Thanks for sharing this content TheFutur. My challenges are putting mysef out there, as a very private person also a loner.
Being present in all platforms and making time for everything with little ones.
A lot of this is the same techniques you would use on a client, but that's the rub. Designing for yourself or positioning yourself is extremely challenging. I can help clients tell their brand stories all day long, but doing it for myself is an almost impossible task. Some of it is indecisiveness about who I am (because I'm a lot of things and don't want to be pigeonholed), some of it is trying to make everything perfect so nothing gets completed. I think a lot of us understand the logic of what Chris is saying, but get stuck the moment we try to turn the lens on ourselves. Can you recommend any techniques to help that process go smoother?
Justin Ogleby that is the reason why you hire a personal coach to work on you and helping you "see" or "define" your brand. Chris mentioned that here, and in other videos.
Anyway I can feel you, it hurt when you know you are a multidisciplinary/multi-potential designer and have to market yourself as a specialist on one field. But that's how it works Justin! Position yourself as a specialist, but be a specialized generalist.
Great content as usual! ❤ Love how raw the conversation is. With everyday that passes I become a more firm believer that it is all about mindset in life! How you look at things and how you present them is what defines those things. Looking forward to the rest of the series 😊
I like that. It takes work to get work. I was traditionally trained in multimedia arts and I'm not only setting up my website/portfolio so I can get clients but I'm working on changing my mindset. We have to change our personality (our behaviors, ways of thinking) to be that person that we want to be.
its been 2 months since I tuned into more of your podcasts and I really loved it. Thanks Chris Do.
Hello Nepal 🇳🇵
Priscilla - nothing but love for you! You got this!
Flawless video, no audio/video issues.
I know it's a low bar, but I miss it a lot when its gone.
Haha.
More of these!!
This is VERY valuable to me in all the areas. Thank you for always being the teacher and the believer!!
This was a real welcomed kick in the teeth of reality and love. Thank you guys for really framing the mentality that we should shape as working artists in such a competitive landscape.
It’s a warm embrace in acid.
Well, this episode is only 3 hours short :) Fastest 30min I've had in a while. The whole conversation is something each and every one of us can relate to. Can't wait for the next episode.
Episode 2 coming soon.
Epic episode, I see a bit myself through it! The resistance once again! I know that I am not alone in that case and that confort me. Through that episode, Chris gave us the opportunity to see us better and shine our self confidence! Thank you so much as always!
Thank you Priscilla and Chris, true. that. :)
I am at this point of development at the moment so this vid really registers.
Getting out there has been a challenge for me because I have felt that the work should be more important that my face, but the truth is that people want to connect with other people because we have a human need to belong. Also my story has been rather eventful and it's been one hell of a climb to get out from under, so I needed to a certain point before I could come at it from the correct mindset.
I am going to get my story out there and get out from behind the work (and my computer) and show my face and share with others how nature in many ways has saved me from ruining my life and changed my productivity and desire to make a contribution to society. Perhaps this will inspire others as well so they don't lose hope or give up on themselves.
Here is some of my experience with Your Work Alone Will Not Get You More Work - perhaps it can be of help to someone else.
Bottom line is my second business model failed because 1) I didn't scale 2) I needed to unlearn a lot of old mindset junk from childhood because I was in my own way and 3) I didn't market or negotiate appropriately, partly due to my previous business experience where I was really lucky to buy a very small but great client list and build by referral through their friends and associates.
I made bank, and the clients were AWESOME. I didn't have to do marketing.
Well, that was an anomaly, and I soon came to learn a massive lesson.
On my second venture here in NYC,even though Hortus' work got really amazing exposure on our maiden project in Frame, Scientific American, Vogue, Fast Company, The NYer, the cover of TIME for Kids..
That was not enough!
This is an amazing episode for me personally as I struggle with pretty much the same challenges as Priscilla here in London UK - I even named myself secret.studio because not many know about it - I particularly like the idea of turning the tables around to somehow make a path strike out to tell my story promote my brand to help make a difference and gain more awarenesss for myself in the saturated marketplace - And I have to say its encouraging to hear Chris point out that just because you do great work that this and ding more work or working harder does not mean you will get more work - that can come more from generating interest in the brand and story more than the work alone.
Just like Priscilla im a bit of an introvert and not too great at selling myself - i dont think i ever will be great at selling myself, but i believe i can improve beyond what I have now -
It’s like this video was made specifically for me and where I am at in life right now. Keep up the great content!
Thank you
So many home-run points here.. I'm so glad you got to document and share this. I preach this but I don't always practice it because I'm too critical of how to tell my story.
But the best teacher is starting and failing so I'm just going to fucken start (full force).
Absolutely loved this.
As a designer I can say that I'm fighting the same resistance as Priscilla to put myself out there and focus on anything else besides my work.
But the truth is marketing is just as if not more important than the portfolio.
amazing things can happen if you just try.
LOVE the story about the violinist.
This is gold. One takeaway: The thinking that created the problem , will not solve the problem. I just Googled her and found that she seems to be doing quite well, now.
She’s doing well.
This was super fascinating! As it described the problem by a real life human being rather than the great how-to. I would love to see more of those videos of yours! Is there a part 2 of this one?
My take-away: do 3 case studies!
🎉
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good pep talk! Thanks Chris
It takes work to get work. There has to be some challenge or everyone would have work. We want there to be some pain to keep out the riff-raff. DEEP. All agencies should treat themselves as their most important client. Referrals will get you some work, true. But marketing your own agency every day will get you more work, and from circles you are not already a member of.
i miss the raw livestreams 🙁
So nice to listen to this interview, I learned so much ! Thank you @thefutur @Chrisdo 🙏🏼
You’re very welcome
I have that laid back attitude too when it comes to marketing and promoting myself. A direction to work on today, just before 2020. Thank you
After watching this I realised as team lead for an in house design team. I have to promote our team to get the better work, even though we are known in house. I'm going to set up a SharePoint site and promote our work internally. Unfortunately there is a bigger inhouse design and comms section that keeps telling people we can't design and they have go through them, even though our team has been around since the 90s.
Thanks Chris. It was very informative.
This call reminds me of Naval’s podcast where he discusses builders and sellers. Highly recommend! Also, the violinist I believe is Joshua Bell.
Thank you Chris...
WOW, It blew my thoughts in a second. Thanks, Chris.
People do business with people they like KNOW & trust. Yes, one can see a designers work via socials, but in this day & age its WAY beyond just the skill. People want connection, they want something to engage with , they want value - what's in it for them. Show up , share, give . Start from the heart, tell you story, give MORE to others, provide them with something other than your creative offerings. I haven't handed out a business card in over a year, ive never paid for an ad anywhere, I dont do "business networking groups" although I do involve myself in community projects to help out I do a fundraiser for a cause once a year & host a big morning tea for cancer fund-raising & help in other local issues even tho it has nothing to do with design people just remember my name & know I offer brand creative !! BUT I am extremely active on social platforms, I share every single day, do videos, share my process, I do my best to provide something informative, to give thought provoking reads. I talk to people who contact me in DM & fb in & I voice message them to build a relationship I dont care if they are just someone with a passion that wants to chat & bounce ideas, or if it is a potential client who has said they cant afford my creative I want to help regardless & will give what ever idea/share whatever I possibly can regardless. I am constantly learning & from the learning giving that back. Nope its not easy & it wasn't meant to be easy otherwise everyone would have it as Chris said. Its 2am now (this is my normal tho) & im working on my next blog post, designing carousel posts, writing up a proposal whilst finishing some client creative & on/off speaking to a very young girl in her 20s who wants to follow her passion in the design game! However im doing all this because I LOVE it & I live it every single day 16 hrs because this is lifestyle. . One must put in the hard yards to receive. All of my clients are word of mouth , many of them say "ive been watching you on social media for x months " when they reach out. gosh if facebook. instagram & linked in blew up id be up sh*t creek lol but the end message is , show up, share, put your face out there, people love PASSION! I share my thoughts & beliefs , what I was doing before I started officially .. I once was a full time carer for my mum who had a liver transplant & I share that story too, so people can learn about me & again many have made a connection , one client said - it feels like youre one of my friends lol because I share the journey on facebook / ig on the daily! I share client creatives, but also share process, I share things I see & love in life, .. im saying all this to show some who may say "its too much work": - YES it is ALOT of work but when you start from the heart you want is so damn bad , you will thrive on ALL of it, & when you follow passion, show up share & give ...success will follow (whatever you deem success) I believe it is having the courage to step out of your comfort zone & follow that dream.. When you do, your be rewarded woking with AMAZING clients, when you know your purpose & have a vision , you automatically vibe that & attract the right paying clients... IT IS SO WORTH IT! Sorry for my ramble but THIS is something very close to my heart, because I started at 0 & I mean literally 0 it is possible. if you want it so badly! I love the future , chris, ben , matt ,Melinda you guys are a HUGE part of my learning curves & my ability to up my game. Im never comfortable I. always want to be better than I was the day before, I love learning more & more... Its a continuous process to stay fresh, relevant , out there , inspired & yeh ... BEST thing ever !!! I loved this interview I SOOOO need to join this pro group I hear about with you guys!!! go get it xxx xx Loz from Aus ( @lozchaidesign )
Wow 😳
@@thefutur Still watching other videos ive missed of yours!!! I just LOVE you guys, call me crazy but this is the LIFE :) you have no idea how valuable your information is ... I owe you guys so damn much, I should be giving you a % of my project earnings lol, not that it would amount to much compared... BUTTTT I should be spending on that in investing in the pro group, im not sure I am eligible though? :) I would LOVE to be part of your fam some how .. I mean I consume your content every day / or night without fail! seriously if I could show you 2015 loz compared to 2019 loz you really wouldn't think its the same person... not that I'm anywhere near a "success" & I still have a mountain load to keep on learning .. but I'm pretty shocked still that I am able to make a living doing what I bleeeeeeeed , its with huge thanks to you as well :) you guys are honestly priceless. Nothing like you here in Australia... IF you ever have a :sister" TF here in Australia , I shot gun a role, or at least an audition, lol its 3,51 now , I'm sad I when I have to sleep such a waste of time but it's very essential lol x
@@thefutur I'd also love to see how Pricilla goes now after her chat with Chris!! this was mega cool!
I think what Chris is trying to say here is that when you go into relationships, whether it be a boyfriend or girlfriend, or an interview people first look at you, this is what you are the people want to work with as well as your skills being brought to the table
So so agree about personal branding everyone of us are different so everyone of us have are own unique selling point
Thank you for sharing, ALWAYS!
Thanks for this!
Sending positive vibes 💫
One fabulous case study? 🔥🔥🔥
Chris Do dropping with bombs in the title already. Looking forward to this.
The Futur has an amazing production team and we all know chris is very talented, but if he didn't have a personality, I wouldn't watch his videos. if that makes any sense..
Thank you. I think.
This was really valuable. Thanks for sharing!
I really like the more relaxed version of Chris, a little bit slower and laid back
watching this as I'm trying to update my own website and hating every minute of it, at least I don't feel so bad now that she said she doesn't have one
I love the Joshua Bell Story with his Stradivari 😃.
Awesome feedback, wise words!! Thanks
You are legend ❣️☺️
I understand the creative mindset and Perscilla's mindset - what's the point in creating the work if there's nothing special enough about it alone - what's the point in creating anything that hundreds others that can already create - I struggle with this
18:42 have a listen guys
Thanks Chris. I needed this.
It seems to me that the most challenging obstacle for a lot of designers today is to embrace the shift inmindset required for success in todays industry. This requires adopting a new attitude, and accepting a new belief system. This isn’t the easiest thing to do but I believe that if some can do this they will have a greater chance at success in today’s global market place
But my best case study was for the biggest job I've done, but the agency hiring me was COMPLETELY incompetent and unqualified to lead, and risked running the entire project to the ground, but I pulled miracles out of my ass and saved the day (and project) despite them. How do I lay this out in a case study about my ability to navigate & problem solve, without awkwardly putting the agency on blast? Because a lot of things only really make sense if I lay out how stupid the agency was being, and then how I adapted.
Maybe you can create a "ghost" case study for a brand that you like. And present it in your website.
If you're not proud of the results - why share the work? If the work is good, just share what you can, without throwing anyone under the bus.
@@oivero ? I don't understand. So it's an analysis on someone else's project?
Nope, more like having your own brief and idea for the client you want. Like doing an ad that never went live for Nike, for example.
@@oivero I think I getcha now. I actually have a spec spot I made about a UFC fight a couple of years ago. So, basically, make case studies around things like that?
YAY Priscilla!
Thanks for great advice as always!
Around 20 minutes Chris tells the story about violinolist. For me the question still remains: Where should I get the opera?
I have the feeling that to get for example Nike as a client you are mostly required to have other of these massive brands as clients.
Sure you can get there but you can't present yourself like you are playing in the opera when you're not.
Great advice about Behance and Dribbble. I've had at least the Behance 'portfolio' dormant for a while, so have just starting uploading work to my own portfolio on there.
Fear really keeps ppl stuck..if u just look at social media, ppl luv knowing about other ppl lol so when u put YOU out there and get a lil personal that's what will make u look different from someone who has your SAME skills. 💯
Great episode!
Chris is like the zen master of design.
No Sir.
You are not just a bald asian guy.
You are Saitama(one punch man).
You Do super hero stuff.
You are my hero.
Thank you for The Futur.
Thank you for your Compassion.
I see one of the biggest hurdles for the creative person is to believe or act like they believe their own hype (I mean this in a positive light). I'm wondering if extroverts have an easier time believing this than introverts... even after training. Often times the only significant different between a successful person and an unsuccessful person is confidence.
the difference in success is belief. believe that you can.
Great video, as usual.
Chris, thanks for this video! I've got a burning question: I want to start making my own content to help creatives improve their social lives. With no connections and zero presence, should I start with a CZcams Channel or a podcast?
Whatever is the easiest. Just start
My main challenge to a going through these steps but getting little traction online.
0:32 that's Joshua's illustrations! cool!
Josh is an amazing illustrator.
@@thefutur Yeah I love his work! Do you print out his work yourselfs, or does he send it to you guys?
The Last Air Bender strikes again!! Work to get work.. Ace..
Salu Priscilla, ça va? The asset, you might have overseen so far, is the age of your domain! The age of the domain is an important factor with Google algorithm to consider authority. The soon you start to blog you have the keywords with each post PLUS your domain authority!
always great to see Chris doe sensei do his thing,,
Thank you
@@thefutur no,
thank you for sharing this wisdom with us.. you are guys are my heroes
Really great vid. Is there going to be a follow up? Curious also how long it took for her to reprogram her beliefs of her work/talent vs self branding if she did? Thanks!
Yes.
There's always going to be someone better than you. Your clients don't know that and don't need to know that. So what makes you different?
Thanks so much for this video. But I have a question. What if you haven't discovered who you truly are creatively and that makes you undervalue yourself. How do you break that anxiety and lack of confidence?.
Thx
No problem
Great Simple analysis- Bullseye
Forgive me for this question if it's been addressed already, what exactly do you mean by a case study? Are we talking about techniques we use, like a theory-based technical tutorial or more of trends in the industry and using other data with references to prove our case? Are there any examples you would recommend we review Chris? Thanks in advance-Micah
academy.thefutur.com/p/complete-case-study
The Futur Thank you for the link!!
What camera and light are you using? Great look.
gh4, metabones adaptor, sigma art lens, Apurture 120d, Dracast 500 LED in the back
@@thefutur Fabulous. Thanks.
Love the content :)
Appreciate it
Priscilla go and get Readymag. They're the best at drag and drop sites and you'll be done in a week. Plus Black Friday discounts
Hi guys. Love your stuff as always! Is there a way you will do a video on how to do a portfolio for art school? I know you got many for applying for jobs, but applying for an art school is quite different, right? Thank you so much
Let’s see
I really believe in what chris said, but i think he make more money with his classes and with this channel than really designer work, for me, it's mean a lot...
💘