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If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

Simon Sinek

If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be

Joseph Campbell

#BS300

People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.

Simon Sinek

#BS300

Task 6: Building your own Business

I cannot find the motivation or the inclination to get up and do what I do every day unless it feels like what I do makes a difference.

It’s easy to understand what we do or how we do it, but starting with WHY makes helps me to understand what my purpose and beliefs are.

I am fortunate that I already work for a company that know their WHY and they encourage each of their staff to understand their own WHY. If I ever wanted to start an entrepeneural company of my own I know that its success would be tied to starting with WHY.

Both ‘Start with Why’ and ‘Find your Why’ are brilliant reads, that give valuable insights to those with visions to lead a team, to those looking to be a leader within a team, and to those who need to discover or be reminded of why they do what they do.

#BS300

Task 5: To Intern or not to Intern

Choosing to be an intern or applying to employ for another company involves compromise. Work hard to find a placement at a company where the type of work you are expected to do aligns as much as possoble with your creative passions and goals. The advantages of financial securiy can not fully sustain a person if doing the job does not give them a sense of fulfilment or if it is not perceived as a stepping stone toward a bigger career goal.

Some creatives are able to succesfully develop independent content after working hours to suplement finances and to give one a sense of creative freedom that is often missing from the workplace. It is also possible for independent creative content to lead to an independent working space.

When dealing one’s own IP or when subcontracting work to another company, it is your responsibility to know the type of agreements and contracts to write up for your protection in terms of payment and conditions of copyright ownnership.

#BS300

Task 4: Job Hunting

Illustrator/ Designer

https://www.indeed.co.za/viewjob?jk=767d8638c91a031f&tk=1e5k83u2i93sh800&from=serp&vjs=3

- What about this position appeals to you? I feel confident that I have the skills required for this job. I have a particular passion for sotrytelling. The opportunity to illustrate, animate and design.

- What about this positions intimidates you? My Afrikaans is a little bit rusty. I would need to sharpen my time management skills.

- What more would you need to know about this position before you apply? I would need to research the company and the type of work they do.

- How does this position relate to your envisioned career trajectory? This related strongly

2D / 3D Animator

https://www.indeed.co.za/viewjob?jk=af21bd45a272772c&q=Animation&l=Cape+Town%2C+Western+Cape&tk=1e5k83u2i93sh800&from=web&vjs=3

- What about this position appeals to you? The opportunity to work within both 2D and 3D animation pipelines

- What about this positions intimidates you? I would need to udate my showreel - What more would you need to know about this position before you apply? Research the company and the work that they do - How does this position relate to your envisioned career trajectory? This position would provide me with valuable industry experience in both 2D and 3D animation.

Art Director / Graphic Designer

https://www.indeed.co.za/viewjob?cmp=2AM-Agency&t=Art+Director+Graphic+Designer&jk=59881bef4216fc52&q=Animation&vjs=3

- What about this position appeals to you? The opportunity to gain experience in art direction

- What about this positions intimidates you? being an art director. I have little experience in advertising.

- What more would you need to know about this position before you apply? I would need to research the company so I can know more about the company’s expectations.

- How does this position relate to your envisioned career trajectory? Gaining art leadership experience.

#BS300

Too often, we forget that our professional lives can, and should, be joyful.

Dorie Clark

#BS300

Task 3: Entering Internship

Even though this exercise is hypothetical for me, I am reminded how it feels to be in this situation. It is easy to fall into the panic of needing to find work, but so important to remind yourself why you chose to study in the field of Arts in the first place. Hunt for the work that affords you the opportunity to do what you do best, protect that passion that makes you happy and gives you the energy to work hard and enjoy it. If at first you are working to pay the bills, keep that flame alive in your spare time and persist in finding a job that’ll let you do what you love during the day.

Reading chapter 2 of Shaughnessy’s How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul challenged me in terms of my struggles with time managemant. He provides good advice about breaking a task down into small bite size components. Not only does it giving you the satisfaction of completing each miletone, but it gives you a more accurate sense of pacing in order to meet the deadlines required.

“It’s the feeling of being an eternal student that keeps this profession interesting.” - Adrian Shaughnessy

#BS300

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision

Helen Keller

#BS300

Task 2: A Practice of Openness

Isaac Lidsky’s life story carries hope and inspiration for everyone who falls into self-pity, lack of confidence and fear of failure. He found a way to embrace challenges, overcome tremendous obstacles and thrive. He draws from his own experience to share great advice on overcoming your worst critic; YOURSELF.

I became increasingly aware of my active inner critic during business studies last year. Whilst exploring dealing with conflict and violent communication, I was made more aware of the violent communication I continually have with myself; a conversation that continually criticises, overwhelms me with dissatisfaction, and guilt, and steals belief in my capabilities. If I am going to overcome this critical self that expects perfection, I have to come to terms with the truth that nothing I do will ever be perfect and that this is okay. I want to embrace failure as a way forward into learning and growing and never accept that fear of failure is an excuse for not trying.

I choose to challenge this critical voice and test my truths. I want to break attention away from the things that steal my joy and focus on seeking out my goals and dreams, finding inspiration and remaining curious.

All we are ever sure of is today. I may not be able to control everything that happens in it, but I do carry the power to choose what I do, what I think and how I react. I choose to be curious, to look for inspiration, to keep my sense of humour, and to stay in the moment. I choose gratitude.

I plan on reinforcing these choices into morning mindfulness at the beginning of a new day anI d taking time out to reflect and show gratitude every evening.

The more I put this into practice, the more enthusiasm I find. What we give our attention to plays such an important role in how we spend our lives. It isn’t about what we see, it’s all about what we’re looking for. It’ll be a challenge to keep up this practise as things get much busier, but I choose to make this a priority.

#BS300

“It is confidence in our bodies, minds and spirits that allows us to keep looking for new adventures”.

Oprah Winfrey

#BS300

TASK 1: Personal Goal Setting

Personal growth is a choice. Last week’s self evaluation exercise made clear that SELF CONFIDENCE is an attribute that I have ignored and avoided.

Self Confidence is defined as “a feeling of trust in one's abilities, qualities, and judgement”.

Whilst this is an attribute that I project as a lecturer, it is not something I feel. I am good at what I do and my students have complete faith in my abilities and judgement. On a daily basis, I have to convince myself that I am not an imposter.

I have two wonderful parents. My siblings and I all idolised my father who was one of South Africa’s first stop motion animators. He is also a master puppet maker well known for puppets like Liewe Heksie, Karel Kraai, Sarel Seemonster and Meistro Mol. Even in his seventies, he inspires me daily with his creativity and passion for his craft. Perhaps some of my lack of confidence stems from this elevate bar I have set for myself in wanting to be like him.

My mother is kind, loving, compassionate and very humble. I’ve always admired her ways of listening, her gentle wisdom and her incredible power in peace and humility. I would love to be able to display her peace and humility with confidence.

I recognise that a big part of my lack of trust in my ability is that I have not spent enough time developing my own passions and skillsets outside of teaching. For the last five years, I have been a slave to a schedule that devotes all of my energy to students. I know that if I choose to make time for my own craft, time to practise, explore and experiment, that I will not only be more fulfilled, but I will feel more confident in being an artist who also lectures rather than a lecturer who remembers a time when she used to be an artist.

Self confidence can be developed but I have to make some changes. I will choose to make time for my own art. My self confidence will also be boosted by a healthy self-image and therefore boosting healthy diet, exercise, sleep patterns and practising mindfulness are new priorities that I also choose.

#BS300

You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step

Martin Luther King Jr

#BS220

T4_TASK 5: Transactional Communication

#BS220

T4_TASK 4: Non-Violent Communication

“What I want in my life is compassion, a flow between myself and others based on a mutual giving from the heart.” - Marshall B Rosenberg

Putting conversations like this into practice has been good for me. I have recognised my classical avoidance tendencies as a way of escaping the inevitable conflict. Confronting triggers with non-violent communication leads to important change for me and my circumstances.

As Victor Frankl points out, the moment between impulse and action is of most importance. Awareness of this has helped me to catch the impulse and think before I react.

“All violence is the result of people tricking themselves into believing that their pain derives from other people and that consequently, those people deserve to be punished.” - Marshall B Rosenberg

#BS200

T4_TASK 3: Managing Up

Relationship Checkpoints:

Do you know what is expected of you / Are you meeting expectations?

Does your boss trust you / Do you trust your boss?

Do you recognise your boss’ various management styles?

Can you recognise your boss’ strengths / Do you feel that your strengths are valued?

Does your boss understand your aspirations / Have you communicated these to your boss?

#BS200

T4_TASK 2: Stepping out of the drama triangle

When I see that someone is not coping, I tend to go into RESCUER mode. Next time this happens I will acknowledge my tendencies to help others to the detriment of my own responsibilities and also make myself aware of how these actions deprive others of self-empowering action. By making myself aware of these tendencies I will empower myself to go into COACH mode where I will guide, encourage, and motivate others to deal with the task at hand leaving myself with the time needed to attend to my own responsibilities.

Rescuer to Coach

“What do you need to be able to do this yourself?”

When there just aren’t enough hours in a day to get all my work done , I tend to go into VICTIM mode. Next time this happens I will rather take a step back, recognise that I have too much on my plate, communicate what I am able to achieve and strategise a methodical plan to manage what is possible rather than focusing on what is not in order to empower myself to go into CREATOR mode.

Victim to Creator

“I can choose how to deal with this”

When I am debating solutions with my siblings, I tend to go into PERSECUTOR mode. Next time this happens I will rather recognise that I am projecting my own insecurities and that I am disempowering my sisters whom I love in order to empower myself to go into CHALLENGER mode.

Persecutor to Challenger

“What can I learn from this?”

#BS200

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