Planning for the future means investing in yourself now
As you know, we are living in tumultuous times. For some of us it’s been several weeks, some are just beginning to feel the stress, and others are oblivious and will likely create havoc on the system over time. We are also living in a unique time of opportunity.
During this time we can choose how we want to show up. Personally I have been both my best and worst self—all in the same week! Being generous at my best, and showing up as a fierce advocate at my worst. We are uniquely positioned to give, support and fight. How we choose to show up or reflect on the situation is ultimately up to us.
And our field has shown up big! From a variety of visuals shared in social media on how to work from home, stay healthy, and cope—to free and low-cost virtual offerings to help us expand and improve our services.
I’m very excited to share that the IFVP has chosen to make the Digital Scribing series I hosted last summer free to everyone!
https://www.ifvp.org/content/digital-recording-age-virtual-0?fbclid=IwAR2MH3VTtXpDgmqJF9k8Jx4pSornR0MZzYJKzCdcWzfCaFxrvXWHjCIgzx0
It’s exciting to see how much our field has grown and how we are sharing information. Just this week I saw six new offerings in our field pop-up from what seemed like out of nowhere. We all have a lot to choose from. So how to choose? And how to make the most out of your investment?
Well, since virtual makes everything so accessible, geography is not an issue. Here’s how I choose what courses to take:
Subject Matter - We each bring a unique skillset to the wall. If you support software engineers and developers, then you might look to someone who has an Agile background. If not, look closer at what will compliment your skill set and offerings. While I’ve lived in the Agile world and am a certified scrum master, I’m also an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator so I will look to those offerings that align with my practice: Presencing, Art of Hosting, Human-Centered Design, etc.
Aesthetics - Who we learn from will influence our style. Choose someone to learn from who’s work you like. This is more important than you realize. Not only because you will tend to draw like them, but because it will save you time because they will take you there faster. Don’t take a live drawing course if cartooning is what you want or vice versa. There has been an increase in the number of drawing courses in our field. You get to choose if you want to “go the scenic route” by learning on iyour own and translating it into your work or getting right to it with those who have been there already.
Price - You get what you pay for. A lot of what’s free (including what I offer) may be fun and a shot of inspiration, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg in terms of content and what you can learn. Make a professional development budget and invest in improving your skill set. It’s the best investment you will ever make for yourself. And invest in learning from those who have been doing this for awhile. Sure you can learn from someone who just learned themselves but how far will that take you? If you want to be a pro, learn from a pro at the level you want to be.
It’s not easy choosing what to invest in as things are popping up all the time. And to make the most of your investment, it’s important to do the pre-work and post-integration work. Not sure how? I cover this in sessions 8 & 10 from last years summer Lettering series available at bit.ly/levelupprep
If you are struggling with the isolation, anxiety, or fears at this time, there are many resources out there you can spend your time exploring rather than obsessively checking social media or reading doomsday news.
Here is one resource I have found helpful:
https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR2qH6jX3X5XuxlhfbqwPseYbxbY8eAAcohBfAhxmnOkoZ68TrlMANC2sH4&inf_contact_key=378b0aab2636ba50bb3a9e758422c315d18a532c4142cb79caf2b269de1401fa
While It is designed for freelance artists, there is a lot to occupy your mind in a productive way. Please don’t take away from Artists if there is an opportunity to receive support here. But rather, turn to your industry (the field of visual facilitation for example) and see how we can support one another.
And if you are in need of someone to talk to and would like some personal/professional coaching, starting the week of March 23, I will be offering free 45-minute coaching sessions for artists. Please email me to learn how to get on my calendar.
Thank you for continuing to letter with me.
See you online soon!