My name is Matthew Encina, and I’ve been working as a creative professional as a designer, animator, and director over the past 15 years. Recently, I reviewed all of my old portfolio work. Going way back to 1998, when I was just starting my own creative journey, up till now working for big clients on some pretty amazing projects.
Staying motivated and trusting the process is a difficult thing to do. So what does it take to pursue a creative career? How can you stay relevant, motivated, and continue to grow in the long run?
Whether you’re just starting out, or are struggling to push forward, in this article I’ll be sharing the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way, to help you navigate your own journey as a creative person.
Lesson 1: Start before you’re ready.
Anything worth doing takes a lot of effort and along with it comes risk. The challenge for most of us is that we’re risk-averse. And we look for all the reasons why now is not a good time to pursue our next big idea.
In 2014, I pitched an idea to the band Coldplay, that I’d design an interactive music video for their song “Ink.” At the time, I really had no clue how to make it. I was nervous, cause I had very little experience in interactive design. And I almost pulled out of the project because, for a moment, I doubted my ability to deliver.
But I jumped in head first, and I believed that I could figure it out. My resourcefulness kicked in. I called everyone in my network. I did a lot of research on the technology. And a few months later, I created my first-ever interactive music video. Had I closed up and avoided risk, because of fear and doubt, I would’ve missed out on one of the most rewarding projects of my life.
That “will figure it out” mentality, I believe, is our superpower as creative human beings. We can see possibilities, where others cannot. And can come up with novel solutions to challenges, when we’re in a pinch.
When you have an opportunity in front of you, have confidence in yourself. Start before you’re ready, and push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Cause when you do, you’ll grow beyond your current abilities, and you’ll surprise yourself. You’ll realize how good you really are.
Lesson 2: Failure is not the end. It’s a lesson for your future self.
Failure sucks. It’s embarrassing, demoralizing and can bring your life to a screeching halt if you let it.
In 2007, right after graduating college, I decided to start a design studio called, BORN, with my school mates. Life was good. Jobs were dropping in our lap. We were working with cool clients, like Linkin Park and Nissan, doing the kind of work we loved.
Then in 2008, the housing market crashed in the United States, and brought the global economy down with it. The phones stopped ringing. We stopped getting clients. And I realized everything I didn't know about running a business – especially in tough times