Can someone tell me what day it is?
I spent the entire weekend at a virtual event – you know, one of those three-day conferences that used to be an “in person” LIVE event.
Okay, yes, I was still at home, but the energy and the excitement wore me out! Technology has come a long way!
It was like drinking from a fire hose!
My notebook is full. My pen is empty! I learned so much in such a short period of time, it’s hard to process it all.
But it got me thinking!
Now that I have the April cohort of Creatively-U rolling, I think I’m going to take the next couple weeks to detail some of the wonderful highlights from this weekend. As I was frantically writing, I was also thinking about how much of this would help you, my audience.
So, here’s the start of a mini-series of hot topics from the conference.
Some of them are going to feel a little controversial at first glance but stick with me. There is method to my madness!
Today’s topic: Commitment trumps talent!
This one’s not so bad. I can definitely get my head around this one. Why?
Well, I know firsthand that I am a creative person, I also have talent IN CERTAIN AREAS…but tech ain’t one of ‘em. Neither is marketing or web development! And I’m not good at video editing or podcasting either. The truth is, there are a LOT of areas where I just … … … let’s just say I’m not good in them, mm-kay! Never was, not my jam!
But I have to participate, and I want to grow my business, so I’m committed to learning. I will have to learn to get better at some of this stuff so I might as well start…while I’m still bad at it. As Jon Acuff says, “Be brave enough to be bad at something new.”
Ah yes, and that’s where commitment comes in. I am committed to growing this business so I must commit to doing things that are, at the moment, highly uncomfortable! In front of YOU – my dear audience!
So show me some grace my lovelies and I’ll walk before you.
Commitment trumps talent! It really does when it comes to growing your vision, your creative practice, or your business.
Here’s how you do it~
~Commit to your creative practice. Make it a priority. If you don’t, who will? If you don’t commit some time and attention to it, it will never turn into talent. Your dreams are important. Not just for you but for the whole world. Where there was nothing and now, through your efforts, there’s a garden, or a loaf of bread, or a necklace, that’s your creativity being expressed. The goodness that you put out is your mark upon the world in the most wonderful way possible! We need your creative input! It brings us joy!
~Don’t know how to do the planning? Can’t find the time? Let someone help you. Someone who has gone before you and knows how to break it down to be easily understood. Someone who knows how to build a strong structure underneath you so you can play freely on top, never to lose your path or foothold again. In case you missed that not-so-subtle plug – that’s me my friend! That’s what I do. Engage in my community and get the support you need to commit!
~Afraid that “structure” might kill your creativity? I know, you want to fly free and explore without all that formal “structure” holding you down. Hold up a sec! Your creativity is like a helium balloon. You MUST give it something stable to hold onto in order for it to exist at all. Otherwise, all it does is disappear! Structure is your friend my dear creative! Take the time and commit to building it underneath you so your creativity can focus on what it does best.
Commit to setting yourself up for success. Commit to your creativity. Give it everything it needs to flourish! No, you won’t be perfect at the start. You’ll fall off the calendar. You’ll forget to work on your habits every now and then. The first apple you draw won’t look much like an apple.
But commit to your craft and commitment will trump talent. In fact, the only way you reach “talent” is through commitment. After all, practice makes, well, almost perfect.
So, what will you commit to today? Will you put your creativity front and center? Pop into the comments and tell me what you will commit to right now. Big or small, it doesn’t matter! Commitment trumps talent every time.
Stay tuned as we explore more topics in the coming weeks such as “Frequency before Excellence, The value is in the Debrief, Success is a Decision, and Failure is an Event, not an Identity.”
Join me LIVE on my Facebook page, Virginia Leigh Studio, at 3:00 pm Central every Wednesday to ask questions and talk creativity.
Become Creatively-U!
Find more purpose and meaning in your day!
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