The Two Most Powerful Tools You Were Never Taught to Use
How many times in your life you witnessed someone being successful and you thought to yourself: I’m way more talented, I’m way more skilled, I’m way more capable, and yet, they are crushing it and you’re not?
I’m guessing at least once, but a safe bet: at least a few times. I’m not afraid to admit I felt it more than once.
Almost half a year ago, I was sitting in a waiting area of my car shop, waiting for my car to be fixed. I knew it will last a while, so I came prepared. I had my headphones and an iPad, hoping to tune everything out and do some sketches. But something kept stealing my attention.
On the opposite wall was a big-screen TV transmitting a certain man speaking in Davos. Very powerful man. You could say: a man that’s on top of the world. A man holding one of the most important positions in the world. A man whose actions affect directly almost every single person on this planet. This man, who needs no introduction, spoke for 72 minutes. During his speech, he confused Iceland with Greenland multiple times.
If that happened to any of us mere mortals, let’s say during an SAT test, we would probably get an F and get asked to try again. Next semester.
On one hand, my flubbers were gasted; on the other, it made me realise that I’m holding myself to way higher standards than I should. To the point that it almost feels like a nice little excuse to stop myself from succeeding. And then I knew I was on to something.
I knew that there’s something I can learn from people like that man. I needed to figure out what it was exactly.
If you are a professional in any field, you know how much time you’ve spent learning your craft. Honing your skills. Finding your voice. Learning new things and putting them into practice. Reading books, listening to podcasts, watching videos, the list goes on.
And yet all that effort comes to a total halt and wastes away when you reach the brick wall made from: I’m not supposed to, it feels cringe, it’s not a good time, I feel weird asking, what will other people say, what will my family think? Again, the list goes on.
Because while we are spending all that time getting better, we forget about the traits that will actually move us forward.
Imagine going on an exciting trip, maybe the best in your lifetime. You pack your backpack. You make sure you have your food and water, a change of clothes. Maps and a plan of the journey. You made sure you’re fit for the hike. And just before you’re out the door, you take your jacket off, toss your backpack in the corner, and go back to your couch. How does it sound to you?
Because to me, it sounds like giving up before you even tried.
This part is still very hard for me. I’m struggling as I’m writing this post. To the point I don’t want to even finish it. But it needs to be done. And just like that, quick but painful, here it goes:
If I’ve met you on the street and we stopped for a little chat and you asked me what I do for a living, I would say: I’m a graphic designer. Not an artist. I know I would. I did it many times before. Why? Because Graphic Designer is a “real job” and an Artist is an Imaginary one. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. Every time I do this, I also feel a little sting of disappointment. That I didn’t stand up for myself. I’ve folded without even entering the fight. Drowning my dreams in the sea of wasted potential. But enough is enough.
The saddest part is that I’m not alone. There are countless others just like me, with so much talent and skill and knowledge that’s sitting dormant, wasting away, forever hidden from someone else to see or hear. So much value that could make this world a better place. Just because someone convinced themselves they are not good enough.
I now know what the man in Davos has and I don’t: the audacity and having no shame.
So this part is for me and all of my fellow humble artists. We need to build up our tolerance and learn that audacity and having no shame are the two most powerful tools in your toolbox. Even if those are the traits with the worst rep. In the right hands, they can do so much good. Enough to undo the bad done by bad people, if not more.
We need to learn to say: “Yes, I do this and I’m very good at it. I’m the best, no one has ever done it before…” I’m only partially joking, by the way.
Having no shame is another thing. I’m simplifying, of course. But the principle still stands, because letting go of shame means willingness to be seen while you’re bad at something. And especially in times like this, when in the era of artificial-everything, the missing component is the human touch.
Combine the sensitivity, the wisdom, the craft with the audacity to speak out and shamelessness of following your dreams, and see what happens.
I don’t know if the man in Davos ever had to build this tolerance, or if money and privilege built it for him instead. What I know is that it doesn’t come to me naturally. I need to intentionally practice it. The best way I know: by repetition and putting myself out there. So here it goes:
Hi, I’m Agata and I’m an Artist.
And in the spirit of being audacious, here’s a shameless plug. Check out my latest prints available on Redbubble.
I have a feeling they’ll look good in your living room (wink, wink).
