Here is Why

Disclaimer: This is not a corporate text about a brand purpose or anything like that. It's just a personal story.?

And here it is.

I have always been passionate about my creative work since I started doing graphic design jobs in my late teenage years over 20 years ago.

I was a self-motivated student at the university studying communication, design, and fine arts and graduated with honors.

I spent over 12 years working enthusiastically in the creative industry, starting as a graphic designer, then a motion designer, art director, and film director.

I had never questioned my passion for being a so-called creative.

But every story needs an inciting incident. Here is mine:

It was March 2020, and I considered myself in a good flow. After winning three pitches in the first quarter of the year, I was excited and confident that this year would become a personal breakthrough as a director.?

– which, in hindsight, gladly didn't happen.

As you know, the world was going to shut down, and with it, all upcoming opportunities. It was a scary time for you and me.

––––––

What seemed to be a personal nightmare helped me realize that I was on my lowest end:

? Burning up all my energy.

? Heading in the wrong direction.

? Watching my dreams disappear in the rearview mirror.

But let me explain –

I worked as a director in the advertising industry for several years, writing concepts and directing commercials and even a feature film in 2018. I was constantly confronted with pitches, canceled projects, soul-dragging bread-and-butter jobs, and the pressure to make a living for my family. You might relate.

I felt faint from being dependent so much on things I considered not controllable even before COVID hit, like pitch circumstances or a lack of resources like money and time, especially as a father of three kids, constantly driven by the yearning to work on projects that excite and fulfill me as a creative human being.

I was burning on both ends of my spectrum, trapped in a self-made dilemma: earning good money while losing my creative soul or following my passion and going bankrupt.?

The thing I used to love the most had become my biggest burden.?

I knew that it wasn't just me but so many of my colleagues and friends from various fields of creative work.

And while reflecting on it, a question manifested:?

"Why do so many of us (creatives) struggle* with business? And how can we improve?"?

*When I say struggle, I don't mean profits here—you know what I mean.

These simple but profound questions sparked a wildfire of curiosity in me, and soon, I found myself going deep into the rabbit hole, dedicating most of my time to seeking answers.

My passion reignited, and the thrill of finding solutions for myself and others who share my beliefs still relentlessly inspires me.?

I've become obsessed with devouring anything and everything related to these fundamental questions - my bookshelf groans under the weight of books on creativity, business, neuroscience, psychology, marketing, branding, sales, pricing, personal development, and many more!?

I changed from freelancing to co-founding a creative company as life went on. What started as a film production company became a branding studio, but that is another story.?

The point here is that being responsible for the company's creative direction forced me to find an answer to the fundamental questions of positioning and strategy:?

? What do we want to do?

? Who is anybody? Who is it for?

? Why should anybody care?

? How do we do it?

Since 2020, I had many insightful conversations and interviews with other creatives - from filmmakers and graphic designers to photographers, creative directors, and entrepreneurs.?

As I delved deeper into the worldviews of creatives and their business, I began to uncover patterns and insights that I had yet to be consciously aware of.?

My vision started to clarify, and my perspective shifted from feeling drained to feeling energized, focused, and excited by these things.

I soon started to work on a book called "The Creative Business Dilemma."?

While working on the book and implementing what I learned, I realized I'd found my calling in exploring and sharing my discoveries.

Reading and studying books*, having conversations**, giving strategy workshops, building up the company, and implementing the knowledge helped clarify my vision and set me on a mission to help others find theirs.

?

And that is why I found Ceek—a platform where I share my explorations.

Ceek is a 100% passion project, and I dedicate as much time as possible to it. If you want to support or collaborate, please contact me via DM.

I am not claiming to know; I am here to explore, and I invite you to join me on this journey. That is it. To say it in Rick Rubin's words:

"We are dealing in a magic realm. Nobody knows why or how it works. "

Rick Rubin – "The Creative Act: A Way of Being "

Here are some links if you are interested in finding out more about it:

The Research Survey - Join more than 100 creative companies by supporting the research HERE?https://chrjf43axxa.typeform.com/survey It will take you less than 3 minutes and will help a lot.

The website: www.ceek.vision (always in beta)

You can read my articles on Substack: https://domceek.substack.com/

You can also subscribe to my newsletter here on Linked In?