Pragmatic Approach to "Building Someone Else's Dream"

Throughout my life, various pieces of advice have resonated with me, appearing and reappearing at different times:

• "Don't get good at anything you don't want to do" – Grandpa Vic
• "You only have what you can appreciate"
• "The journey is the destination" – Title of Dan Eldon's inspiring book
• "A grateful mindset unlocks the value in the world around you"
• "Whatever the question, nature is the answer"
• "May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears." – Nelson Mandela

I often find my past self offering valuable advice to my present self. This process of relearning important lessons has made me realize that progress isn't a straight, upward trajectory. Instead, it resembles a piece of spaghetti – twisting and turning, but gradually heading towards improvement.

Fellow creative Josephine Kimberling posed an insightful question: "As an artist & corporate creative leader too, I'm so curious about your take on 'building someone else's dream'."

Creatives often find themselves in this position. Many who pursue creative careers start with big dreams and passion projects . However, they frequently end up taking on more corporate responsibilities, whether they want to or not. This situation is related to several concepts:

• "Hostile promotion": An unwanted advancement that increases responsibilities with little pay improvement or time commitment.
• "Plata o plomo": A threatening ultimatum, literally meaning "silver or lead": take this promotion or lose your job.
• "Peter Principle": The idea that people are promoted to their level of incompetence.
• "Pyrrhic victory": A promotion where the costs outweigh the benefits.
• "Responsibility dump": When additional work is thrust upon an individual without adequate compensation or support.

These scenarios highlight the complex challenges creatives face: balancing artistic aspirations with the realities of corporate structures, career advancement, time commitments, financial obligations, and personal responsibilities. It's overly simplistic to claim that any work you don't want to do equates to "building someone else's dream." The situation is nuanced, involving various factors and trade-offs. The key question becomes: How can one maintain creative integrity while navigating professional growth and meeting life's diverse demands?

As a creative director managing teams and complex projects, here are some strategies that have helped me maintain creative integrity:

• "Where am I and what have you done with my dreams?": Never lose sight of why you pursued a creative career. Most likely, it's because you have ideas, stories, and passions you want to bring to life. Keep this motivation at the forefront of your mind.
• Let your mind wander: Start your day slowly. Before being bombarded with stimuli and daily responsibilities, take a moment to let your mind roam freely. One thought often leads to another, and you may stumble upon an exciting idea that makes life more interesting and engaging. Walks in nature or cities, or sketching at a coffee shop, can greatly facilitate this process.
• "Hello” earthling: Remember that we are social creatures. Having meaningful conversations with friends or family members - where you feel connected and understood - gives life purpose. Exchanging ideas and empathizing with each other's triumphs and struggles can be incredibly fulfilling and creatively stimulating.
• "Curiosity, Play, Discovery": This has long been one of my personal modus operandi, and many amazing inventions came to life through this approach (e.g., Microwave oven, Post-it notes, Levi's jeans, Penicillin, X-rays, Coca-Cola, Potato chips, Velcro, Saccharin, Play-Doh, Viagra, Silly Putty, Teflon, Super Glue, Champagne).
• Make an impact, but know your limits: In every workplace, I strive to make a positive business impact, advocate for customers, and form authentic connections with teammates—relationships that often continue long after I've left a company. However, it's crucial to establish healthy boundaries that are sustainable. Long-term, these boundaries contribute to greater impact than short-term victories followed by burnout. This is a personal decision, but it's important to know what your limits are.
• Foster curiosity and personal projects: When hiring creatives, I look for individuals who demonstrate curiosity and engage in personal projects. These people tend to be more adaptable to the changing landscape because their drive and curiosity constantly push them to learn new things, maintain an open mindset, and truly love creativity. This passion gives them the resilience to withstand the ups and downs of the creative industry. Encouraging and valuing these traits in yourself and your team can lead to a more innovative and adaptable creative environment.

As the mayfly says, "Life is short." It's important to come off autopilot and self-audit every once in a while. Ask yourself:

1. What do I remember from 5 years ago?
2. When do I feel most alive?
3. What is a dream that keeps popping up in my mind that won't go away?

Navigating the corporate world as a creative professional is a constant balancing act. While it's easy to feel like you're "building someone else's dream," remember that your experiences, even the challenging ones, contribute to your growth and can fuel your creativity in unexpected ways.

By staying true to your core motivations, allowing time for creative thought, nurturing relationships, embracing curiosity, and setting healthy boundaries, you can maintain your creative integrity while succeeding in a corporate environment. Regular self-reflection will help you stay aligned with your goals and ensure you're on a path that's true to yourself.

Nate Williams has worn many creative hats, but his true passion lies in collaborating with others to bring impactful ideas to life. Discover more at https://www.n8w.com

Original article posted here at https://www.n8w.com/blog/building-someone-elses-dream