This week we are talking about how to use your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. We are going to dive into some of our weakest characteristics and how they’ve gone on to define our creative careers. So without further ado, let’s get into the show!
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Show Notes for This Episode:
[1:00] Tom opens with some lighthearted banter.
[2:30] Ian talks about his weaknesses.
[3:00] Ian’s weakness gains him more traction.
[4:00] Early in Ian’s career he thought he needed to niche down to gain work.
[5:20] Experimental art that always involves letters.
[6:00] Being easily bored drives Ian’s work.
[7:00] Tom asks Ian why being easily bored is such a weakness for him.
[8:00] Don’t get lost in comparison.
[9:00] Feeling broken when you don’t have a style and compare yourself to others.
[10:00] Career growth is a slow progression.
[11:35] The power of understanding what you like and don’t like.
[12:30] We are more defined by what we are not than what we are.
[13:25] Ian talks about knowing how he works has helped him most.
[14:00] Find what you like, do it and market it.
[15:00] The more niche the more work from similar companies.
[16:00] The goal should be to take only the jobs that interest you.
[17:00] Maslow’s hierarchy of needs applies to all things, even design.
[18:00] Tom asks Lisa what her weakness is.
[19:00] Lisa loves to tinker and invent, and injects that into her work.
[20:00] Mastering workflow speed and helping customers is Lisa’s superpower.
[21:00] Work ethic and the love of tinkering helps Lisa stay focused.
[23:10] Distractions are what prompted Lisa’s Creator Products.
[24:00] Lisa geeks out over her own workflow efficiency.
[25:00] Ian’s loses enthusiasm quickly so short projects work best for him.
[26:00] Ian has realized that he needs a deadline.
[27:20] Tom relates to Ian’s need of a deadline.
[28:30] The pattern repeated during the early days of Design Cuts.
[29:30] Tom shares his real weakness.
[30:00] Being a People Pleaser can be draining, but it also has strengths.
[31:00] Early let downs are Tom’s business drivers today.
[32:00] Dustin talks about his weakness.
[33:00] Trusting others is hard for Dustin.
[34:00] Anxious over his business, Dustin finds it hard to let go.
[35:00] Worrying about people taking advantage of you is exhausting.
[36:00] Tom talks about how Dustin pushes back.
[37:20] Tom finds Dustin relatable.
[38:00] Tom’s early life has helped him be more aware of others’ intentions.
[39:00] Growing up thinking the world is a scary place.
[41:30] Embrace your weaknesses and find the strength in them.
[42:00] Learn to work with yourself.
[43:00] And that’s a wrap!
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“A must for every creative freelancer (or those aspiring to freelance). Thank you for being so… honest! Such a wealth of information from people I admire who have ‘been there and done that’. Listening to the podcast every week feels like I’m among friends. Can’t wait for more episodes!” – AG_GD
As always thank you all for putting yourselves out there in such an honest and quite frankly awesome way. I completely appreciate it. I just wanted to say that I think Dustin’s weakness (difficulty establishing trust) did get turned into a strength by evidence of the support and community he has built –at the very least with the other hosts of the show, and I’m sure elsewhere in his life. By taking a long time to build relationships both personal and professional, those that he ends up with are rock solid, dependable and worthy of his time and effort long term. Being untrusting may mean that are not as many opportunities as quickly, but the flip side is the relationships that do get nurtured yield long term, quality and worthwhile connections which are ultimately the kind of professional community and client work I would argue all of us truly desire. And I believe this also echoes Tom’s tenant of fewer quality relationships, over many superficial ones. It all comes full circle.
And thank you one more time for the show! You all are MY therapy!
Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a lovely comment Anne and it really means so much to us to hear that you find our podcast is your own kind of therapy! We’re so thrilled that you enjoy our episodes and hope that you pick up some handy tips and nuggets of wisdom from our lovely hosts :).