Look straight ahead. Do not look to the left or right, and most importantly, leave the past behind.
Look straight ahead. Do not look to the left or right, and most importantly, leave the past behind.
A short creative inspiration and prompt
Your Creative Letter is a weekly source of inspiration, creative insights, and thoughtful reflections on creativity, the creative role, building a creative business, life and more. I appreciate each one of my readers. Thank you for being here! If you enjoy this letter, show some → 💖 put a heart on it. You can support my writing by subscribing or upgrading to access exclusive content. Find out more ways to share the love here.
👋 Hello, creative! I hope you are doing well.
As for me, I am recovering from a tough cold and as I reflect on my current journey and path, I feel guided to talk about focus. Many things can challenge your focus, and in those moments when I feel like I am in a fog and doubt my future steps, I can freeze and fall into an unhealthy cycle. Hopefully, my underlying gear will rise again, and I remember the plan, vision, and freedom opportunities lying ahead.
Look straight ahead. Do not look to the left or right, and most importantly, leave the past behind.
These words relate to the creative field, the creative endeavor, and the creative choice against all odds. How audacious yet normal is it to work towards leveraging your creative superpowers for business, right?
With the industry shifts, I have been questioning the future of what I do, and I have come to the conclusion that whatever happens in the future, what I have learned from entrepreneurship is a lifetime practice. I have failed many times and risen again; the mindset and proactiveness I learned from testing and trying have become a muscle to think intentionally.
Many of my current projects are geared towards thoughtful and strategic thinking. What matters the most for me today is to use all I have and shoot a new arrow that will ring the bell. That is why I decided to create a new section in the letter where we will work towards leveraging our creative skills with a business mindset. I will share more details about this new section next week. So, if you are not already a paying supporter and are interested in learning more about these strategies and tools, I invite you to join me on the other side.
Do not look right or left… We can be overwhelmed by what others do and how great they are! Despite being highly inspirational, the danger comes when we compare and look at our work with the eyes of judgment rather than constructive progress. The best thing any creative can do, especially today with the rising uncertainty in our field, is to focus on what you have. You can be inspired, but the moment that crawling feeling invades your confidence in your work and tries to derail that focus, no matter your level, take a stand and draw a clear line of “not today.”
Most importantly, leave the past behind… What you did before, as a body of work, is already behind you. We grow and improve every day, and our skills develop rapidly. When I look at my portfolio, I see a collection of ideas, but more importantly, it represents my ongoing dedication. Thanks to progress, I review my work with fresh eyes—keeping what should remain unchanged and altering what fits.
The most enlightening process is to begin with a blank canvas filled with unexpected ideas yet to be discovered. By shifting my focus, approach, deadlines, and understanding of the market, I bring a new dimension to my creations. It's always a positive step: starting fresh.
Look straight ahead… Whatever project you are focusing on today, give it your all and meet the deadline (your deadline). Every day, do one thing to make progress on that project and be accountable for your investment. The most rewarding aspect is not the end result, but how you held on and kept climbing, building momentum. I love the idea of one project birthing and supporting another without you being aware of it. So look straight ahead and focus on the plan—both short and long-term. Get that milestone!
✨ Stay focused on the plan
I have decided to reopen my masterclass, “Branding Framework for Creatives,” from my FieldTrips event. The masterclass is filled with valuable insights to help creatives understand the bigger picture of our unique abilities. There is so much to cover, and one hour is not enough, but I will share more in my upcoming book.
In the meantime, in the masterclass, I shared my journey that led me to investigate branding. Considering the rise of AI and other developments, I genuinely believe that crafting a brand that truly reflects who you are, including the highs and lows, is the best investment you can make in your future self. As I continue to reveal my brand, my ultimate goal is to connect with that One person who needs it today more than ever.
It is a year old, but it still works at activating those who need to ‘‘go do their thing’’. May it inspire your next move. Enjoy!
Your beliefs can influence both you and the people around you.
What you expect, you get.Vishen Lakhiani
I hope you liked this short Sunday vibe. I leave you with one of my favorite songs these days, some empowering sounds (all in French + Afro-pop).
Take good care,
Keva.
Well said, Keva. I'm not worried about people like us-- entrepreneurs--because we have already decided to face the unknown, and we've been able to make something out of nothing. We know we can do it again if we need to, even from scratch. The world is changing rapidly, but the tenacity and problem solving you develop when running your own venture will prepare us for these changes better than anything else could.
Thank you for the music recommendation too