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Find Comfort in Discomfort The other day I was listening to the Joe Rogan podcast and he had Jamie Foxx on as a guest. I’ve always been a fan of Jamie because well…it’s Jamie Foxx. What can’t that dude do? However, what really blew me away was when he shared how he got into music. He used to throw these huge parties for people like P Diddy which led him to linking up with rising artists like Jay-Z and The Neptunes. This then led to him building a studio in the back of his house and artists had to perform any time they were new and visiting. One day some kid with a backpack on came in and killed his session. He then proceeded to tell Jamie he had the perfect song for him to sing on. This surprised Jamie because he never saw himself in that light before. This kid was Kanye West and the song was Slow Jamz in 2004. Jamie thought the song was a bust, but 6–8 weeks later it was the #1 song in the country. Following this song, Jamie blew up in the rap and R&B scene. He goes on record stating, “When your opportunity comes, if you prepare for it, now you can jump into it and grab it.” Jamie was unknowingly preparing himself for that opportunity with Kanye by: throwing parties for rappers immersing himself in music building his own studio doing comedy and acting It’s so simple, prepare for your opportunities, but I feel many opportunities_ don’t_ come without getting out of your comfort zone. Do Shit That Scares You I used to be the type of person who played it safe and refused to get uncomfortable. I’ve found over the past 3–4 year, doing things that scared the shit out of me usually led to life changing opportunities. When I got those opportunities, I prepared my ass off so I could deliver. How Jamie Foxx got into music reminds me how I got into public speaking. A few years ago I wanted to share ideas and encouragement but I never saw myself as a writer. Yet, I got uncomfortable and started blogging not knowing what would come of it. About a year into weekly blogging, my good friend Diane Gibbs offered me my first speaking gig because I mentioned on a phone call months earlier that I wanted to try it someday. To be 100% honest, when she asked me, every bone in my body wanted to tell her no because I was terrified. This wasn’t your typical group of 15–20 people like back in school speech class. This was a Keynote at a conference of about 100–150 people in a state where I’ve never been before. However, I wanted to be a speaker and that’s exactly what I became. I prepared my ass off and crushed that opportunity which changed my life. It has since led me to speak at conferences like Creative South, Crop and WMC Fest. Little did I know that writing and sharing ideas through blogging was leading me to the next stage of my life in speaking. Wild enough this brought me to podcasting. All of these things that made me uncomfortable radically changed who I was as a person and the creative path I’ve been chasing. Feeling Alive & Crushing It Looking back on life, playing it safe never made me worthwhile. I felt invisible instead of feeling alive. I think this is how a thrill seeker functions, they need to constantly be doing something insane like sky diving to feel alive. Well finding comfort in discomfort lets me feel alive and evolve to the version of Scotty I'm supposed to become.. Getting uncomfortable has opened the flood gates of opportunity for Perspective-Collective, but it’s up to me to be prepared for those moments so I can crush them. When I get those “Hell Yes” opportunities I mentioned back in Episode 38, I pretend like they will never come again and that this is my one shot. It's taught me to_ never_ half ass anything and to pour all my soul and energy into nailing that shot. Even if things don’t turn out the way you expect it, you can be proud that you: put yourself in a position to get this opportunity invested your best effort I’m Going To vs. I Want To As you finish out this week, I want to challenge you to try something I learned from writer / influencer Jon Acuff: when you find yourself saying “I want to,” swap it for “I’m going to” instead. You want to start drawing, blogging, photography or writing but it makes you feel uncomfortable? Change your thinking to I’m going to start drawing, blogging, photography or writing because it makes me feel uncomfortable. Your mindset slowly begins to change with a simple swap of words. Following the discomfort nudges you toward the creative you're supposed to become. Challenging your fears present and prepare you for the opportunities that can change your life. Find comfort in discomfort and prepare for your opportunities. Key Takeaways Many opportunities don’t come without getting out of your comfort zone. When you get those opportunities, prepare your ass off so you can deliver. Following the discomfort nudges you toward the creative you're supposed to become. Never half ass anything Challenging your fears present and prepare you for the opportunities that can change your life. Shownotes Jamie Foxx on Joe Rogan Podcast Kanye West - Slow Jamz Creative South Speech Crop Conference WMC Fest Blookah Music
Aired on August 23, 2017 Episode 224 This week is a Rapid Recharge and we are recapping WMC Fest 8. You will get to hear the talk I gave and understand why I think designers are beavers. I was blessed to have friends in the first two rows who whooped it up for me and laughed at all my jokes. The people at Weapons of Mass Creation (WMC Fest) were incredible. Cleveland was a terrific city and I got to hang out with new and old friends. Find more great episodes at www.rechargingyou.com Connect on Instagram & Twitter: @designrecharge Or email me at diane [at] rechargingyou.com Become a part of the Design Recharge Family and get access to the interviews each week. Sign up at http://www.rechargingyou.com
Jeff Finley was one of the most influential graphic artists in the country, a partner at Go Media, arguably one of the most elite design firms around. He created and was the main energy behind Weapons of Mass Creation Fest (WMC Fest), which became the blueprint for design conferences that have sprung up all across the country. He was on top of the world, or so it appeared from the outside looking in. Then one day, he stepped away from it all. Divorced, Resigned from Go Media, stepped away from WMC Fest, packed up all his things and hit the road on a journey of self exploration.
Bryan sits down with attendees, content contributors, and vendors to talk about WMC Fest 7 live from the Vendor Village.
Bryan sits down with attendees, content contributors, and vendors to talk about WMC Fest 7 live from the Vendor Village.
Bryan sits down with attendees, content contributors, and vendors to talk about WMC Fest 7 live from the Vendor Village. The post We Are Weapons 015 – Live From WMC7 appeared first on Go Media™ · Creativity at work!.
This week we learn more about hosts Cher and James by delving into their phone contacts. Ahead of WMC Fest next weekend, the pair also chat with co-organizer, Bryan Garvin about the festival and conference diversity.
This week I interview Heather Sakai and Bryan Garvin of Weapons of Mass Creation (WMC Fest) and Go Media. If you have been looking for a conference to recharge your batteries, think about joining about 1000 other creatives in Cleveland on August 5–7. This interview will dig into the conference and what is different this year and find out where to stay if you haven’t booked your room yet. Hear about the line-up of speakers and workshops. WMC Fest has spurred many creatives for the past six years, find out how to snag a ticket and connect with an incredible community of creatives.
I'm extremely excited to share this week's interview with you! I had the chance to talk with Jacinda Walker, a design strategist in Columbus, OH. Jacinda is a tireless champion for diversity in all fields of the arts, especially design. We spoke about her graduate research on Black and Latino students, her unique take on diversity in the design community, and about our upcoming panel at WMC Fest 5! Jacinda's dedication to lifelong learning is truly inspiring. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and enjoy this great conversation! Jacinda Walker on Facebook Jacinda Walker on Quora Jacinda Walker on Twitter Diversity in Design