On Confidence.
LS002. 15/11/2023 — Posted by Josh O’Neill
Imposter syndrome has always had its scrabbling claws in me.
I’ve long been waiting patiently for it to disappear, accompanied by an “aha! NOW I’m a grown-up” dramatic overnight mental shift, but I’m starting to think that is a myth we cling onto well beyond our Santa years.
I was lucky to be at the AGI Open Conference, held here recently in Auckland. It was your usual merry-go-round of astoundingly talented international design practitioners. When I was younger—in the foundational years of my career—I would be at that sort of event and look at these presenters as having a sort of aura. They do what I do, but with way more intelligence and skill. Maybe one day I can be like them.
Paul Boudens is goals
The creative industries are a funny one. Every project begins on some form of blank sheet, you often have no idea what the end result will look like, if it will be good, if it will be shit, if your mum will like it, if it will resonate with the audience and lead to category-busting engagement and success for your client’s business.
No wonder imposter syndrome runs rife.
But the thing that I’m figuring out, is that I am already like these acclaimed creatives. No one is immune to that blank sheet, no one out there is creating amazing work that is risk-free. Because amazing work needs to stand out, it needs to be unique and distinctive. To be amazing, it can’t be derivative.
And what separates ordinary work from the amazing is the willingness to take those creative risks. It comes from working with visionary people who push you and your ideas. No project is an island, after all.
At the conference, Astrid Stavro said to leap before you look, Irene Pereyeva told the room to break the rules. Taku Sato and Ahn San-Soo both talked about the importance of compassion in your work, and Stefan Sagmeister and Nikki Gonnissen showed how creativity can make the world a better place. Johnathan Castro Alejos even specifically touched on mental health, and the importance of being kind to your creative self.
No one talked about what trendy colour combinations they are using, or their favourite typeface that no one has heard of. But most touched on mindset, and their driving force.
They are successful because they believe in their work and themselves. They aren’t afraid of that blank sheet, instead they relish it as an opportunity to do something new, to try out a different approach. The creative ‘fear’ doesn’t freeze them in their tracks, it energises and empowers.
That’s what I’m trying to tap into. When the confidence ship starts sinking because of those imposter syndrome claws, I’ll be firing up the dual bilge pumps of self-belief and purpose, and keep it afloat.
And keep making cool things that back up that attitude.