Embracing the Marathon
Creative Block → 010
Creative Block is a weekly newsletter that gives you a glimpse into my life, creativity, design, and music. It's like a little pick-me-up that you get delivered straight to your inbox each week.
Hey there, Creative Block community! Today, I want to share a personal story about my design career and the valuable lesson I learned along the way.
In the year 2020, my design career soared to new heights. I landed remarkable projects with industry giants like Apple, Footlocker, Twitter, and Adobe. These were huge campaigns with prestigious companies and generous budgets. As the year drew to a close, I had a conversation with my agent, Vanessa, in which I reflected on the incredible run I had experienced. I said, "Wow, this has been an amazing journey. I'm not sure if this level of success will continue next year, but I'm grateful for the ride." Vanessa responded with profound wisdom, "Temi, it's a marathon, not a sprint." At the time, her words didn't fully sink in, but now, they resonate deeply with me.
You see, my creative journey began back in 2011 when I made the bold decision to switch my major from Biomedical Engineering to Digital Media. The successes I experienced in 2020 were not overnight achievements; they were the culmination of years of developing my unique style and honing my craft. It took nine long years for those major brands to take notice and give me a chance—nine years of dedication, perseverance, and growth. When I had the opportunity to connect with my clients, I inquired about how they discovered my work, and some shared that they had been following my progress for years.
Marathons demand preparation, sacrifice, practice, and discipline. They require us to keep going, even when nobody is watching. The beauty of a marathon lies in the appreciation we develop for the race itself because we understand that every participant had to start somewhere.
Fast forward to 2023, and my agent still reminds me of the marathon mindset. As a freelancer in the creative industry, work often ebbs and flows. Some months may be slower than others, and I'm learning to embrace this as part of the natural rhythm. It's all part of the marathon. If I were hired for new gigs every week, I doubt I would truly appreciate the value of my work or take the time to celebrate my accomplishments. The slower months have become opportunities for reflection, rejuvenation, realignment, and the creation of personal projects. They serve as reminders that this creative journey is a long one, and it's far more rewarding to maintain my own pace rather than sprinting and risking exhaustion or burnout.
So, my fellow creatives, let's embrace the marathon mindset together. Let's appreciate the journey, acknowledge the progress we've made, and find joy in every step we take towards our artistic goals. Remember, it's not about short-term success but about nurturing our long-term growth and finding fulfillment in the creative process.
Stay inspired and keep running your own amazing race!
Weekly Column of Inspiration 🧶
📔 Resource:
👁 See:
I made a reel to show how I made my latest poster. View below
🎧 Hear:
Dropping my first CREATIVE BLOCK* Playlist next week stay tuned :)
The energy behind this writing is absolutely beautiful. I completely agree with everything you’ve said here and it felt really lovely to read it coming from someone else. Thank you 😊
A great reminder! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.