I often feel drained by the work, company culture and low pay. To remedy, I have been actively applying to jobs, networking and taking professional development classes to find a better alternative.
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Asking Not Asking #34: Into the Unknown
Over the course of writing the past 33 columns, one of the most prevalent, recurring themes has been the question of how we deal with the unknown. Ambiguity, uncertainty, surprise, and the unexpected dot our careers as creatives, sometimes momentarily and sometimes for seasons.
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Asking Not Asking #33: All or Nothing
Over the past year, art has been calling out to me again in a way I can’t ignore. Her pleas have been getting stronger, more urgent—and more disappointed in my lack of resolve to commit more time to her—time I simply don’t have right now.
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Asking Not Asking #32: Questioning Next Steps
“I think freelance life has shifted my focus from doing what I love to worrying too much about money and business. That makes me feel like something is not working. I want to be excited about what I do again.”
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Asking Not Asking #31: Ready for Creative Expansion
As I work on my plan for the next five years I'm craving an expansion while holding onto my mastery. How do I expand to take on a bigger creative role, while keeping the market's trust in what I do very well?
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You’re Invited: A Virtual Huddle on “Beginnings” Hosted by Coach Tina Essmaker
Where do you go for meaningful conversations with fellow creatives? Work? Community events? Your coworking space? Now there’s a new place to meet—announcing WNW Virtual Huddles, a monthly online conversation with creatives led by me, Coach Tina Essmaker.
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Asking Not Asking #29: Rethinking It All
Taking time off made me realize how fast-paced my work and life was. I might want something different. How do I decide without uprooting my entire life?
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Asking Not Asking #28: Burned Out on Social Media
Is it necessary to post on social media daily? Will we lose work if we’re not sharing like everyone else? How can I get rid of my anxiety and have a more reasonable approach to all of this?
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Asking Not Asking #27: Looking to Leap
It is a wonderful stable job with good benefits so the thought of leaving something so steady is scary. But my dream is to do something focused more on spirituality/new age modalities and/or personal development…
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Asking Not Asking #26: Trying to Break the Cycle
When I think of working on my side project, I get overwhelmed then think about how little energy I have then feel guilty and the cycle happens over and over…What can I try to get inspired enough to make my idea real and get closer to doing the work I really want to do?
Read MoreAsking Not Asking #25: Aiming to Avoid Regret
I have a good-paying job as a designer at a small, but growing startup, yet I’ve always had the dream to pursue a more independent path as an illustrator...I’ve thought about taking the next step, but I don’t know if it’s foolish when I make a good living that allows me to be independent and save. Is this a silly pipe dream?
Read MoreAsking Not Asking #24: In Search of Patience
I graduated top of my class and it’s humbling to be a small fish in a big pond again. I know I’ll get better in time, but I’m struggling to be patient with myself and my career. How long does it take to get really good at something? To be recognized? To have better opportunities?
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Asking Not Asking #23: King of None
“My biggest challenge is not being able to quantify and expose my strengths. Jack of all trades... King of none.”
Read MoreAsking Not Asking #22: Jack of All Trades
“I guess the underlying dilemma is that I’m not sure how to maintain the idea of myself as a kind of ‘jack of all trades’ or to make some kind of active choice and promote myself as a product/niche service.”
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Asking Not Asking #21: To Keep Going or Not
“I decided to give freelance a go after the contract ended and I assumed work would just come in. But the truth is, it hasn’t. Every month I tell myself this is it. If I don’t get more work, I’ll start applying to companies and take a break from freelancing. But I don’t want to do that. I want to keep working for myself and really build something I love.”
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Asking Not Asking #20: Coworker Drama
“It seems like this person doesn’t like me and is maybe even trying to sabotage me. They haven’t done anything outright blatant, but I sense their resistance to my ideas when I bring them up in team meetings…I’ve enjoyed my job up until now, but the conflict with this coworker looms over me when I go to work every day and I wonder how I can resolve it.”
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Asking Not Asking #19: I Don’t Hate My Job
“Here’s the thing: I don’t hate my job. I don’t necessarily love it, either. It’s interesting and fast-paced and I like working with a team. I also like the consistent salary and the security that comes with it...But sometimes I get the urge to quit and start over. I get antsy and want to leave. Then I think about it and wonder why. Will I regret not trying something else?”
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Asking Not Asking #18: Freelance Life is Like A Drug
“Freelance life is like a drug. The just not knowing what might be possible around the corner can be addictive and exciting. But it can also be hard to know just when the time is to move on. To know when it’s over. You just don’t know. There’s always a maybe/possibly hanging around out there. It makes it hard to commit to something else, something more solid, something more stable.”
Read MoreAsking Not Asking #17: The Girl Who Got Lost in the Fire
“I’ve tried side projects, going on art-dates with myself, taking self-care days. I’ve tried making up small projects just for me, but I can’t seem to find the motivation or passion to do it. I feel trapped in this illusion of freelance because I constantly feel I can do it better, do more, do things differently, but every time I have some time off, I feel paralyzed and tired.”
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