She was my first boss.
I was in college and a friend told me that her mom was looking for an artist to illustrate a few materials. That’s how it started. Her office became my home away from home. These were the lessons I learned when I worked for her for 3 years:
- Just because you are an artist doesn’t mean you should have an “attitude”. A lot of people blame mood swings, slacking, passing substandard work and dressing up like you haven’t taken a bath for ages, just because a person is an “artist”. You are a person, look like one, act like one. This is how I learned to develop a work ethic. While I know creativity can’t be forced, you can always find a way to create things. Also being an artist doesn’t mean I have to dress up like one – that’s why I never did dress up or act like one. I had to look professional, whatever the reason. 🙂
- Hone your craft, follow your dreams and the money will come. This was the most difficult lesson of all. Even as I honed my craft, the money came slowly. I tried to be good at everything I could think of doing in the hopes that I’d “earn a lot”. Â I realized later on that the way I think also influenced this. If I wanted to “earn like an executive” I had to be one, that is, start managing people.
- Don’t under value yourself. If feel you’re not worth much, it will show and people will treat you accordingly. Yes, another lesson I keep trying to remind myself.
