Tag Archive for: Productivity

When In Doubt Create More

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Designers create more

By fiifi DZANSI

Being creative is tricky. The path to navigate can be deceptive. Although the creative endeavour originated since the human beginning, it’s always been unconventional – moving across the grain. 

This unwinding path is set out this way:

Start by working for free (to gain recognition)

Become a starving artist

  • Suffer shame, humiliation and doubt
  • Work tirelessly, day and night
  • Work some more
  • Finally, succeed (if you’re fortunate)

Being a doctor is different. It comes with a fat paycheck, respect and pride. Nobody will tell you how nice your work is only to be saying in their mind, “Oh no, he’s throwing his life away.”

At times in your career as a creative, you may feel useless and worthless.

Anytime you feel this way, just go on and create more.

For Our Selfish Gains

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Woman holding a protest message on card

By fiifi DZANSI

We solely fight when it benefits us.

People are protesting all over the world. They’re either fed up with exploitative policies, poverty, or unemployment.

Teachers go on strike to force the government to raise their salaries. When the pressure piles up, the government may cave in. But they don’t go on strike because the schools they teach in lack internet access, sports facilities or locker rooms.

All they want is a little more money.

It’s the same with the highly-rated professionals in Ghana – doctors.

Frequents shortages of beds, unavailability of ambulances, poor sanitation at health facilities are among some of the common problems facing the health system in Ghana.

Like teachers, doctors don’t protest to bring about change in these areas.

They want a little more money.

When people are paid well enough, their work environment doesn’t matter to them anymore. The quality of services they render is no longer their primary concern.

As long as they can go on vacation, buy desired vehicles and build houses, life is just fine.

Early Adopter – First Come, First Served

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First come first served - an early adopter

By fiifi DZANSI

An early adopter gets to see the light first. We live in a first-come, first-served society.

My grandparents were able to build in Accra all because they were among the early settlers.

In those days, the land was cheap and easy to acquire. Accra was vastly bushland.

For my generation, unless you’re one of the rich kids in the country, you can’t obtain land in the principal suburbs of the city.

People who joined social media in the early days of its inception, and were consistent, now have massive followers who believe in their brands.

Now, unless you’re a famous figure, it’s arduous to get such quality followers. It takes time. It may take years.

Mtn was the first to start mobile money services in Ghana. They’ve since become number one in the mobile money business. They may have done some things right. One of their strong points is that they started first.

Be on the lookout for new tech. Jump on immediately you spot a window of opportunity.

Being an early adopter of a product or starting something first may be scary. It’s a game that could be lost. However, when you succeed, the rewards lead to glory.

Postcard From The Countryside – Your Readiness Is Evident

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A bunch of plantain is ready enough

By fiifi DZANSI

We dedicate enough of our resources, including time to getting prepared.

Schooling, reading, practising, apprenticeship, and sharing our creations to receive feedback are all part of the process.

It takes patience and many failings along the way.

A lot of all these happen out of sight of people.

Eventually, when we’re ready, it becomes evident.

Nobody can deny us our time to also shine.

Postcard From the Countryside – No Pain No Gain

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McDonald's teddy becomes pincushion - no pain no gain

Penzi (renamed) is a McDonald’s keyholder teddy that doubles up as a pincushion in the Naytches fashion studio.

Every day, he’s stabbed with all those pins. He takes it to make sure none gets missing or finds its way on the floor to hurt someone.

Every day, though, that smile, written in permanent ink, resides on his face.

There’s a pain in the process, but the end results in gain that brings pleasure.

Share Your Knowledge – Show Me What You’re Working On

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Moutasem Algharati quote on sharing knowledge

By fiifi DZANSI

Share your knowledge with the world.

In this part of the world, we don’t feel comfortable sharing our work. It may be due to fear of not being good enough or fear of others copying our work.

Businesses here mainly keep a lid on what they do and how they do it.

There’re advantages to sharing.

One. When you share, you inspire others. Many are just starting out, and they want to see how others are doing it. 

Two. Sharing your work and process helps you to document your craft. In the future, you’ll be able to see your advancement.

Also, you can get feedback from your community and improve on yourself.

Don’t take feedback personally, whether positive or negative. 

You’re not your work. What you create is just a product. Even when people attack you personally, note that they know nothing about you. Let them say all they want. If you can’t take it, block them.

Three. Sharing draws prospective clients to you or makes you visible to future employers.

Keep on creating every day. 

Share your knowledge.

Tame Your Ideas

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A woman juggling ideas

By fiifi DZANSI

Creatives never run out of ideas. Ideas rain down on them all the time. While in the shower, walking the dog or even in their sleep. 

A friend keeps a pad and pen under his pillow just in case he wakes up with something fabulous.

This is why creatives in various fields are very observant. They look at things around them differently. It’s the concepts that come to them that fuel their business.

THE PROBLEM WITH MYRIADS OF IDEAS

On the other hand, copious ideas can sap all your energy or tip your focus if you don’t learn to manage them.

For instance, you have this fresh design you’re working on and all of a sudden, another concept that looks more promising pops up. 

You abandon what you’re working on and concentrate on this new path. Then again, another one that looks bigger comes thumping at your door.

So you’re always starting a new project every now and again but not finishing anything.

One of the causes of the demise of the design studio we founded many years ago was our inability to manage ideas. 

We found so many opportunities we could cash in on. However, we failed to complete all the numerous self-initiated projects we started.

After speaking with other creatives in the city, I realised it was a common problem plaguing many.

MANAGE YOUR IDEAS

Over the years, I’ve learned to put my ideas on a leash.

Get an idea book. 

Write down anything new in this book. And continue with whatever project you’re working on.

When you start something, finish it before you begin a new one.