Why You Should Never Stop Chasing a Dream with Jay Nelson
It would be easy to look at a creative-based career as a game – one big long game, if so much weren’t at stake. Because honestly, it really is fun. It becomes work when you lose. Or have set-backs. Or experience the bruises of ego. You (presumably) need to make a living, and you likely have people who count on you so, in that respect, it is definitely not a game. But I do see my entire career as one big passion project with a horizon that I never actually reach because no matter how much time passes I never stop chasing a dream.
When I was younger I might have imagined a future point where I would be kicking back thinking “Man, I’ve made it. I’ve reached the horizon. I realised the dream.” But the truth is, this isn't supposed to happen when you remain passionate about what you’re doing and pursuing. There have been times in my career where my passion waned or I’ve become momentarily disillusioned or heartbroken, but I’ve never lost that spark or interest for things that create a personal, artistic renaissance. I know that sounds ridiculous but the fact is I’ve always been driven by discovery. The desire to invent.
But what happens when fear of change takes over? Or, how and why should you embrace fear? AI and the ensuing social media frenzy bloom this year was one of the scariest things I’ve experienced in this business. The flames of it continue to be fanned by postings and news blips about all the jobs that are going to be replaced by AI over the next 10 years. Mine is one of them.
I remind myself: I’ve had many cycles of fear in my career for similar reasons – strikes, trends, lulls. When fear of change took over, I did the only thing I could do – gather our offices across the country together for a meeting to discuss AI in hope of finding ways to command it rather than surrender. I’ve seen this situation many times, where a tool has threatened those who wouldn’t conform or harness it. And that realisation was a game-changer. We formed a panel of people across the country to find ways to utilise AI to our advantage, reduce the tedious tasks, save money and increase our workflow. In doing so we helped find solutions to some of the challenges I’ve been seeking to overcome for 20 years. In the end we’re gonna be better for it as long as the industry at large doesn’t overlook our most precious commodity and resource: human beings.
I’ve actually gotten hungrier with age. The more I do this, the more I want to bring ideas to life–the more I see things I want to be a part of. The more I desire for challenges. I have become less complacent. My climb was a long and slow one. It wasn’t always up either. I enjoy helping people avoid the mistakes I made, seeing light bulbs go off when sharing knowledge that stays with someone forever. I didn’t really have a lot of teachers when I was on the rise and the ones I did have I am grateful for. So now, it is my turn. And part of that is to say: face the fear.
My experience has shown me that there are no guarantees. Just because you’re talented doesn’t mean you’ll be successful. And once you are successful doesn’t mean you’ll remain that way. A reel is only solid for so long. It takes a lot of polish and care to nurture a career or a company. It’s a constant process of invention. Of self care. Of maintenance. And of nurturing those around us. And that’s where holding fast to passion comes in.
Passion projects bring the promise of doing something new or facing a new challenge or reaching a new level. Passion projects are the enemy of complacency. They are a constant reminder that I still love what I do and I’m still searching or striving for that horizon. How you define what a passion project is up to you. It can be a project that takes you out of your comfort zone, teaches you to face down fear, and helps you to see the horizon line and understand that’s only as far as you can see.
