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Are you currently in a space that is detrimental to your creativity? Are you maybe second-guessing yourself and as a result stuck in a stalemate?

I’ve noticed this over the years and it comes in many different forms.  By becoming more aware of myself and others creatives I have surrounded myself with, I have noticed traits that are commonly shared that have caused this problem. The main cause of this is usually because of unclear direction, though traits such as lack of passion and laziness can easily creep into the equation.

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Here are the six types of creatives that are stuck in creative purgatory:

The Deluded: They usually are quite confident people who think they’re making progress but are not producing any fruits from their ‘effort’. They believe what they are doing is either valuable or continue with this mind state regardless of the truth.

The Dreamer: This person is generally a creative person and has some good ideas! However, they are all talk, no action. They make excuses usually based on fear or procrastination.

The People Pleaser: This person has ideas, some of which could be really good. Although they are worried about what other people will think of them and as a result will not run with the idea to its full potential or even share their work/thinking with others. They also share attributes of The Dreamer as there is no evidence of work.

The Excuser: Now this person has clear potential and has gained a few wins for themselves through their career. However, they are not willing to take things to the next level and make excuses to prevent that from happening. They are generally happy being complacent.

The Wishful: This person is a free sprite. They may work on absolutely anything or focus on their output regardless of quality. They do so in hopes for the best (usually to get noticed), without a plan or considering the realism of reality e.g. how to generate leads or account for profit within their pricing

The Lost: Has beard fruit and is often assumed by others that they are doing well. There is no denying this individual has a clear sense of hunger, but is generally not sure which path to follow. Also confident and sure of their ability, they can suffer from ‘shiny object syndrome’ making it difficult to stick to one thing. This individual is not realising they are at the beginning of their journey.

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This can come across as a harsh truth, but it was a truth that I had to allow accept when I wanted to advance my career as a creative, I didn't want to waste my potential and I don't want other creatives to do so either.

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The creative journey will always have its challenges, though let's not forget that we are problem-solvers, and there is real value in what we do. I honestly believe that if you believe in yourself, practice your craft, ask questions and surround yourself with creatives at all levels, you won't ever feel like any of these.

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It's time to put the real work in.

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Connect with me, I'm always happy to hear from fellow Creatives and those that just want to reach out!

Instagram: @jce.design