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Foreign.
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You're listening to the Angry Designer podcast, where we help frustrated graphic designers crush the industry. Bull. And share what it takes to charge what you're worth and build badass, rewarding careers. Sean.
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Massimo.
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So this feels a little weird because we don't have bourbon with us. I did have some bourbon last night, though, which felt really good.
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Do you remember that one stupid dry January we did?
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Oh, my God. What? That lasted with two weeks.
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We drank three while we were doing that. Oh, that's What. Yeah. Yeah, that was. That was. Yeah. We don't normally do this.
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Stands under the circumstance, though, because we're not in our normal place. This is cool. This is kind of cool.
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Yeah.
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We are here live.
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Yes.
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At Creative South.
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Yeah.
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Good old Big Mike has invited us back for a second year. Which is. Which. Which feels so. Right. Yes. The vibe here. And I'm not saying this is the. The. The only show, of course, out there, but just for anybody who hasn't experienced this, like, this place is just the people, the family, the community. Right. It's just, you know, and. And we're here in this. In this creative hall, so we're, like, hanging out with artists. I mean, we even have Alan Peters right behind Sean. I don't know if anybody can see. Look. Can you see that? Like, look at it. Look at that guy. Look at that guy. And I mean, hanging out with him. I know. It's just cool.
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Yeah, it's very cool. Yes. It is a trip, and it's good to be back. The vibe is still the same.
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It is still the same.
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Still got a nice.
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Awesome.
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A nice community kind of vibe.
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And, you know, and again, prior to this, I mean, I've done some conferences. Right. Okay. So I like trade shows in general.
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Y.
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Overall. Right. And. And it's just, you know, for me, personally, as a designer, I find inspiration everywhere. Right. And I think everybody's heard me, you know, go on about this. I will go to the cottage and find inspiration. I will go to a confere. But, you know, like trade shows, conferences like this, it's just this, Right?
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Yeah.
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Right. It's. It's so overwhelming. And then to top it off, they have fantastic speakers.
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Yeah.
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So. And then for a lot of people, there's workshops. Right. So this is part of that whole experience of going to a conference and why people go. Right. To get re. Energized.
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Yeah.
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Right.
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We. We.
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We talk about this. Even if, you know, to prevent burnout or if you're feeling sluggish, you. You attend these places because there's so much to get with these, right?
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Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And. And the conversations that you have, you could tell the. The designers that we talked to, they're completely jacked about this too, Right?
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Absolutely.
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The couple that we talked to earlier this morning about the. You know, we're talking about PowerPoint and how awesome PowerPoint was, and I was just like.
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And I learned about motion design. Right. And I found out about her inspiration, her story. There's so many parts of this that, I mean, I know I get experience from and, you know. Or, sorry. Inspiration.
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Inspiration. Yeah. Inspires you, and everybody does.
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I mean, it's just from the artwork, so that's the benefit of coming to these things. Okay. But there's a downside, you know. Well, well, no, no, no. And hear me out here.
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I know you're saying.
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What I'm saying is, is, you know, when you're here, the energy's high, right. And that's good. It's. It's a good, natural high. And you. You're like, I am totally, you know, going to take advantage of this. And, yes, I learned this from a workshop. Yes, I learned that. But what happens is that high oftentimes is temporary.
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Yes.
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And that's what sucks. Okay. People are. And, I mean, it's nobody's fault. Right. But what happens is, you know, you. You're here.
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Yeah.
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You're learning, you're meeting. You're like, I love that style. I want to use that style. My own work. I love what I learned in this workshop. I want to, you know, learn this. I want to apply this. You know, you talk to people, and you're like, that was the most amazing piece of advice I ever have. I want to implement. So, you know, you're driving home, you're fl. Flying home. You're just flying.
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Yeah.
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Then you get home.
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Yep.
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And the sad reality is, you know, life kicks back in. Okay. All of a sudden, you know, you're going from this creative energy, high creative, you know, environment, and then you basically crash.
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Yeah.
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Okay. And nobody's fault, but, I mean, you do crash after conferences. What happens is you have so much fun, you. You neglect your inboxes, and after two or three or four days, you got a mile of inboxes. And, I mean, you know, oftentimes when you take time off, it's only going to come back to twice as much work.
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Yeah.
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Amount of time.
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Yeah, exactly.
B
Right. You know, so that's normal. Right. And then. And then you're. What happens. And this is. This is the sad part about it. Is, you know, you're at these shows, you're learning all this stuff. You come home, you're inundated with everything else that spills out to your second week, to your third week, and you're like, okay, I'll get to it later. I'll get to it later. And you keep pushing this stuff into the future.
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Yes.
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And ultimately you drop. Your high's gone.
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Yeah.
B
Right. You come down, and oftentimes you can't get back into it.
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Yeah, that sucks. Yeah, that does kind of suck because that, yeah. Because you see, there's, there's a lot of creativity here.
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Yeah.
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And then when you get, you know, you know, you get home, you want to implement that. And, you know, a lot of times what you're working on doesn't necessarily, you know, jibe with what you're doing. So you put a do personal project or something like that. You, like you said your inbox is starting to feel, I got to do the real stuff.
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And whether it's a trade show or a conference like this, or just a summer vacation. Right. You know, you need to, you know, capture.
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Yeah.
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All this. Right. And so, you know, I, I, what I did is, you know, while we're all, like, going through this, and I, I started going through my process.
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Okay. Of.
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Of what I do after these shows. Okay. And I try to stick to it. Right. And so, so I'm just going to give everybody, like, 5. 5. What to do after the shows. Oh, okay. Like something super. And again, we're not talking anything crazy here, and I'm sure there's other, better ways to capture the experience. Okay. But generally, what I try to do, right. Is. Is number one, right immediately after the show, sometimes on the plane ride back, you know, sometimes on, you know, like the first night back before I start getting back into work. Okay. What I do is I start writing down, and I actually write down all the things I learned that I want to implement. Not the details. Not the details, but just so I remember, Right. Oh, I did a workshop, LinkedIn design. And, you know, they said, do this about illustration. So I write that down. Right. Hey, I talked to, you know, this person about motion design. I want to check this out. Right. I learned, and you know, this about business practices. And I just write down the notes at a high level that at least if I read them, yeah. I can recall what that experience was. Okay. What that thing to implement. Okay. So that's the first thing I do. Okay. And again, this is key because you'd be surprised at how fast you can forget things.
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I was just going to say. Yeah, because it's hot. It's top of mind. Right, Exactly. So you want to make sure you write it down.
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You want to strike while it's hot.
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Exactly, yeah. Because, you know, four days in, you know, back to your normal life, you're going to forget all that stuff. Absolutely. Something I was supposed to do, I learned. Absolutely.
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Right. So, and then, and then the next step I take, which is still all encompassing of this though, is right? Is I try to lock in one idea, okay. And I, and I start that even amidst all my emails. Okay. And that's the one thing I try to do, you know, because I got, now I got my list right. And I try to just hone in and lock one thing in between the first one to three days.
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The shameless plug from our neighbor, if.
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You guys are listening online.
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Yes.
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All in. Peterson showed his book over top of Sean's shoulder.
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Oh, that's awesome. Yes. Buy that book. It's really good. Yeah, it's a really good book, actually. It's a really good book.
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So that in that first one or three days, right. I lock in, try to lock in one idea, Right. I don't try to do my whole list because then it won't happen. I'll get burnt out, I'll get frustrated. I just focus in on that one idea and that's key. Right. So the first thing I do is get my ideas and lock in on one of those ideas. But I have my list.
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Yeah.
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I'm reviewing my list. So I don't forget. Right. My list. Okay, good. Then the second thing I do, right. And it's a big part of this event especially, right. Is I try to reconnect that first week with at least three people that I met. Okay. Whether they're vendors here that we could use, whether it's just other social media, you know, creators, whether it's just people, you know, saying thanks on social. I try to start that conversation because the community part here is, is, in my opinion is, is, is the most important aspect of creative sales. But you know, I, I, I can't say that it's going to be the same for all conferences, Right. Especially if I like do a car show or something like that where I get inspiration. But, you know, those connections are key.
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Yeah.
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Right. And I think, you know, you want to keep that conversation going.
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Yes.
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We had some fantastic conversations last night.
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Yeah.
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Right. And it's, it would be great to continue those conversations. So it's like, you know, don't, don't be scared to reach back out and be like, hey, I really enjoyed that conversation. We should keep it going. Let's get. You know, what about this? What about that? And what happens is you start holding each other accountable for even some conversation that happened about trying something new in business. You know what? Trying something new for yourself. Right. But again, it's. It's. These are the conversations. This is, in my opinion, is probably the most valuable part about events like this. Right. Is keeping that. That going because you're here and you're seeing stuff. Right. And you're picking up shirts and you're picking up new techniques. Right. But relationships, they are an equal asset. Okay. To your business.
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Yes.
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Okay. And I know people don't want to think that way, but it's true.
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Yeah.
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You start growing your network through events like this, and there's no shame in that. Okay. I don't think anybody would be like, oh, you know, I met him at an event and now they're asking for my help. That's the whole point of this community, which is why it's beautiful. Right?
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Exactly. Yeah.
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Yeah, Right.
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Absolutely perfect.
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The ROI from these events aren't just what you learned.
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Yeah.
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But it is also who you met, and not even just from a business perspective.
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Yeah.
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Right.
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We met.
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We made friends last year, and seeing them here this year, it's fantastic. Keeping in touch with them over the years, it's fantastic. We met one of our angry designers who ended up just showed me all of his, like, crazy ass artwork.
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Yeah.
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I need some of that.
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Yeah.
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On my wall. So you know who I'm connecting with afterwards. So. So definitely, you know, you want to. You know, the second thing you want to do is, is you want to reconnect that first week back with at least three people. Give yourself that time. Okay? So these are really small, manageable things to do on your first week back when you've got a mile of work shit to do.
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Okay.
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Yeah. Now, another thing I do, okay. And this is very important, and this kind of goes back. If anybody, you know, has heard our recent episode on Hara Shibu, okay, you got this 80, 20% rule, right? I try within the first five days, okay. I work my ass off to get caught up those first four days. And on that fifth day, okay. On that last 20%, I give myself a creator day, a meeting.
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Yeah.
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Okay. So again, this is important for everybody to do in general, and we recommend this, right?
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Yeah.
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Make sure you give yourself 20% of your time for you personal development, you know? Well, that also applies to putting, implementing this shift.
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Right, right.
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Exactly right. So you book that day. Okay. And literally you book it. You decide that, you know, if you're going to check emails, make sure it's at the end of the day, make sure you do it the night before so you're free and clear. That day.
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Yeah.
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Book yourself that day. And then that's your chance to go deep into that one thing that you really wanted to do and again, review your whole list.
A
Yeah.
B
But that one while you're energized. Well, this way you're looking forward to it.
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Yeah.
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Okay. And there's nothing better than pent up creativity.
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Exactly.
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And you're like, oh, shit, I'm going to, I'm going to just nail that on Friday and I'm going to work my ass off.
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And not necessarily creativity, I mean, and that's very important. But you're right, there's a technical aspect that you can, you know, you pick up in a, in a workshop. And I think this, it's good to take some time to actually teach yourself, you know, something that you've seen from a content creator saying, I, you know, I really need to learn how to do that.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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So this is part of your 80, 20, 80.
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When you use that time, use, use that to jump on the items in your list.
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Right.
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Because again, now you've documented what you, what you've learned. Okay. You've, you've decided to tackle one of those things initially, but you keep reviewing everything else.
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Right.
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You do reach out to some of the people that may have affected this inspiration or just to keep the conversation going.
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Yeah.
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And then immediately when you're back, schedule that time for yourself. Okay. That's what, that's. You have to do that. Okay.
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Beautiful.
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And there's nothing wrong with this. Okay. This is a huge benefit for people because on. And then, you know, and then if you really want to, and I suck at this because I am not the world's best social person when it comes to social media. But you know, once you've done that, once you've created it, once you've owned that new task that you want to hit up, post it, put it out there, put it on your personal feed. Right. Look what I learned, you know, from creative. So look what I learned from conference B. Conference, like you actually. And even if it's just like Fan Expo, dude.
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Yeah.
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Okay. I love fan expo.
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Yes.
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And you know, I wish I could be as cool as those guys and post that stuff, you know, when we get back from fan expo.
A
Yeah.
B
But again, it is an equally inspiring place that I will go through this whole process. Right, Right. I. I will practice my drawing, but for my kids. Okay, Right. And while I might not post that stuff because it's. It's not there yet, the reality is, you know, by posting something, you're holding yourself accountable.
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Yes.
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Okay. So this is where you want to share with the world what you've learned. Right. And then this way, you're putting it out there, you're making it visible.
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Yeah.
B
So. So, so these are things that I always try to do when I get back from these events. Right. I go through the merch I bought, I go through the stickers. I remember the relationships, but it. Process that. That at least keeps me engaged after the event.
A
Yeah.
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Because I think what happens is, is people come to these events and literally they waste the ticket. Yeah, Right. And that's, that's that. I mean, you spent the time, you spent the money to get here. Right. You know, you. You took pictures, you made connections. You don't want that to die. Your Instagram real.
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Yeah.
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Right. And that would suck.
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Yeah, totally. Yeah. You want to make the best of a. Of this great situation kind of thing, right?
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Absolutely. I think people always think that, you know, the, the best creators are the most talented ones. Okay. But that's not necessarily the case. Right. We've learned from experience that the best creators are, you know, the designers that act faster. Okay. Get their out faster instead of overthinking.
A
Right.
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Everything.
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Right.
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How many times have you seen somebody and you're like, I'm better than them. Why are they so popular? The reality is they're getting their out there and they're. They're actually doing.
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They're doing it.
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Yeah, they're doing it where you're just kind of sitting back and kind of doing yourself and not sharing and letting life get in the way.
A
Exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can bet those people are doing the 80, 20 rule.
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Well, right? Yeah, absolutely.
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Yeah, yeah, exactly.
B
This is a huge part to this. It's really important for people to. To embrace. Yes, for sure.
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Absolutely.
B
And again, it is personal projects, personal growth. Right?
A
Yeah.
B
And that's what happens. Create creativity happens. Okay. Creative growth happens after an event like this, not during.
A
Yeah.
B
And I think that's what people think. Like, you come here and you're like, oh, I'm so fucking inspired. Creative south was amazing. And while the experience is amazing and the workshops and this and that, it's not growth, it's an experience.
A
Right.
B
You know, the growth happens after you Turn that into. Okay. Exactly. And I think that's what people forget, that the most important part of these events isn't necessarily what's happening at the event, but it's what you take away and apply. Apply.
A
Yeah.
B
After the event.
A
Right? Yeah, absolutely. Nice.
B
Yeah. Otherwise it's just like a big. You know, I don't ever want to say this. Something like, this is a waste.
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No.
B
Okay. Because there's other reasons, you know, personal fulfillment. Oh, he's a little buddy. Personal fulfillment is a big part of this. You know, like just, just, just a community aspect. Right. It's great. But, you know, when it comes to applying the inspiration. Okay. You have to act on that right away. Otherwise, you know, it's kind of a lost opportunity.
A
It's a great opportunity that you've just kind of squandered.
B
Yeah. Which is terrible.
A
You don't want to do that. Yeah.
B
So for the next couple days, we've got a lot of interviews coming.
A
Yes.
B
Right. Yeah, we, we've got, you know, Alan Peters, James Bernard. Yeah. You know, I think Big Mike wants to come back on and have a chat. You know, we've got a couple other Angry Designers that we've met. So I hope you guys tune in, you know, for Angry Designer live episodes, year two.
A
Yes.
B
Because I think we'll be adding another conference here after as well. So a lot more interviews coming up. But, you know, we've got some fantastic people coming and some great conversations. Chilled down to earth. Nothing too scripted.
A
Yep.
B
And we're just going to be having fun with this.
A
Yes. So we got one that is particular I'm really looking forward to. I'm not going to say. Okay, because we discussed this already.
B
Yes, yes, yes.
A
It's going, it's going to be really.
B
A lot of good ones.
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Really good. Yeah.
B
So rock on.
A
It's awesome.
B
All right, everybody. Well, this is going to be a nice short one.
A
Yeah.
B
But you know, if you attend these events, if you attend any event that you get inspiration from, whether it's your vacation, education, a conference, a trade show, you know, an anime north, you know, whatever in car shows, whatever gets you turned on. Okay. When inspiration strikes. Okay. Take advantage. Take advantage of that moment.
A
Yeah.
B
Write down those items that you've learned just quickly that you want a long term implement, act on one of them. Okay. Follow up with some of the conversations or the people that you've made in that network and then give yourself that day immediately after that week back. Okay. Give yourself that 1, 80, 20. Okay. That 20 is yours.
A
Okay. Yes.
B
And own that. Because again, you have to remember, growth happens after these events. Okay? After.
A
Absolutely. Nice.
B
All right.
A
I'm inspired, baby.
B
Yeah, that's good. What are you gonna do about it?
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Yeah, I'm gonna. I'm gonna. I'm not gonna foolishly squander.
B
I feel like a dad there. Such a bad uncle.
A
It's a teachable moment, and that's nothing. Nothing wrong with. Nothing wrong with all dad on that.
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All right, everybody. My name is Massimo.
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And my name is Sean.
B
Stay creative.
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Let's stay angry.
Podcast Summary: The Angry Designer - Episode: "Where Graphic Designers Waste Perfect Inspiration & How You Can Break Free!"
Release Date: April 29, 2025
Host/Authors: Massimo and Sean
Podcast Description: A No-Bull Graphic Design podcast that helps frustrated Graphic Designers crush the social & industry bull, learn how to charge what they're worth, and build badass, rewarding careers.
In the episode titled "Where Graphic Designers Waste Perfect Inspiration & How You Can Break Free!", hosts Massimo and Sean delve into a common pitfall many graphic designers face: attending creative events and conferences only to let the inspiration garnered slip away without actionable implementation. Released on April 29, 2025, this episode offers insightful discussions, practical strategies, and motivational advice to help designers harness their newfound creativity effectively.
Massimo and Sean begin by reminiscing about their experiences at Creative South, a vibrant conference that fosters community, creativity, and networking among designers. The hosts emphasize the energizing atmosphere and the overwhelming influx of ideas that such events generate.
Sean [00:50]: "This place is just the people, the family, the community. It's just... hanging out with artists. I know it's just cool."
However, they swiftly transition to the downside: the temporary high of inspiration that often leads to a post-event crash. The excitement and momentum gained during the event tend to dissipate, causing designers to neglect their inboxes and delay the implementation of their new ideas.
Massimo [03:03]: "The high often is temporary."
The primary issue highlighted is the disconnect between inspiration and execution. Designers leave events brimming with ideas and connections but struggle to maintain that momentum once back in their regular routines. This leads to:
Sean [04:45]: "You come down, and oftentimes you can't get back into it. Yeah, that sucks."
To combat this issue, Massimo and Sean propose a structured approach to ensure that the inspiration and connections from events are effectively utilized. They outline a 5-Step Process to bridge the gap between inspiration and action.
Sean emphasizes the importance of writing down key takeaways immediately after the event, preferably while the experience is still fresh.
Sean [05:29]: "I start writing down all the things I learned that I want to implement."
This ensures that valuable insights are not lost amidst the daily hustle.
Rather than overwhelming oneself with multiple tasks, the hosts recommend choosing one primary idea to implement within the first few days post-event.
Sean [07:22]: "I lock in on one idea and focus on that."
This targeted approach increases the likelihood of successful execution without burnout.
Building and maintaining relationships made during the event is crucial. Sean suggests reaching out to at least three people within the first week to continue meaningful conversations.
Sean [08:41]: "Reconnect with at least three people that I met."
These connections can lead to collaborative opportunities, mentorship, and mutual support in implementing new ideas.
Incorporating the 80/20 Rule, where 80% of the time is dedicated to regular work and 20% to personal projects, Massimo and Sean advocate for reserving time specifically for creative endeavors.
Sean [10:55]: "On that fifth day, I give myself a creator day."
This dedicated time allows designers to delve deep into implementing their new ideas without distractions.
Finally, sharing the lessons and insights from the event on platforms like social media not only holds designers accountable but also positions them as active, engaged members of the creative community.
Sean [13:36]: "By posting something, you're holding yourself accountable."
Massimo and Sean make a compelling case that true creative growth stems from the application of inspiration, not just the acquisition of it. They argue that the post-event actions are what transform inspiration into tangible progress.
Massimo [15:48]: "Growth happens after you turn that into."
They caution against viewing attending events as a one-off experience, emphasizing that without follow-through, the opportunity for growth is squandered.
Sean [16:17]: "A great opportunity that you've just kind of squandered."
While the educational aspect of conferences is vital, Massimo and Sean underscore the community and networking benefits as equally important. Building a strong network provides ongoing support, inspiration, and potential collaborations that extend beyond the event itself.
Sean [09:44]: "The ROI from these events aren't just what you learned... but who you met."
Maintaining these relationships contributes to a sustained creative environment, fostering continuous personal and professional development.
In wrapping up, Massimo and Sean reiterate the 5-Step Process as a blueprint for maximizing the benefits of creative events:
They emphasize that acting swiftly post-event is essential to leverage the temporary high into long-term growth.
Massimo [17:30]: "Write down those items that you've learned... act on one of them."
By following these strategies, graphic designers can ensure that the inspiration from events translates into sustained creative success.
This episode serves as a crucial guide for graphic designers seeking to transform fleeting inspiration into enduring success. By adopting the outlined strategies, designers can ensure that their creative energy is continuously harnessed, leading to personal growth and more rewarding careers.
Stay tuned for upcoming episodes featuring interviews with industry experts like Alan Peters, James Bernard, and returning favorites such as Big Mike. These episodes promise to deliver more valuable insights, real-world advice, and engaging conversations tailored to help designers thrive in a competitive landscape.
Stay Creative. Let's Stay Angry.