“Oh! you are so lucky!”
Sometimes, people say:
“Oh! You are so lucky! You can draw as a living!”.
So far I remember, when I used to be a design student people told me:
“You are so lucky! Your are very creative studying in a design school!”.
Before my design school:
“Wow you are so lucky! You make so many beautiful drawings!”
*I was only copying others. I didn’t create anything. But reproducing a drawing gives the imllusion of great drawing skills for non-initiate people.
At each phase of my life, people thought that what happened to me was due to luck.
They didn’t see the work behind. That if I were in that position, I made it happened.
So if it is possible for me. So it is for you too.
It doesn’t start by having or not luck. But by taking a decision.
Which side are you?
By giving so much credits to luck to our success and putting aside work, it reflects a distorted vision of reality. That if there was 2 dinstincts sides in life where people would belong to the “Team Luck” or “Team Bad luck.”
Like if there is someone who decides which human should be born in one team or another.
- The “team luck” can live their passion as a living. The chance fell on them from the sky.
- The “team bad luck” has a boring job as a living forever. They can’t do anything about it. It’s fate.
I am purposely exagerating. But I wanna show you that there is no fatality. No predefined team. Luck is something we can attract on our side if we are ready to get out of our comfort zone.
Like many other designers, we were not born with a ballpoint pen.
If we want to bring the luck to become a great designer. We got to gain the skills.
Plant a seed now.
It all started as a kid.
I planted a seed. And I nurtured it with care.
By taking a pen and copying Super Mario, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Dragon Ball Z and so many others who inspired my childhood.
Of course, I didn’t know yet I would draw as a living.
But I spent the time doing what I loved genuinely.
I could have done thousands of other things.
But I decided to stay home, and draw.
Luck is about a series of small and big decision you will take along your life.
The good thing is it is never too early or late to start being lucky.
No matter your age.
You can plant your seed now. 
Take your creative passion serioulsy.
If you wanna be lucky, you have to take your passion seriously.
“Seriously” sounds a boring word. Let’s focus on “Passionately”.
Give all the time and dedication to grow your own seed.
It won’t be easy.
Sometimes your parents or friends may tell you that drawing is a hobby. “You won’t make a career with it.” They will say.
They care about you. But it reflects their own fear of failing.
If they couldn’t make it at living their life with passion. Why would you?
They will tell you should spend time studying Math and Literature… be good at school, become a lawyer, a doctor, an engineer…
It is underlined that if you want to succeed and deserve to be happy, you need to suffer…
I am ok to suffer. But I don’t trust myself to become a great lawyer or a doctor. I prefer to give all my best chances and hard work to become a great designer.
If you follow things you love, you will be ready to overcome all obstacles.
You may fail sometime, but you will keep and follow your goal with high energy.
Chance doesn’t help much people who give up.
But love passionnate and determinate people.
So, believe in yourself and give your best.
The luck and the skills will follow.
Take action towards your designer dream.
Your duty is to protect your dream. People who have the most of luck are the ones who plan, who are determinate and give hard work.
They put themselves in a situation to welcome opportunities.
- You start drawing as a hobby.
- You nurture your skills.
- Your train.
- You enroll in a design school
- You make a portfolio
- Suddenly a company you dream of calling you.
Once again, it all started from making a first step toward the direction that makes you thrill!
Be proactive.
Make luck your best ally.
If you put in the work. Nobody will decide for you of your fate.
If you are part of the lucky or the unlucky one.
YOU decide to put luck on your side.
“Luck is a skill”.
Keep believing in your dreams. Be proactive and patient.
Cut down the noise and keep doing your best.
You have to create your own luck to “get your ticket” to become an Industrial Designer
Be optimistic.
Put on the work.
And believe in you.
You can’t control the world that surrounds you.
But you can control your work. And the world will start noticing you. : )
For example,
At my design school, we didn’t have any footwear projects. But I was in love with sneakers. So I trained myself on my spare time to figure out and learn how to draw shoes for my portfolio.
One day, new opportunities come.
While I was looking for an internship, a company redirected me to Airness. A sport company that started their own line of shoes.
I met there Arsen Rock. One of my main inspiration to join the sneaker industry. You know, it is like meeting your idol. It was even better, I would work and learn from him.
We could call that luck. But it would have never happened if I didn’t prepared myself for it. I kept buidling my skills. Later on, after graduation, I flew for Germany and joined Adidas.
Work and determination can create “ripples of luck”.
Dream big!
For 2020, plant your seed.
And I wish you plenty of luck to grow from it!
Happy New Year!
Chou-Tac
PS: I invite you to discover more about
How to turn your portfolio into a Marketing weapon.
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