Being good at everything isn't necessary.
Hey,
Many people believe that in order to be good at something, you must be good at everything. That is simply not true. You can be both a great artist and a truly awful musician. You can be a fantastic writer while also being a poor illustrator. You can excel in some areas while failing at others.
People in the world are good at some things and mediocre at others, and that's perfectly fine. In fact, it is one of the characteristics that distinguishes us as humans. We each have our own unique abilities and talents, as well as different strengths and weaknesses.
I'm not talented in every area. It's okay if I don't know everything. I'm a freelance graphic designer, but I'm not familiar with coding. And that's fine. To be successful, I don't have to be an expert at everything.
The same is true for other artists. To create something beautiful, you don't have to be skilled in every creative skill or technique. You simply need to identify your strengths and focus on them.
Here's why you don't have to be good at everything, and why that's actually a good thing.
I used to think that in order to be successful, I had to know everything and be good at everything. After all, if I wanted to make it as a freelance graphic designer, I had to know how to do everything myself, right? Wrong.
What I eventually realised is that no one can be an expert at everything, and that's OK. In fact, it's more than OK—it's necessary. The best way to succeed is to focus on the things you're good at and delegate or outsource the rest.
Here are three reasons why you don't have to be good at everything:
1. You'll never be an expert at everything.
No matter how much you learn, there will always be someone who knows more than you do. And that's OK! The important thing is to keep learning and expanding your skill set so you can continue to grow as a creative professional.
2. You don't have time for everything.
You only have so many hours in the day and trying to do everything yourself will just lead to burnout. By focusing on the things you're good at and delegating or outsourcing the rest, you'll be able to create a sustainable workflow that won't leave you feeling overwhelmed or exhausted.
3. Quality over quantity.
It's better to focus on doing a few things well than try to do too many things poorly. When you're stretched too thin, the quality of your work suffers—and that's something you should ALWAYS avoid as a creative professional.
You shouldn't be great at everything.
When you try to do everything, you spread yourself too thin and end up being mediocre at a lot of things instead of excelling at a few things. It's better to focus on a few things that you're really passionate about and get really good at those things.
That way, when prospective clients or employers see your work, they'll know that you're the real deal because your work will speak for itself.
Additionally, when you try to do everything, you never get the chance to really hone your craft and master your chosen medium.
For example, if you're a typographic designer who also dabbles in illustration, chances are you're not going to be as good at either one as someone who just focuses on one or the other. But if you focus on just typographic design or just illustration, you can become a true expert in your field and produce truly exceptional work.
So don't beat yourself up if you're not good at everything—focus on what you're passionate about and master your chosen medium, and you'll be well on your way to success.
Thanks for reading!
—Gary
Black Friday & Cyber Monday
First and foremost, please accept my apologies if you believed you had escaped another email touting the famed Black Friday bargain.
For a few years now, I've been selling some of my most popular posters in my online store, but following several requests, I've decided to jump on the Black Friday bandwagon for the first time, providing 20% off all my posters for a limited period.
So, if you're stuck for gift ideas or just want something new in your home, one of my posters might be the answer, with the added bonus of a discount!
