The Paradox Manifesto

Alright, I’m doing too much of the LinkedIn-coded creative sharing.
It still sounds the same no matter the creative angle haha.
I’m gonna take a step back and do me for a sec.

Because as much as I’m committed to sharing my creative knowledge, doubt still creeps in: who am I to even talk and share about this stuff right? I’m 28. My career has only just begun – and yet, I’m so stoked for what’s ahead.

It’s just not what I thought it would be because society doesn’t seem kind to anomalies. They like labels. You’re either this, or that. Rarely both, and definitely not everything.

”You’re too ambitious.”
”You’re trying too many things.”
”You’re doing too much.”
”Jack of all trades, master of none.”

Maybe so.

I’ve always viewed skillset holistically – kinda like a chair. One leg just won’t hold, and even if it could, you wouldn’t want to sit on it. Depth is great, but it’s a gamble, because what if that one leg breaks? At least with three, a stool stands firm. It’s the same way I see skills. The more you test, the more stable you become, and the more adaptable to the landscape you can be.

That’s why I believe in daring to fail. That way, even if “it’s not me”, I will have a better understanding of myself. So…

Why not be ambitious?
Why not be experimental?
Why not do more than what’s required?

How else does one find their edge?

I’ve also found this mindset to be incredibly useful in work, especially with the speed of technology and growth in AI. As a creative, I believe understanding the end-to-end process and multi-tasking independently is a competitive edge. Having a team is reassuring, but bad days happen, and sometimes we can only rely on ourselves to get out of a tough spot. You don’t have to be the best [insert taken creative role] on the team, but I highly recommend understanding the basics for emergencies.

Of course, that extends to every kind of creative person out there. So if you’re a good writer, learn to visualise your words. If you’re a good designer, learn to present your thinking. If you’re a good marketer, learn to edit videos. Ask questions, stay curious, watch tutorials and keep stacking your creative skillsets, because the most pleasant results come from the most unexpected fusions.

I wish someone told me that sooner

I’m sure there’s someone out there who’s on a similar path, and because I never found them personally… I kept waiting for someone like that to show up and prove it was possible. I might’ve been waiting on their permission too.

The longer I looked around, the more I realised that the person I was looking for was… me?

So I’ve decided: I’ll become that person I wanted to meet. I want to be more than what I once perceived myself to be, a paradox: discipline forged in fitness, vision shaped by design and creativity unleashed through art.

A little too disciplined to be a designer.
A little too philosophical to be an artist.
A little too meticulous to be an athlete.

I know I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’ll be figure that out along the way. And if my path helps someone realise the same, then it’ll all be worth it.