Make History with Your Work

I can’t stop thinking about something: how do you make a real breakthrough when you've been doing your work for a while (months, years, even decades), and you’ve been good at it, but… you feel like you’re destined for more? You’re destined to be great. And “great” can mean anything - whether it’s hosting your own design show like Dream Home Makeover on Netflix, working with celebrities like Kelly Wearstler, or developing iconic residences or buildings that will be remembered in history.

Now, I want to ask you to turn off your brain for a second because I know exactly what it’s telling you. I have the same annoying voice in my head: "Keep dreaming, you weren’t born special," or "Those are exceptions, and you're certainly not one of them." Well, guess what? I AM, and that little voice can shut up - no one asked for its opinion‼️

The thing about this annoying little voice is that it shows up uninvited, like that annoying person who… well, you know. Our task is to deal with it - politely but firmly - so it knows it’s not welcome.

And this is how we start transitioning from good to great: by controlling that tiny voice in our heads. Unfortunately, it’s not easy at first because every new habit takes time to develop. But it’s SO crucial to find peace with that voice and control it because every breakthrough starts with an updated mindset. You’ve GOT to clear out the prejudices, myths, and other people’s failure stories that have been living rent-free in your mind.

Here’s something I’ve been thinking about recently: the myth of the struggling artist. Society often tells us that being a designer, artist, or creative can only be a hobby, not a real job. Apparently, we should all become lawyers or doctors instead. But let me ask this - has EVERY lawyer or doctor succeeded? Does EVERY graduate land a high-paying job at a top firm making seven or eight figures? PLEASE.

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Now, back to the idea of going from good to great. This newsletter, by the way, is inspired by the book Good to Great by Jim Collins.

Here are the top 5 insights from the book that apply to us creatives:

ONE. Discipline over spontaneous inspiration or motivation.

By now, we all know that waiting for motivation or inspiration to strike is like eating ice cream every day and expecting a six-pack to appear overnight. Success comes from doing the work, backed by a strong system and a solid daily routine.

TWO. Forget the solo road.

Oh, this is also one of the insights I picked up during my New York trip a few weeks ago. The right collaborators, mentors, and clients who share your vision can create a powerful, supportive environment that opens up a whole new world of opportunities. 

You never know who they know, what ideas they have in mind for future projects, when they might offer you decisive advice that changes your life, or when they could introduce you to someone with connections in the field you want to enter. You never know!

Also, a new video where I talk about the power of the right environment just went LIVE on YouTube - check it out for more insights!

THREE. No abrupt changes - keep the ship steady and work on your updated big vision.

This is one of the best pieces of advice I’ve received from my public speaking mentor, Eduard, who constantly pushes me beyond my boundaries. By the way, Eduard also teaches the mindset fundamentals in our ASDB Academy. Thanks again, Eduard - I know you’re reading this - and I’ll see you at our next lesson!

FOUR. Keep experimenting, developing, and enhancing your skills.

Be a lifelong student. Be an innovator! Don’t think you know everything. If you like someone’s approach and energy and think they can help you, learn from them! Consistent, focused effort, networking, and delivering exceptional work will lead to small successes that eventually compound into a major breakthrough.

FIVE. Use ALL available resources.

Instagram is great, but don’t stop there - expand to other social networks, emails, brochures, etc. Speaking of brochures! I’ve developed a signature approach to creating the right texts and visuals for successful brochures. One of them - the brochure I pitched to Ryan Serhant - is something my students in the ASDB Academy also receive! So, as you can see, I’m not your typical drawing coach who only teaches digital design and art. My approach is all-encompassing, ensuring you’re up to date with marketing, social media, and even AI.

Cheers to greatness!

Anna at @andshedrawsbig
Here, you’ll find all the resources to work with me ✏️