Beyond The Plateau: The Next Level You

[Image Credit: Samuel Walker, Pexels; Image Description: Far shot of a snow-capped mountains, clouds, and blue skies. At the lower left, “Beyond The Plateau: The Next Level You” is written in light gray text on top of a transparent olive green background.]

"Can you tell my son that art doesn't make money?"

In my early 20s, an acquaintance's mom asked me to help her design programs for a graduation ceremony. As I worked with his mom, his fiancée decorated the venue, but took a break to chat with me.

She mentioned her son wanted to learn more about character art. I was excited to support him, but she wasn't enthusiastic about it. Then, I was asked a question I never thought I'd hear.

She asked me to discourage her son from his artistry.

Though I kindly disagreed, that moment was engraved in my heart and spirit. I finished the graphics, drove home, and replayed the question over and over in my mind. I was, admittedly, frustrated back then. Now in hindsight, I'm thankful for that conversation because—

It was the catalyst for my calling.

It also highlighted a twofold pain point that still persists—knowledge about creative career options and the pathways to those professions aren't clear enough. And every time it appeared, I needed to rise to the challenge. I realized that the Next Level life is full of transformational moments.

Here's another truth I learned: Every Next Level transformation happens when discomfort prompts us to take action.

Let's talk about it.

We get to define who our Next Level Self is.

Sometimes, it's difficult to envision what the Next Level looks like. There are a few reasons why: the next steps are unclear, there's uncertainty about the dream becoming a reality, it feels far out of reach, or a mix of all three.

But what if your Next Level Self left you hints along your journey this entire time?

Here's what I mean.

Years ago, I went to OfficeMax to print materials for my Design Time with Mr. Marq workshop, an activity that introduces elementary students to graphic design. A woman in line mentioned her nephew wanted to pursue graphic design, but was unsure what is was and if it was a viable career field. I told her more about the industry, my own experiences, and answered her other questions.

That's when two thoughts came to mind:

• The calling I believed in was necessary.

• I wanted to build my career to help young creatives pursue their dreams.

Almost a decade later, my journey expanded beyond my wildest dreams. I now coach creative polymaths to their Next Level and I build pathway programs to creative careers for K-12 students. As I grew, I learned:

We get to define who our Next Level Self is.

The Next Level journey means constantly uprooting self-limiting beliefs and making Next Level Mindset Shifts. One that often traps creative polymaths is the deeply-planted fear of business acumen (a.k.a. talking about money, sales, and business).

Picture this: You went to school, learned the ins and outs of your discipline, made a portfolio, and earned the degree.

Now, you nerd out over typefaces, have a playlist full of demo reels, can't unsee "the rule of thirds", or have an online cart full of supplies to add to your inventory. (Don't worry, I do it too. That part of our brains never turns off.)

At the same time, you may have piecemealed the business side of your career—the contracts, invoices, getting clients, marketing e-courses—and figured it out as you went from project to project or job to job. (Again, I did it too.)

That's because, more than likely, you were never taught the business side when you were in school.

Those gaps evolve into a silent critic that's always lurking in the background. Then, that inner saboteur influences your internal narrative to say, "I just want to focus on making...but I wish I could make a living doing what I love", followed by, "Why can't I be paid for what I'm worth?"

I'll keep it real with you—

It's time to make a Next Level Mindset Shift.

FastCompany Executive Board's Charles Nix shares some great insights about the journey and the importance of creatives building their business muscle. Uprooting those self-limiting beliefs is a necessary Mindset Shift to get us to our Next Level. Let's talk about a few more.

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BECOMING YOUR NEXT LEVEL

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In addition to uprooting self-limiting beliefs, your Next Level Self requires three more Mindset Shifts.

Shift 1 - Obstacle to Opportunity

Your Next Level Self must have the ability to turn an obstacle into an opportunity.

Oftentimes, I'm one of the only creatives in the room and it can feel like an obstacle. This is where the Next Level Mindset Shift kicks in—If the opportunity doesn't exist, make one.

I reframe being the F.O.D. from an obstacle to an opportunity to be an invaluable resource to the non-creatives in the room. This is one of the most powerful shifts and a core principle of my coaching.

Shift 2 - Competition to Collaboration

Your Next Level Self must always remember that collaboration is the key, not competition.

Here's the thing—While competition can be healthy, it's often rooted in a scarcity mindset. When we collaborate, we move with an abundance mindset.

You have a very unique combination of skills, perspectives, and experiences that can't be replicated. With this Mindset Shift, you'll see that your biggest impact happens when you collaborate with others who you align with. The energy in the room is always amplified this way.

Shift 3 - Comparison to Celebration

Your Next Level Self must reframe thoughts that compare to actions that celebrate.

We're creative people, so we often admire the inspiration around us. The pitfall that we can easily find ourselves in is the comparison trap. To climb out of and avoid that stumbling block is this Next Level Mindset Shift—Celebrate your inspirations.

This means: Study their work, identify what does/doesn't resonate with you and why, then combine what you learn with your unique perspective. Honoring their influence on your Next Level journey is celebrating their gifts and yours.

Here's a few Next Level Tips to help you sustain your transformation:

• Prioritize Your Wellness. Taking care of ourselves keeps us in flow and alignment. Remember, you can't be at your best if you don't get your rest.

• Invest in Yourself. You are the best bet you can make, so invest in your Next Level expansion. In the wise words of the late and honorable Toni Morrison, "You are your best thing."

• Celebrate Yourself. Be your biggest, loudest cheerleader and always root for yourself. Doing the brave thing is scary and, at times, difficult. So, celebrate your small wins, major victories, and everything in between!

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CHALLENGE TIME

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So it's Challenge Time!

One of the ways I support my clients is equipping them with the tools and strategies to transform into their Next Level Selves. Without integrating these Next Level Mindset Shifts, you'll run the risk of not going beyond your plateau.

Here's my challenge to you:

• Think about how you would define your Next Level Self.

• Ask yourself: Which one of the Next Level Mindset Shifts resonates with me and why?

• Reflect on this question: How would it look and feel to live my life as my Next Level Self?

Look at you shifting and transforming into alignment! I'm proud of you!

Remember, every big change first starts with a small step. If this moved you to take your first step forward, congratulations! Now, imagine what could happen with personalized guidance to help you climb your mountain and become your Next Level Self. This is exactly the kind of personal and professional transformation I support my clients with.

So, if you're ready to climb together, let's talk.

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PALATE CLEANSE

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A fun fact about me: I'm a Hip-Hop and Spoken Word artist. I've been rapping for over 20 years and I don't plan on stopping. In a strangely phenomenal way, Hip-Hop and Poetry have influenced my creative, academic, and entrepreneurial career. I'm also a TEDx speaker, so it was a real treat to see another Hip-Hop artist, albeit from a different generation, give a TED talk about the mindset that catapulted him to success.

Cordae is a Grammy-nominated Hip-Hop artist. I really enjoyed his TED Talk about the Hi-Level Mindset. In his talk, he shares the origins of the Hi-Level Mindset and the steps to integrate it into your life. I don't want to spoil any of it for you, but this is a powerful 12-minute talk that I think you'll enjoy. If you're ready to transform into your Next Level Self, this might resonate with you.

Thank you for reading! I appreciate you and your support. I invite you to subscribe to The Mountaintop Substack. If you’re a podcast connoisseur, consider adding my podcast, Keep Sailing, to your rotation. Or if this moved you to pursue your Next Level Self, I invite you to inquire here to see if we’re a fit.

Let’s climb, together.