That Word [Initiative]
Weekly Report 25 Productivity is dependent upon one’s initiative. That is because taking the initiative to start tends to be the most difficult part of the task. Before one begins they have nothing. There is not anything to base their work on or progress easily seen. That first step is vital in creating the momentum that will inspire one to accomplish their goal. My goal last year was to build initiative. My world revolved around it. The paintings I made, the essays I improved, and the speeches I practiced all required initiative. I wanted and needed to take that first step. However, I would be lying if I said I was successful in my goal. Despite building on my initiative, which was a definite improvements from the years before, I still failed to keep that mindset. Only now do I think I am beginning to rebuild upon that initiative. Now that I am dedicating more of my time to art and ISM I actually am being encouraged to take initiative once more. Each new painting and interview requires a great deal of initiative to complete. Of course, I struggle to start regardless, but I am doing so more often. More importantly, I am trying. I am genuinely putting effort into what I do. Not that I did not try beforehand; this is different in that this effort is passionate. I actually want to accomplish my goals. I have changed my mindset towards ISM; it does not feel like a burden. It is not something I have to do, but something I chose to do. I ought to and do feel excitement towards what I am doing and look forwards to take the next steps forward.
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Not Fluent, but Close
Weekly Report 24 The break was a disappointment of sorts. Two of our planned interviews were delayed, so I was not able to accomplish as much as I looked forward to in my final product. The only silver lining was an event my mentor held. During the event I met a local artist that had moved to Frisco recently, a South American artist showcasing his work, and one of the co-owners of the local gallery here. All these individuals were willing to be interviewed for my final product; at the moment I am still scheduling interviews, but I am excited nonetheless. What was truly interesting about the event though was that the Latino artist I met knew little english. I was somewhat hesitant to speak Spanish with a native speaker, but I did so anyways. The language is familiar to me; I spoke it fluently for six years of my life. It is dormant; in that sense, I can recall it at any time. Albeit I may struggle at first. Either way, conversing with this artist was motivating. My Spanish was not bad at all! That realization got me thinking about languages in regards to networking. The fact that I am trilingual opens up many more opportunities for me. I am able to speak with people from all over the world. Really, it is a blessing. Of course, it is not going to be useful in every conversation I have, but, regardless, the times in which I am given the opportunity can be massively important. This recent meeting for example will allow me to learn about the art world at an international level; that is something I have yet to experience. Scheduling Interviews
Weekly Report 23 For our Final Product, my friend, Jake, and I have begun contacting some local professionals. There are different than the artists I usually talk to. For one, they have assistants and tight schedules; I mean, the world in which they live in is completely different from what I am used to. It is not just professional; it is professional. To interact with these people I need to adapt to their environment. This is easier said done though. Jake studied medicine last year, so he dealt with these kind of professional already. In that regard, he has experienced a more professional world. I am grateful for that because it makes adapting to the environment easier for me. These individuals expect me to act more seriously. Moreover, they expect initiative! It has been a while since I have mentioned initiative, the backbone of ISM. Initiative is what allowed me to grow and tackle the hurdles I faced last year; initiative is what led the way to improvement. In the professional world it is vital to avoid hesitation. Initiative creates opportunities for success; like in art, action is preferred to passivity. I simply cannot expect success to fall on my lap. It is actually exciting to work in this area; I feel more involved and challenged than I have in the more recent months. The best way to explain it is by admitting it is a change of pace. For too long I have just resided in my comfort zone. I have been craving some change to help me feel more compelled to begin improving. It has always been a source of motivation for me. Hopefully, I can finally begin doing something that feels more impactful to myself and others. |