“Go at your own pace”

Creative Career Conundrums is a weekly advice column from If You Could Jobs. Each week their selected panel of professionals from the creative industry answers your burning career questions to help you navigate the creative journey.

This week’s question:

I’m fearful of sharing my work online. It seems that every day new projects are released, created by huge teams with amazing case studies – and still it gets bashed in the comments. The industry’s reaction to projects makes me nervous to put anything out there, but I need to generate more work.

How do other people overcome this fear? How do I share work online?

Shanice Mears, co-founder and head of talent at The Elephant Room:

Firstly, the fact you can acknowledge your fear is the first step to overcoming it. But I have to say, don’t let the opinions of other people withhold you back from releasing what could be an amazing season for you.

You don’t create for the opinion of others, you create because you love creating, and I’m sure you are super talented. I know it might seem easier said than done but you can do it.

Releasing work can be daunting but some of the best people I’ve seen in our industry are the ones that have taken risks and the ones that have taken feedback head on and still been bold about putting their work out there. Although they may have been fearful they’ve also been faithful. Try testing it in your circle of friends first or amongst trusted individuals, get their opinions and make changes if need be.

If you still feel like you’re not ready then create a password protected website or private Instagram and share it slowly. I think that will allow you to go at your own pace. But don’t worry about what others are releasing or how many people it took to make the work, just focus on making work and putting it out there for the world to be able to see your talents.

Although I can’t promise that people won’t judge your work, you have to remember that not all judgement is bad judgement they might judge it and love it!

In answering your creative career conundrums we realise that some issues need expert support, so we’ve collated a list of additional resources that can support you across things that might arise at work.

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