In last week’s newsletter, I talked about how I’ve always disliked setting big picture goals and see it akin to a toddler’s excitement over eating lukewarm veggies. With no butter. Through trial and error I’ve settled on very specific short-term habits that build towards vague, less defined goals. Let’s call them growth goals.
This mix is motivating, helpful, and for my personality, artistic practice, and mental outlook — very healthy. I’m not to where I want to be (that’s the point!), but far enough along to know that this way of growth goal setting buoyed by habits is worth talking though.
So, this week I’m going to try to dissect why this works for me. Might get messy. Googles on, people.
1. Healthy Growth
If my goal were just to be a published illustrator or author, I’d be tempted to shortcut my way there. The art could be commercially viable but lacking in the heart and soul true craft takes. It would be like if I was trying to lose 10 pounds over a short period of time for a set event, I’d be tempted to be unhealthy and wouldn’t care so much about the sustainability or consequences.
If I use habits to build towards growth goals, I’m being intentional about not taking shortcuts. I’m following my muse, setting a foundation, and making it sustainable. It’s allowing things to grow naturally versus barreling through with ruthless efficiency.
2. Happiness
Let’s say I set a traditional set-in-stone big picture goal and set out to achieve it as quickly as possible. The most joy is found at the end, when you actually achieve it. You’ve placed the reward at the end like a bucket of gold at the end of the rainbow. I’ve found that it’s better for me to attach the reward to the habit that services the growth goal. Habits happen more often and are more reliable sources of joy.
This also helps mitigate the damage done by attaching the joy to the end and having it flop. Or not achieving your goal at all. Publishing is harsh. Art is subjective. I like having my joy housed in my creative process vs the clapping hands, reviews, and awards that may or may not come.
(This does not mean there are not horrible moments of frustration or deep valleys, screaming into the void, and hoping for a quick and merciful end to my artistic career. They are just moments though. Over the long haul there is joy in the process and that means I’m amped to do the work.)
My name is Jacob Souva and I’m an author and illustrator of books for children. This weekly newsletter is about how I’m navigating the publishing universe, my creative practice, and a bunch of other random bits and bobs. 3/4 of the posts are free! Access the archives and get every post by upgrading your subscription.
3. Unexpected Detours
One of the problems with direct routes is that you are blinded to unexpected detours that might be better than that final destination or at the very least could make the whole trip more rich and rewarding. Singular big goal setting involves throwing on the old blinders and being so focused I might miss something important.
The times I feel this the most acutely is when I have a deadline for final art and time is running out. I stop playing or searching for fun and joy and head right to “get the job done.” The art can really suffer.
4. The Rat Race is for Rats
Growth goals and the intentional habits that fuel them are sometimes in direct opposition to our cultural/societal norms. I don’t need to feel like I’m in competition to get as many books out into the world as possible or at all costs. Stepping out of the rat race means I’m stepping out of the constraints of capitalism. I of course still need to make a living and want commercial success. What I don’t need is the pressure that comes with it all. My theory is that true art can’t start or be nurtured properly by chasing the money.1
5. Balance
I’m not meaning to be so zen, but there is some peace I’ve found by rocking some of these ideas over time. I still value some of the things I’ve poo-poo-ed here. Efficiency is not a dirty word, sometimes we need direct actionable goals to get stuff done, and I won’t be turning down commercial success. I just want balance. I want my writing and illustration to be art of lasting value.2
See you next week, friends.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
I wrote a bit about being compelled to make stuff because that’s who we are way back in my 3rd newsletter ever. T’was a wee newsletter back then.
There are so many music documentaries where that second album sucks so bad and the band is like “dude, we were trying to like, keep it going” and they really meant they made choices based on keeping the limo lifestyle going, instead of making art.
Look! Another growth goal 😎
Great post, Jacob! Thank you for sharing your insights. Reminds me of that scene in Soul after the main character finally lands his dream gig playing jazz on stage. They finish the set and he’s just like okay what do we do now? When he realizes they just come back tomorrow to play again, he’s a bit disappointed. The other musician tells him: I heard this story about a fish. He swims up to this older fish and says, “I'm trying to find this thing they call the ocean.” “The ocean?” says the older fish, “that's what you're in right now.” “This?” says the younger fish, “This is water. What I want is the ocean.”
The bit about the goal/happiness being at the end of the rainbow reminded me of my favorite Ted Talk, which I always share with my about-to-graduate Illustration majors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M . Thanks for another great read!