September 17

The Opinions of a Trusted Few

You are likely a terrible judge of your own work. It can be difficult to set aside your own expectations for the work for long enough to judge it for what it actually is. Even when the results are better than what you’d hoped for, your initial impression might be disappointment if your expectations were too high.

When you produce something you’re not sure of, it helps to have a trusted few people you can share it with before it goes to your client, your manager, or the world. These should be people who will tell it to you straight and who won’t tell you what you want to hear. They should know your work, what you’re capable of, and how to speak to both your ambition and your insecurities. I have a trusted few people I send new work to (and have for well over a decade), and they have been invaluable in my own creative growth.

Trust the opinions of a few people close to you over the adulation or critiques of people who barely know you.

QUESTION

Who are your trusted advisers, or who should they be?