Blinded by skepticism, doubt and fear, people quickly give up on their dreams and don't take risks. Now, for me, what started out as a spontaneous idea became one of my biggest accomplishments. Sure, there were bumps along the way, but if I had stopped at the very first lump on the road, I'm not sure if I could have ever made this journey.
Just over a year ago, an idea popped into my head as I flipped through Direct's 19th issue, one of my favorite art magazines. On the spot, I decided to create one of my own. Though I'm not entirely sure how I came up with this project, the first thing that hit me was the possibility of failing as I not only lacked resources, plans and support for this project. When I took a moment to ruminate on these lacking essentials, I was devastated by the thought that my idea might abruptly come to an end. But there was one thing clearly imprinted in my head: ideas are fragile and delicate in their infancies. These words are similar to what Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, said when she was interviewed about her success. From that moment, I realized that it was my job to keep on pushing and developing, rather than quitting.
I researched for months before I was able to formulate a solid plan that could further my idea and produce desirable results. I read piles and piles of magazines; I studied their structures, templates and organization. In my free time, I visited different galleries and local exhibitions both offline and online, hoping to get some sort of support and advice. I never realized until then that there were so many fascinating and interesting communities out there who were willing to help. I met graffiti artists, who specialized in creating hypnotic vortexes; photographers, who captured moments that reflect their personal thoughts and philosophies; designers and painters, who allowed their wildest imaginations to roam freely on their canvases. They ultimately became the "base" for my art magazine. From here, I learned that if you persist, search and stay encouraged, you are bound to discover something. And what you stumble upon can be your source of passion, motivation, support and a platform that could allow you to plant the seeds of ideas. Not all communities will be welcoming, but don't give up; use them to the best of your abilities and advantage.
Finally, be prepared and take care! When I was designing the layout of the magazine, I experienced perfectionism for the very first time. I had my art teacher partially involved in this task, and he would always point out something to correct: "the texts are incorrectly aligned" or "these two pictures must be center to each other." The whole process was demanding and repetitive, yet eye-opening. After draft after draft, I realized that this entire process was not an easy task, contrary to what I had initially thought. Every step of making an idea realized requires hard work, persistence, patience and control.
Although my final product, which began with a single idea, is still far from being perfect and has room for improvement, I value the hard work and lots of hours that I've invested in it. Treasuring what you have accomplished so far can be the beginning of something even greater because it motivates you to move forward. Love, care and value your plans, ideas and small achievements. And don't stop when you are done because it is just the beginning.
Check out my art magazine! Explore what this idea was all about: http://issuu.com/expressartmagazine/docs/express_magazine__1