New World Renaissance

I recently moved across country from Chicago to Portland, OR. Without a job. Without family in Portland, on either side, my wife’s nor mine. And without one solid connection. Once I arrived I was working within a week. Then off for 3 weeks then on for 2 months. I’ve been off, again, now going on the end of my 2nd month and now my wife is expecting me to clean the house. Everyday! And wash the dogs of all their fleas. BTW- Who knew Portland had so many fleas? And why didn’t anyone tell me? Anyway, I’ve had some time. I even re-branded myself with a new logo and website, www.stevesettle.com with all the time I’ve had.

Anywho, let’s get to the point of this blog. Time off really makes you think. About yourself. Your quality of work. Your quality of person. Who your real friends are. God. About finding ways not to clean the house… everyday. I’ve had time to come up with some pretty good excuses for that one. And, hey, looking for work is a full time job in itself. If I can only find out how to get paid for that part.

So, what I’ve been thinking about lately is of what I’ve done. Who’s witnessed it. And, most importantly, who believes in it – especially important when you’re trying to find work. Or, explain alien sightings. It seems that in our world today a new Renaissance is building because the time of specializing in one thing ain’t working anymore. And doing many things well, but not great, doesn’t work anymore, either. So now we must become “Renaissance” people for a new age. We need to be great at many things, if not everything, in our respective fields – if not in life. That’s what attracts people to other people – the multi-dimensional persona. The uber-talented person that can do anything, everything, well. Heck, that’s what attracts our mates to us. Then, over time, they realize this guy doesn’t clean the house everyday. But we tell her we can still make a killer French Toast.

So how does a creative demonstrate his or her diversity and ability across multiple mediums and still show he/she has the chops for anything thrown at them? How does one show that he/she is a New World Renaissance person? Because portfolios are a culmination of samples of work creatives have done. Not everything they have done, or every concept not accepted by the client. Or the blood, sweat and gas they put into it that only the other team members know about. It is their conceptual ability, their design or writing skills and their overall personality. It’s their style, in a nutshell.

I know guys who ONLY write or art direct tv. Knowing them I know they can concept and write for anything. But with the new world of technology upon us are they getting the feedback, “We love your tv concepts, but we’re not seeing any non-traditional stuff in your book?” Or, “Oh, no web, sorry?”

From my perspective if you have the chops for concepting and writing/designing you have the chops across the board.

Maybe we should look at it this way. Maybe we should list the accomplishments we’ve made in life. Not just in our field, but the accomplishments that make us the type of person we are. Maybe that should be good enough for employers to look at you and say, “You’re kick-ass!” “You’re hired.”

So, here’s what I have done. In no particular order, however, I will start with one of the last things of note, are accomplishments I’ve made thus far in my life. My ‘New World Renaissance’ resume of sorts.

I moved across country with a 1 yo, 4 yo, 2 dogs, 1 cat and my wife for a new start in life with no job, no family and no solid connection – because we just wanted to do it.
I married a native Mexican woman I saw, then met hours later, in Acapulco, Mx.
I married in Mexico in what is known as the best wedding ever, peso for peso, by all who attended.
I sold my Chicago condominium. In a recession. By myself.
I have made my own beer, 4x. Two of them were pretty awesome, too.
I saved two people from, well, not death, but, imminent danger while on a rafting trip on the Neu River in WV and I do have witnesses.
I’ve lived in four states.
Traveled around Mexico by bus. (Not a fun thing when a 275lb German guy is puking in the middle of the night because he drank too much before the trip and couldn’t stomach the shifting through the mountains.)
Surfed a wave. Not easy to do.
Have been published. (Outside of creating ads for clients.)
Shot a duck. (I was twelve and I haven’t done it since.)
Waited tables in a 5-star restaurant.
Attended the last Grateful Dead concert, ever. (Not really a personal accomplishment, other than the fact I was coherent enough to make it into Soldier Field to see the show.)
Made my own table stand in woodshop.
Play guitar.
Played drums growing up.
Grew up in Flint, Mi. And got out! (That deserves something.)
Captain of my H.S. wrestling team.
Captain of my H.S. golf team.
Singled in the game that won us the midgets baseball championship.
Tripled, with bases loaded, then got home on an error in a tournament game that won us 3rd place.
Won a gold medal in my school’s 1st ever Science Olympiad.
Have many bowling trophies. (Actually, don’t know where those are, so HAD many trophies.)

If I sit here long enough I could write in many more accomplishments. But the point is that to be a true New World Renaissance person, in this day and age, I would need to write, act, direct and produce a movie, edit it and add the special effects to it. Design and build my own house. Convert my car to run on vegetable oil. Be a master of Tantric. Philosophise. Write music. And many, many more things. All of this in order to be marketable in an economic down turn in this new world of ours.

I thought that’s what freelancing was about. Get the test run. Try it out, if it doesn’t work the paths are parted. Don’t we wish we had that with every other aspect of our lives – the test run? “I’ve tried this car for a month – don’t like it take it back.” “Thanks for the use of the 50″ plasma, but I saw the World Cup and now I’m done with the tv.” Or, “Gee, that fund seemed like a good buy, good thing I don’t have to commit.”

As it turns out, even freelancing has had the belt squeezed to the 20th notch.

So in parting I would like to say the first 5 months in Portland have taught me a great deal. The greatest realizing that the New World Renaissance is upon us and to get onboard and learn as much in as many areas as we can. Because if we wait too long we’ll be really behind and staying on top technology is an impossible venture. At best we can be up to speed but that’s a full time job, too. How do I add that between laundry and the dishes?  ~ S2C

Tags: advertising, art, chicago, creative, ddb, design, designer, director, freelance, graphic, Marketing, oregon, portland, settle, steve