Tyshawn via Thrasher
I had coffee with a 25 year old skateboarder today.
He’s a few years deep into a creative career, and looking to keep advancing.
As he talked, I noted that he has a combination of 3 big things going for him:
1. SKILLS
Mastery of the main skill (photoshoot production)
Energy to master all adjacent skills (art direction, casting, and photography itself) and USE them
The skill of knowing his weaknesses, and getting help for those tasks
2. ORGANIZATION
Total clarity on his workload
Intentional approach to his FT job, his freelance work, and his play
Always ahead, never behind
3. FRIENDS
Huge social circle around his vocation and interests
Personality and generosity that attracts high quality people
Constant flow of energizing opportunities
Skills, Organization, Friends.
It’s really hard to overstate the rarity, and the career impact, of this triple-whammy skill stack… and the fact that many established professionals twice this kid’s age are severely lacking in one or more of these areas.
(Not to mention how much fun he’s having.)
“So”, he asked me at the end. “Do you have any advice for me?”
I did not. He’s going to be just fine.
