Tag: Growth

Disappear, Grow & Come Back

When you feel stuck, it might be time to disappear.

To recalibrate and grow in the absence of resonance.

When the noise gets too loud, seek solitude.

Tune into the inner signals.

No need to explain.

Your run-up may look like a step back to others—and that’s okay.

Return only when you’re ready.

Take your time to dig. To explore.

When the time comes, share your findings.

Surprise yourself first.

Then come back and surprise us.

Creative Confidence

“We live in an outcome-focused culture,” Seth Godin writes in his book The Practice.

During industrialization, this made sense—outcomes needed to be fast and predictable.

But we’re entering an era of automated results and democratized, open-source knowledge

—all just a tab away.

The Last Human Advantage 

In the face of peak efficiency, one thing remains inimitable:

The process.

Not the generated one — the experienced one.
The unique, lived journey to the result.

That’s the place of personal growth, meaning, and creative confidence.

Continue reading “Creative Confidence”

Shock Your Comfort Zone

January 2nd, 2011

While my parents and brother drove me to the Düsseldorf airport I stared out the window and thought, “What am I doing? I just want to go back home. I want to chill on the couch, play Pro Evolution Soccer with my brother, or hang out with friends. That’s all I want to do right now.”

Instead, I was about to embark on an adventure on the other side of the planet.

I longed for this day for years, and I was so nervous. I never traveled alone before and never thought I would find the courage to do so.

But here I was now. I clutched my backpack nervously, not knowing what to expect.

The journey started in Sydney and ended in Beijing after four and a half months. And it changed everything.

Traveling alone, handling situations, and making all decisions myself brought me closer to myself.

I got along well among strangers, in unknown places, in solitude, and with myself. This realization was the missing spark to finally pursue my dream of becoming a freelance illustrator.

One thing I’ve learned

Solo traveling is the ultimate way to poke our comfort zone. Physically and mentally.

If you ever thought of traveling all by yourself, I would like to encourage you to. I know it takes courage. But it’s worth it.

And if you decide to embark, may I give you some advice?

Travel with a mission

Set a specific goal you would like to achieve during your journey.

A mission can be your compass and push you to interact with people and unfamiliar environments.

My mission on the trip was the final thesis for my study—I made a design report about creativity on the other side of the world.

I gathered as many creative findings and information as possible and presented them in a book.

Traveling with a mission forced me to contact, visit, and interview artists, designers, and ad agencies throughout my journey.

I explored art exhibitions in every city and village I crossed, collected local design magazines, and searched for visual treasures and anything that caught my attention.

Thirteen years later, I still say that traveling alone was one of the best decisions I made in my life.

And again, I encourage you to take the leap if you feel the urge to travel, too.

You will explore unknown territories, externally and internally.

And you’ll unlock skills, capabilities, and attitudes that will change and enrich you and your future.

3 Quick Tips

If solo travel is just too challenging for you, it’s totally understandable. There are other ways to sneak out of your comfort zone and strive for solitude:

The Walk
Take a walk in the woods. No company, no phone.

The Coffee
Sit down in a local café. Again, no company, no phone. Just you, your drink, and your eyes.

The Trip
Spend a weekend in an unfamiliar city. Book a room, get on the train, and wander through the streets.

Try it, and feel free to share your experience with me.