I think dealing with insecurities and questioning whether or not I was in the right profession had to be the most difficult obstacle I faced at the beginning of my design career. I felt I needed validation from wiser, more notable designers to realize that I was worthy of being a professional in the design field. I would often compare my work with the work of renowned designers and get discouraged if I wasn’t performing up to my interpretation of their skill set instead of understanding that through time, I would progressively improve by showing up everyday.

Be overly inspired by another’s work and have it show through their public presentation.

I wish I knew how to practice patience at the beginning of my career. I use to be impatient with the process of design as well as the process of growing as a designer. This is something I struggle with today, but by acknowledging this weakness, I’m better prepared to understand how to appreciate and live in the moment.

Create a to-do list every day. It might help to create this list the night before so you are ready to jump right in the following morning. Set due dates for every project. This allows for accountability. Don’t let social media distract you from your priorities. It’s easy to be consumed by everyday noise, the sooner you realize how to block this out, the sooner you’ll be more efficient.

1. Logo, Font & Lettering Bible  by Leslie Cabarga — I’ve learned several tips and tricks through the amount of valuable information this book provides. 2. Scripts  by Steven Heller and Louise Fili — This is a great book for inspiration from the 19th to the mid-20th century. 3. Freelance Design In Practice  by Cathy Fishel — A resourceful book for any aspiring and current freelancer to reference.