Learn resilience from an artist (who actually stole this masterpiece)
I just finished the really great book “Steal like an Artist” by Austin Kleon. It’s full of many great and very inspiring thoughts, but what really stuck in my mind was this one particular figure. Funnily enough, he obviously based it on a strong inspiration from a friend. So, in a way, he basically stole it.
🧠 Why does this resonate so much with me?
God knows how often I’ve found myself in these situations. You get this inspiration, you're 105% convinced, and seriously on fire. You can see the path, it all makes sense, and the only thing separating you from a world-changing result is execution. You start researching and realize you missed a detail or two. It's still alright, not as straightforward as you thought, but the idea is still awesome. You go for it, believing everything will come together. Then, unexpected obstacles pop up, making you doubt your timeline. Despite this, you press on, noticing how much work it is, feeling a bit trapped because you’ve already invested so much time and effort - you can’t stop now (ever heard of loss aversion? Read “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman). You trudge through the dark valley, picking up new scars along the way, but you make it. It’s not pretty, but you're proud, albeit a bit embarrassed that what you’re proud of is sticking with your ‘pathetic’ project. Your perception changes over time; the pride and satisfaction in your project grow. In the end, you've achieved something. Looking back, you laugh at your initial plans and marvel at the long, winding roads every project takes.
I’m sure I’m not unique in experiencing these project lifecycles, and I’ve seen many others go through the same. Based on my life experience, this is just what a project's lifecycle is. I embrace it, and it feels great to share this with so many. It’s what keeps me going in moments of doubt.
💡 What do I learn from this?
Going through this lifecycle, facing obstacles, is an amazing chance to prove your determination. It's about moving in the right direction; just keep moving. Remember, you’ll probably never end up where you originally planned.
So, do we just keep going and see where it takes us? Definitely not! The message is to be more effort- and consistency-driven than results-driven. Never settle for mediocrity, but don’t be frustrated if things aren’t 100% as planned. Always look on the bright side and be content with the effort you’ve put in.
🤓 More than just theory - some of my examples:
I planned to become a serious scientist at the end of med school, with my doctoral thesis and publications in high-ranked journals already underway. I went to the Karolinska Institutet for a full-time research year, only to realize that this path wasn’t for me. But I learned a lot about dedication, hard work, sacrifice, and life planning. I returned to med school, finished my program, and began my residency.
As a seasoned radiology resident, I fell in love with interventional radiology (IR), a demanding but rewarding field. I pursued it after my board certification, only to realize it wasn't for me in the long run. A valuable lesson: what’s attractive from afar can be very different in reality.
There are more examples, but I'm wary of confidentiality issues 😄
So, I am grateful for all the lessons I've learned and wouldn't want to miss any of them.
🎤 My final words:
Embrace your projects, with all their headaches, and see what you can learn from them in the long run.
Sources
- Kleon A. Steal like an artist: 10 things nobody told you about being creative. New York: Workman; 2012. 140 p. https://amzn.to/4aphBJp
- Kahneman D. Thinking, fast and slow. 1st pbk. ed. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 2013. 499 p. https://amzn.to/4asfswt