Being who you are & defying expectations
One of my favorite quotes is “Be who you are, not who the world expects you to be.” I'm so glad my younger self took this advice on many occasions. I have a few pivotal memories of going against expectations. Each led to a strengthening of my convictions and a firmer stance on my identity. So, here are some stories from life and my career. They have taught me to pursue my passions, no matter how unconventional they may seem. I hope they can encourage you to remember similar stories in your own life, allowing their lessons to motivate you to continue making brave and unexpected moves.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND
I have a core memory of coming home from a meeting about joining band in middle school. We were given options for what instruments we could play and I wanted to play the drums SO badly. I was stoked and honestly a little surprised when my mom said yes. Lots of my friends were choosing flute and clarinet, so I felt proud of myself for following my interests. Looking back, activities like drum-core, where I was often the only female, gave me confidence for future experiences in male-dominated environments like drafting classes, architecture school, and managing a woodshop. Now, as a business-owner I have self-assurance in work relationships, regardless of gender or background.
COLLEGE
When I graduated High School, I made the unpopular decision to leave my small, rural Ohio hometown to go off to college and pursue a competitive Architecture degree. I didn’t get accepted into the program the first year because of my lackluster portfolio from my basic high school art & drafting classes. And when I did get accepted the second year (only 2% of applicants did), it seemed like an uphill battle proving to my classmates and professors that I could cut it, having skipped over an entire year of foundational coursework. I struggled a lot during those years, worrying about what others thought of me. But I slowly gained confidence as my work seemed to consistently stand up to that of my peers, sometimes even shining during critiques with faculty.
DREAM JOB
Recently, I walked away from a former dream job, one that I had loved for about 10 years of the 11 I was there. Until the end, I had felt challenged, purposeful, and valued. But culture and leadership problems that hurt people, myself included, caused me to prioritize my mental health and my family. In leaving, I spoke up about the hurt I saw around me. I shared areas of concern that I felt were ripe for change, knowing full well that the implementations of those changes would be well outside of my control. In conversations about leaving, I aimed for grace, yet stubborn and vocal honesty. In our workplaces, we sometimes feel pressure to exude loyalty, positivity and humility, but we have to be honest with ourselves when we’re faking those qualities. After working at the same place for 11 years, facing that reality was scary, but I’m so glad I made the change I did and began my freelance graphic design studio, The Honest Pixel, which I'm super passionate about. One dream job, led to the next.
If you’re a creative professional like me, staying true to yourself can be difficult. Being creative has its struggles, because the work we do feels personal and vulnerable.
If you’re a creative professional like me, staying true to yourself can be difficult. Being creative has its struggles, because the work we do feels personal and vulnerable, so the temptation to people-please is huge. In addition, if you’re a freelance designer or owner of a creative studio, selling your expertise and landing clients is a big part of your focus. But just like any area of your life where you’d like to see growth, approaching challenges with steadiness over time heeds more results than a quick sprint and then a burn-out. As creatives, we have lots of opportunities, in the small moments of our lives and careers, to defy expectations, follow our passions, and make moves that we believe in.
AUTHOR
Hi! I'm Tiffany Kelly, owner of The Honest Pixel, an independent graphic design studio in Winter Garden, FL. I've been a creative professional all my adult life. I have a Master's Degree in architecture from RISD and over a decade of experience in graphic design. I've learned so much about design, freelance, and owning a business since starting The Honest Pixel in 2022.
I aim to be a trusted and authentic coach for other graphic designers, freelancers, or owners of small studios. I share honest tips and wisdom about things I'm putting into practice within my own business. My goal is to encourage and build up other creatives in a real way that broadens your community and impacts your success.
I aim to be a trusted and authentic coach for other graphic designers, freelancers, or owners of small studios. I share honest tips and wisdom about things I'm putting into practice within my own business. My goal is to encourage and build up other creatives in a real way that broadens your community and impacts your success.
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