Consistency is Key (to Success)

More than anything else, it’s showing up every day that will bring you success.

Do you want to become successful as an illustrator? One of the requirements is passion. You have to love it to do it! Another requirement is the mixture of skill and talent. Regardless of natural ability, you need to have both hands-on and conceptual skills. Any talent you have will make this easier and more likely for success. But passion and skill are only the beginning. They are nothing without consistency.

“Inspiration is 99 percent perspiration, 1 percent inspiration”, goes the old adage (attributed to Thomas Edison). What is this perspiration but dedicated, continuous work?

In 2021 we don’t like to talk about work ethic a whole lot, but I’m a fan. The idea that “hard work is virtuous and worthy of reward” may seem to go against a lot of what we are learning today about equality and equal opportunity. I’m not saying those who do not have a strong work ethic are unworthy of care, concern and a decent quality of life. What I am saying is that no matter what you believe, only those who show up every day to do hard things will come out on top.

This hard truth shows up in my life often. One example related to my professional life is in my efforts as a YouTuber. I am fairly sporadic…