Most creatives are stuck on Level 1 — and don’t even know it.
Five years ago, I found myself stuck. I was doing “everything right”, performing all the tasks on my job description. Yet, I saw my career at a standstill. That is when I decided to seek mentorship and learnt that I should take control of my career growth. I should look at what I am doing well, and what specific skills and qualifications I need to set me apart. I noticed that I needed an MBA and enrolled in a programme. Three years later, I found that I needed a course in design leadership, so I added that to my goals as well. I grew from execution; came up with a strategy on how to achieve my goals and what goals I should achieve; and now I’m at the level of leadership.
In many creative industries — especially in emerging markets like Namibia — people are not even rewarded for doing more work, and therefore, it is necessary to start thinking better in order to move up in your career.
You need to understand that creativity has levels. If you don’t know them, you can’t grow. Today, we will look at three:
Level 1: Execution
- You create what you’re told
- Focus: tools, skills, delivery
- Value: low to moderate
Level 2: Strategy
- You understand why the work exists
- Focus: audience, messaging, positioning
- Value: high
Level 3: Leadership
- You define direction and make decisions
- Focus: outcomes, systems, scale
- Value: exponential
The Trap: Most creatives try to earn more at Level 1 and that is not possible. Focus on moving to Level 2 and 3.
What you can do:
Audit yourself:
- Are you just delivering… or thinking?
- Are you executing… or directing?
Then:
- Add strategy thinking to every project
- Ask business questions
- Offer direction, not just design
Now you know where you stand.
Next week, we go deeper:
How to think like a Creative Director.
“I help creatives think like leaders and build systems that turn creativity into economic power.”
Your income doesn’t grow with effort. It grows with elevation.
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