Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to My Linh Mac. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
My Linh, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I believe that my resilience and determination stem from the values and life philosophy instilled in me by my parents. They taught me to be brave, appreciate what I have, and never take anything for granted. Growing up in Vietnam during the Subsidy Period (1976–1986), a time when the country’s economy was at its lowest point following World War II, my parents understood that the only way to escape poverty and adversity was through hard work, patience, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and kindness toward others.
Their incredible journey through those difficult times, when the internet, technology, and higher education were largely unavailable to most people, serves as a powerful inspiration for me. Despite the challenges they faced, they built a successful business from the ground up and provided my siblings and me with a comfortable life that included opportunities to study abroad – a luxury many households could only dream of in the early 2000s. Their story motivates me to continually strive for self-improvement and become the best version of myself to make them proud, just as I am immensely proud of them.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an international award-winning visual artist and graphic designer from Vietnam. My paintings capture the beauty of humble places through my distinct use of rich and vivid accent colors. By experimenting with unconventional methods, I’ve been able to enhance depth and dimension in my art through the manipulation of color and medium, as well as embracing hybrid-like presentation approaches. Over the years, I have exhibited at many art galleries, showcases, and museums in over countries. A few memorable ones include the Museum of Outstanding Design (MOOD) and BE ** PART a Guinness World Records Exhibition in Italy, the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (CICA) Museum in South Korea, and many more. As a designer, assisting small businesses and start-ups in discovering and utilizing their visual and brand identities within their fields is my passion. It’s my ambition to provide designs that not only stand out in a competitive market but are also enduringly pleasing and accessible to a wide range of audiences. In 2016, I moved to Chicago and established MMAC Visual Art & Design Studio. Since then, I have been living my dream by working on exciting and meaningful projects in collaboration with companies such as Amazon Kindle, SHEIN, SCOPE ART FAIR, etc.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My journey as a creative professional has been most significantly influenced by three core aspects: 1) Practicing patience with your own growth pace: Remember that it’s not about racing to the finish line, as every path is unique. Progressing slowly but steadily can be beneficial in the long run. Being too preoccupied with reaching your goals may cause you to miss out on enjoyable experiences and important lessons learned along the way. Establish smaller goals that ultimately lead to your main goal, and maintain consistent progression as one of the most effective ways to counter impostor syndrome.
2) Continue learning new things: Avoid becoming complacent or staying within your comfort zone for too long, as this prevents growth. With technological advancements emerging daily in this modern age, acquiring additional skills provides an edge in distinguishing yourself from others. Strive to be not just an asset but also a multifaceted resource that makes you indispensable within any team.
3) Endeavor to understand multiple perspectives beyond your own: Like observing a 3D object, everyone has different viewpoints and opinions on the same subject. No one is right all the time, and there’s nothing wrong with having unpopular opinions. Engaging in constructive discussions or debates, empathizing with others, and learning to respectfully disagree enables you to see a broader landscape and uncover genuine wisdom.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Though I don’t have a business background, I aim to master in-depth market research and traditional networking. Developing the skill of connecting with relevant professionals isn’t taught in school but rather learned through real-world experiences. To tackle this challenge, I’ve invested time and resources in accelerated courses targeting the skills I still need to improve. Proactively working on these areas has been fulfilling thus far, as it prevents me from wasting time feeling insecure or worrying about others detecting my weaknesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mylinh.mac.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mylinh-mac/
Image Credits
My Linh Mac
