Meet Martha Clarkson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Martha Clarkson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with martha below.

Hi Martha, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Into my mid-twenties, my confidence was a bit Jekyll and Hyde. I looked forward to the speeches I gave at graduations, for instance, and writing and directing a short film in high school (that won an award) gave me no pause, but I’d turn shy if I had to walk into a room of strangers. Once my career in commercial design launched, I realized the ensuing years in the business world would be full of meeting people, navigating unknown waters to solve problems, and understanding a client’s objectives. So I girded my loins, so to speak. Shoulders back, enter the room, make eye contact. Wade in. That’s the key. Nothing is to be accomplished decorating the wall as a bystander. I am interested in people and their stories, and pretty soon it became just a way of life to not be skittish. Self-esteem was never an issue because of two loving parents at home who believed in me. Their ongoing mantra was “you can do anything.” It doesn’t take long before you believe in yourself completely when you grow up infused with that positive message.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I had a vibrant career in commercial design for 35 years, creating forward-thinking workplace solutions for a multitude of clients. Because every company is different, the range of research and solutions made for a broad and interesting work life. Design is problem-solving and as we know, few things feel as rewarding as solving a problem. After careful evaluation, I decided to devote my time to writing and photography. I’ve been writing since my first published poem in seventh grade and photography I took up seriously a decade ago. All three things – design, writing, photography – have similar qualities. They all require a journey of iterations before the final product comes into being. Your first idea is never the best! And all require feedback, that is, constructive criticism. Not only by you about your own work, but by others in the discipline. And from there, solutions evolve to the best end. I continue on that creative journey.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Confidence surely is one of them. Believe that you can do the next thing, whatever that is. In my earlier example, being able to walk into a room of strangers and navigate it assuredly was key to the interactions I needed to have in business (and socially!). I gave many public talks and tours in my design career, things that put you on “display,” and accordingly, people begin to seek you out. Your positive interactions earn you respect. This builds your network.

Don’t burn bridges. My father was an advertising executive and the dinner table was full of work stories. I learned at a young age how to conduct yourself in business and social settings. There’s always a good chance someone you don’t particularly care for will turn up again, so don’t burn a bridge. There’s no need to put a black mark on yourself, just be professional.

Resilience is also key. I don’t mean it in the way of the inflatable penguin that takes all the hits and bounces back upright. I mean this in the way of being adaptable to situations as they change. And they will. Don’t operate from a rigid it’s-my-way-or-the-highway stance, there’s always more than one way to skin a cat. Shifting sands require adapted solutions. And there will always be shifting sands. That’s what makes life exciting.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

My current challenges center around moving onto to the next level with my photography and writing. In both arenas, I have much published work, but in neither do I have collections. On the writing side, I have over a hundred poems published and some fifty pieces of fiction or personal essays. I was a poetry editor for three years. I have a few awards. But my collection of poetry and my manuscript of short stories have not yet seen the light of book publishing. My most recent focus has been on polishing these two manuscripts and learning how to navigate publishing. Now to send them out.

On the photography side, publishing has not been an issue but physically exhibiting is tougher to break into. There’s only so much wall space! I am learning how to match my work with particular calls to submit, how to sell, and in the future hope to look at combining some of my photographic work with my writing and also have a solo exhibit. At this moment, my fifth piece is on exhibit and I have sold four photographs, received some awards, and most recently was in a word and image program for three months that paired writers and artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marthaclarkson.com/
• Instagram: minoxbee
• Facebook: martha clarkson
• Twitter: marthaclarkson