Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Miller. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jessica , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from having one door close and another door open. As corny as that sounds I use failure as a stepping stone toward my staircase of success. Take my illustration career for example! Even with my background in graphic design, I was never able to land a full time job. I was known as a serial contractor, bouncing from one company to another. I was set to start another contract position, designing toy packaging the week of the global pandemic in 2020. I was devastated when I received the news that they had to terminate my contract. Although I was saddened by the news I realized that I need to fill this creative void. I had a lot of time on my hands and started drawing digitally on my iPad just for fun. I consistently put my work out there and started getting noticed. Companies wanted to hire me for my illustration work! I realized that I could make a career out of this. Forcing to switch directions in my career was difficult but it also made me more resilient and adaptable to change.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a designer and illustrator, specializing in character portraits, surface pattern design, and hand lettering. My whimsical style is infused with bright pops of color and layered textures, inspired by nature, retro artwork, and vintage design. My work has been printed on greeting cards, home goods, tech accessories, book covers, packaging, and more! Beyond my illustration work I’m also an online educator and self proclaimed “art-fluencer”. I have a passion for learning a new craft and sharing that knowledge with others through short form content. I currently have two Skillshare classes (stay tuned for more) as well as periodic guest appearances!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three skills that were most impactful in my journey are showing up consistently, taking imperfect action, and having a hunger to learn more. One of the hardest things to do in any career is just show up, but that’s something I did from the onset of my illustration career. When I started back in 2020, I consistently shared my art posting it to Instagram. I started with zero followers and have nearly 120k today. Showing up and sharing my art consistently not only built my online community but it also got me noticed by clients and art directors.
The second skill is taking imperfect action. I am in no way a perfectionist and learned early on that “finished is beautiful.” I could essentially spend countless hours on trying to make the perfect illustration but I realized is that going to sell me any more? probably not. It’s almost better to take imperfect action and learn from your mistakes along the way. Any motion forward is better than standing still.
The third skill is having a constant hunger to learn more. Even though I feel more advanced in my career I realize there’s always new things to learn and new skills to acquire. I believe that comes from a growth based mindset. There’s always room to improve, questions to ask, new skills to learn to help elevate your career.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
I’m an avid reader, constantly diving into books to expand my knowledge. One standout read for me has been “High Performance Habits” by Brendon Burchard. This book delves into how ordinary individuals can achieve extraordinary success through six high-performance habits: Seeking Clarity, Generating Energy, Raising Necessity, Increasing Productivity, Developing Influence, and Demonstrating Courage.
In addition to my reading, I’ve engaged in various personality tests and assessments, including the Cliff StrengthsFinder test. Interestingly, four out of my top five strengths align with the influencing category! Initially, I felt a sense of shame about pursuing a career in coaching or influencing. However, I soon realized that leveraging my top strength is not only natural but also immensely powerful.
Burchard’s insights underscored the significance of developing a strong influence, which in turn leads to successful brand partnerships. Moreover, cultivating a substantial social media following not only grants social clout but also positions me as an industry leader.
The key lessons I’ve gleaned from Burchard’s book continue to resonate in my business practices. I focus on teaching people how to think critically, challenging them to grow, and leading by example. These principles have proven instrumental in shaping my approach and driving success in my endeavors.
Contact Info:
- Website: jessmillerdraws.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessmillerdraws/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessmillerdraws/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesshort/
