We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Murray Little a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Murray, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?
Honestly my self discipline comes from fear. I, like many people, am terrified of failure. I’m scared to let people down and I’m scared to sit idle and flounder trying to find my place. I’m scared of everything all the time. But I know that I’m not going to get anywhere if I don’t push myself forwards. I have tried and failed so many times but that’s what got me to where I am now. I have to keep working or else my dreams will remain just dreams.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a recent art school graduate!
I studied animation and film. I am currently an art teacher in Thurston county and a contract animator with Sky bear media in the PNW. I am currently working on several Pilot episodes and short films that are entirely 2D animated.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think my persistence, my courage, and my resilience aware the most important things that have attributed to where I am now.
From a young age I knew that higher education for me would not be financially available. In today’s age a highschool education alone is extremely difficult to work with in the job market. But I wasn’t going to let that barrier stop me. I worked three jobs and graduated early to work full time. I picked up side jobs and what ever else I could in order to pay for courses abroad. I did it by myself which wasn’t easy. I think what that taught me is that I have the skills to do anything.
My advice is that no matter where you want to be, you can get there. You have to put one foot in front of the other, and keep your eyes on the ground in front of you. One day you’ll see how far you’ve made it instead of how much work there is left to do.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I often feel overwhelmed. I have to juggle a few jobs and side gigs in order to live alone. The job market looks bleak and all I really want to be doing is art. Of course seeing my schedule and what very little personal times I have overwhelms me. I deal with a lot of worries, both day to day and ten years down the line. But what I do is try to think of every time I was scared of not getting a job, not getting into school, letting someone down, whatever it may be. Then I think “ The last time something like this happened, did the world end?”
No. It kept spinning and I’m still here. I figured it out like I always do! I just keep telling myself that “I’ve made it this far.” And I know I can keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://krop.com/murraymonetlittle/%23
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pissed_off_portrait_painter?igsh=dTA0NTJqam5sOWdr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/murray-monet-little-014458286?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cK9Q2jXAj1Y
- Other: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cK9Q2jXAj1Y
Image Credits
None
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