We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tarreyn Van Slyke a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tarreyn, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity is a habit! While we all have moments of extreme inspiration paired with spells of doubt and lack of imagination, creativity is like any other muscle, you need to keep exercising it. I think we all tend to think of it as capital C CREATIVITY – we need to be artists or makers – when the reality is that creativity manifests in any area of our life that we let it. The way we wrap a gift or do our eyeliner or parent or make an omelette. Anything can be a creative act if we let it. Staying curious, trying new things, and reminding myself that inspiration can come from anywhere are ways I keep my creative light switch turned on.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As an award winning social media specialist, I have been creating and strategizing content with proven viral potential for brands for the last 10 years. I aim to enhance the brand-follower relationship through attention-grabbing content that strikes the perfect balance between aspirational and approachable. As a freelance consultant I get to do this with a wide variety of clients, brands and talent, and I love the variety and ingenuity my field provides. As a content creator myself, my goal is to cultivate a positive and engaged digital community, and to collaborate with brands that align with my messaging about personal growth, adventure and creativity. I am endlessly fascinated with the zeitgeist, how people connect online, and the intersection between creativity and commerce.
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’ve come to learn that my enthusiasm is a super power. When you’re younger and everyone is trying to fit in and play it cool, the urge to express excitement can get repressed or squashed down, but really, enthusiasm is social courage. I have found my genuine eagerness and passion have helped me greatly in both my career and personal life. It’s a valuable skill to be able to get people excited about what you’re excited about, whether it’s getting a room of executives to buy in on your pitch, or getting your friends and family to help you with a DIY wedding. (Speaking from experience on both counts.) Similarly, my communication and public speaking skills have helped me a great deal. So much of life is a series of finding the right ways to express yourself and communicate with others, and I’m grateful these are strengths of mine.
The third skillset of mine that has carried me far is my love of autonomy and self-teaching. I learned photoshop and premiere through asking questions and watching youtube tutorials, and now I use those skills professionally all the time. I like to make my own schedules and take the lead on projects without much guidance. My upbringing as an only child made me very comfortable with autonomy and figuring things out on my own, and I am really tapping into that again as a freelancer and being my own boss.
My advice for those early in their journey is to always stay curious and to try new things, because you never know which skills or interests will pay off for you. And don’t be afraid to ask questions and share your ideas!
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 am a huge fan of self growth and improvement books, as well as empowering non-fiction. It’s cliché, but Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic” had a huge impact on me and the way I view creative efforts. It’s both practical and inspiring, and is required reading for creatives AND those who don’t think of themselves as creative.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tarreyn.com/
- Instagram: @Tarreyn
- Linkedin: @Tarreyn
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tarreyn
