Is Graphic Design the Right Career Move?

If you're reading this, I'm assuming you either just left college and are staring into the abyss of what "adult life" looks like... or you're currently working a job you don't like and want to change your career. I just want to say both are extremely normal and you're not weird. However, in terms of you being scared about what comes next or won't come next, that is completely normal and there shouldn't be any shame in that.

Is graphic design a good career move for you? Let me ask you a few questions that I hope can spark some inspiration.

1. When you stare at a blank piece of paper, how do you feel about it? 
   Does the sheer amount of possibilities overwhelm you? Or does the sheer amount of possibilities excite you? One of the biggest lessons I've learned as a designer is that you just have to start making stuff. Sure, we know THE Michael Jordan, who played 15 seasons in the NBA and won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. But guess what? We didn't see the 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 hours he practiced while on JV in high school to prove himself as a player and join varsity that next year. If you're wanting a cool read, check out his early life on his wikipedia page.

2. Are you curious? 
   To become a "successful" graphic designer, you cannot sit still. Reading, discussing and listening to other creatives or visionaries is KEY to making fresh work. You have to be willing to walk humbly into any given situation and assume you don't know everything. If you become a graphic designer, that means you are a student for the rest of your life. You are continuing to learn and develop over the course of your career not just in school.

3. Do you have any grit in your back pocket?
   (I don't want to say "tough skin" because that feels silly. "Grit" makes me feel kind of badass so I'll use that.) At all times, in every facet of your career, having grit in your back pocket will get you through the tough times. Sometimes the work you make will not be appreciated. How do you handle constructive (or not so constructive) criticism? Will you bury your head in the sand or get back to work?

4. Knowing when to quit. 
   Ironically, having grit in one of your back pockets but also having the ability to quit in the other is important. Especially if you're freelancing, you can get stuck in doing a project that is soul sucking because you're in it for the "money" or "exposure". So keeping yourself in check, and having the courage to quit when you should will be necessary.

I will say this. LIFE IS SHORT. If you want to do something different, something that gets you out of that soul sucking job, or simply gives you a new change of scenery then do it. The world isn't going to hand you your perfect job, you have to go out and find it.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. If this doesn't motivate you, let my good friend Shia LaBeouf help you out.