Top Five Tips to Success: #4

Previous Tips in this series (click on the title to go to the post):

 #5- Always Have a Backup Plan

As humans (or whatever species reads this in the distant future), we are made to continuously absorb knowledge from our experiences and from teachings of others. As a result, we spend a vast majority of our lives learning to hone our talents. Even once our goals are fulfilled, we must never stop learning. We must keep up with current trends in our desired field, such as advances in technology and the constantly changing "industry standards". Sometimes, the changes may cause us to throw out our current methods and learn totally new techniques. Speaking from personal experience, I had to change a part of my animation and design style due to Autodesk not packaging Mental Ray with Maya 2017. As a result, I have to learn a rendering software that is different from the aforementioned. It was the same situation  when the 2D Animation software I usually use was discontinued. Currently, I am trying to learn how to use Adobe Animate even though it is a program I am against using. Another reason I am doing so is because many animations in the industry are being made using Animate, and I am further demonstrating how one must adapt to the constant "winds of change". The methods used fifty years ago in various fields are becoming obsolete as a response to these advancements, so we must never stop learning and keeping up with the current trends. From the doctor learning how to use a new advancement in medical science to the humble designer learning how to use the newest version of Photoshop, we are constantly having new techniques thrown at us for the purpose of making our lives easier and beautiful.

Top Five Tips to Success: #5

I am sure all of us have a set goal implanted in our minds; something we have been passionate about for a long time. Personally, mine is to ultimately become an animation teacher at my old high school (if at that time it still offers animation courses). However, if I were to choose a backup plan; I would either work as a graphic designer, or become a Residence Hall Director for a major University. (My boss did say I had the potential to become either of the three) Anyway; my point is that sometimes things do not always turn out the way we plan them to. Therefore, we must have something to fall back on. Think of other talents you may have and use them to your advantage if your primary goal does not work out. Once again using myself as an example, I am not only talented in visual media such as animation, video editing, and graphic design; I am also a passionate writer. If my aspirations to work in these fields do not work out, I suppose I could also work as a critic for a newspaper or news site. One time a friend of mine compared me to Bruce Wayne/Batman; as I always have some sort of contingency in case a plan fails. I never come unprepared for any situation, as I know the forces of nature love to pull tricks on occasion; in other words, things do not always go the way you plan them. Always have something to fall back on, and you will eventually find success.