Building a body of trust

When people join our Vision 20/20 program and talk about what they want to do, one phrase pops up again and again:

“I just want to be paid for being me.”

When it comes to finding your purpose or making an effortless impact, it’s not surprising that an increasing number of us want to accomplish this.

But it’s not always easy to get to this point. Sometimes it takes a circuitous route, as we get more and more used to showing up as our full selves and discovering what it is we really want to do.

One such alumnus of our program who’s taken the long way around is creativity coach and podcast producer, Mark Steadman.

In this Friday Fireside, Mark, Carlos, and Laurence explore what it means to "be paid to be me" - monetising our authentic selves.

Mark talks about embracing creativity as self-expression, moving from pressured content creation to releasing a focus on outcomes, the importance of human connection over content, and becoming comfortable sharing more of his true self.

This one’s for you if…

• You want to find alternative ways of “getting out there” that don’t involve endless social media posts

• You’re struggling with becoming visible and “working out loud”

• You want to be creative without the pressure to endlessly deliver

• You want to show up as yourself and build trust with others in a way that feels authentic

Here are nine takeaways from the conversation:

1. Creativity as self-expression

Some of us struggle with being labelled as creative, but Mark defines creativity as "making up a world that didn't exist otherwise" through any medium, whether it’s writing, speech, art etc. 

It's "a little piece of your emotion, of what makes you tick that you fashion into something."

By looking at creativity through this lens, it’s easy to see how our businesses can be a form of creative self-expression, too.

2. Content creation is not enough

Many people struggle with self-promotion. It’s why a whole module of our Vision 20/20 program helps people to “work out loud”. And Mark has his own take on it.

"None of what I’ve created has led directly to customers. Having a flashy website, making beautiful little objects - that hasn’t been anywhere near as useful, as valuable, as standing up on stage and going, this is me."

It’s tempting to hide behind online content. But making real connections with people, in real and virtual spaces, can be far more important.

3. Seek trust, not going “viral”

We often think we need a break-through piece of content to cut through the noise. However, it’s showing up consistently, which builds relationships.

“It's the cumulative effect, the showing up in a physical or digital space. That's one thing. And then there's showing up in your creativity and in your art and your work .. that is the longer, slower trust building stuff that’s valuable, without heaping pressure on top of it.”

4. Recognise where your agency is

When we show up with our work, it can feel vulnerable. And this vulnerability comes from not knowing how we will be received. While that part’s out of our control, other aspects are not.

“You can control the output. You can control what you make, when you make it, how often you make it. I can make the best thing I can make, in the time that I've got.”

5. Let to of focusing on outcomes

When you’re focused on a destination, it’s easy to forget to have fun in the process. As a rapid and prolific creator, Mark is learning to give himself space.

"What would happen .. if I stopped and looked and listened to see what was going on, see what was around? And experiment with a bit of quiet, a bit of silence, a bit of relaxed, fun, artistic creativity, rather than this “#content”?”

6. Our experience guides others

Mark’s now at the stage many of us reach of wanting to help others with the wisdom, experience, and knowledge we've developed, leading by example.

“I want to be paid to help people with their own stuff, to get out of their own way, get out of their own heads, and be more productive in a healthy sense. To fit creativity into their lives, and also get to do stuff, too, because that's me showing my workings out.”

7. What new story is emerging?

Sometimes we need others to help name our story for us. It’s a big part of our programs, especially Vision 20/20; looking at ourselves through the lenses of others can help us see ourselves more clearly.

Carlos identified the story that’s emerging for Mark: "I am a relentless creator. I want to help you do this stuff, too. Tap into my experience of creativity, and I’ll help you tap into yours."

8. Getting comfortable being yourself

Having hidden behind trading names for years, Mark is finally working under his own name - and showcasing the different aspects of himself under one online ‘roof’.

This triggered Carlos’s insight that you have to be comfortable just being yourself before you can "be paid to be you."

"If you're not comfortable being you, you're not going to want to be seen. You'd rather play a role because that's what people respect."

9. Building a body of trust

When we finally want to be seen for who we are, there can be something special about making our contribution, however small.

Mark considers his creative work as contributing to his "body of trust" - the cumulative impact of showing up consistently.

"We don't all have to make a dent in the universe, but we can make a little nick .. I was here, I was at this point, I made a mark."

What’s the body of trust that your work is adding to, day by day?

Mark's journey to being paid for his creative gifts will feel familiar to anyone looking to build a business that feels aligned with who they are. And it’s a reminder to all of us that we can show up, share our work, and let others know, like, and trust us through our consistent presence.

Do you want to build relationships with like-minded others and practice sharing your work before it goes out into the world? Come along to an event, join our community, or learn more about our Vision 20/20 program and find creative and helpful others who are sharing a similar path to finding a more personal version of success.

Notes

Thank you to Mark for his time. You can find his multi-talented output on his website, connect with him on LinkedIn, or subscribe to his podcast Morning Creative here.

If you’d like to find your deeper purpose at work, our next tribe of our Vision 20/20 program starts March 2024.