Learning doesn’t end when you leave school – it continues on the job every day.
What you learn is more important than what you earn.” - David Ogilvy, founder Ogilvy and Mather.
Fall is the time when children return to school in the United States – a time of fresh opportunities, of learning new things, meeting new people, and facing new challenges. But the thrill of the first day of school should not be reserved just for students. We can all experience that back-to-school excitement.
Every time you start a new job it is like going to a new school. You are meeting new people and learning new things. You are facing new challenges and growing. You might have obstacles to overcome, lessons to learn, and mistakes you can't avoid. But you will also make new friends and learn new skills.
Even if you are not starting school or a new job, you can still make a fresh start. Can you change your approach to your work? To your co-workers? What can you do to challenge yourself on your job? Perhaps you can ask for an assignment that takes you out of your comfort zone. Or seek out someone at work who can teach you something new.
If you work in the animation, visual effects, design, games or any other creative field, you know that learning does not end when you leave school. It continues every day on the job. Artists always aspire to improve their skills, broaden their perspective, and find people and opportunities that force them to get better at what they do.
One artist who does this is George Scribner, who is best known for directing Oliver and Company, an animated Disney feature that was released in 1988. An artist with commissions from Autoridad del Canal to record the expansion of the Panama Canal and a commission to create paintings documenting the construction of Shanghai Disneyland, Scribner shares that he still takes classes in painting.
George writes, “I think it’s really important to find people better than you and try and learn from them. It never stops. The world belongs to the dogged. Sounds corny but it's true…”
The image is of Jazz Guitarist Joe Morris which George describes, “A small study done in a weekly painting class that I take. We either paint from a model or paint from a photo. I try to paint subjects I haven’t done before to work out painting problems with an instructor who can help me. I’ve learned a lot.”
Those who are passionate about their work and their creations continue to grow and develop, whether they take classes, study the work of others, or get feedback from peers. Those who challenge themselves with a new approach or responsibility or take advantage of a mentor will continue to excel by forcing themselves to learn new things. That's a lesson we must never forget.
To learn more about George Scribner and his art visit https://www.scribnerart.com/
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Pamela Kleibrink Thompson is a recruiter, career coach, speaker, and writer. First introduced as a course at SIGGRAPH, her Career Navigation Program is a huge hit with students all over the world. She has presented at Ringling in Florida, NBCC in Canada, and for the MDA in Singapore. You can contact Pamela at PamRecruit87@gmail.com.
