Whenever I start something new I feel dumb, unskilled, and uncertain.

With me that’s been learning animation. I just started taking it seriously three months ago, and everything I make is terrible. The gap between what I’m doing and what I imagined myself doing is huge.

Right at the start that would disappoint me. I’d be flustered with the fact that I couldn’t make something that I’d see in my favorite cartoon.

Then I heard this quote:

“I often tell my new athletes: “Sorry, you just are not good enough to be disappointed.””—Dan John

It comes off as rah rah hustle advice that I’m tired of seeing everywhere online, but I think it’s more uplifting and valuable than that.

It’s not saying “get back to work you’re not good enough yet” it’s more like “hey don’t beat yourself up you’re still a rookie.”

I don’t expect greatness out of rookies. I expect rookie results and rookie mistakes.

I’m comparing my animations to cartoons that generate millions of dollars. It’s like comparing a middle school athlete to LeBron James.

I just don’t have the right to be upset at myself right now.

I’m not good enough to judge what I make. I’m bad enough to just focus on putting in work.

***

This post was from my newsletter

I share ideas from great thinkers so we can stand on the shoulders of giants, instead of figuring life out alone

Comments

TreatThompson OP t1_jbamf5r wrote on March 7, 2023 at 5:53 PM

#2,179,703

Thinking about this reminded me of another quote:

"The master has failed more times than the beginner has tried"—Stephen McCranie

Yarddogkodabear t1_jbawxy5 wrote on March 7, 2023 at 6:59 PM

#2,180,187

I'm an animator and a skilled fancier of (creative growth) and learning curves regarding creativity.

Have you chosen a style of animation? Because there is objectivity in that.

If you can see the problems in your animation then at least means you can identify your mistakes.

3 months is extremely new no to the craft. Go easy on yourself.

Some of the best animators I know have their speciality I don't know many that can do VFX, character, cartoon, Disney, etc.

Yarddogkodabear t1_jbay7xe wrote on March 7, 2023 at 7:08 PM

#2,180,233

Replying to TreatThompson (#2,179,703)

Ya, the kind of person that is learning animation is preparing themselves for years of learning.

Most people don't have that kind of gumption.

TreatThompson OP t1_jbayfag wrote on March 7, 2023 at 7:09 PM

#2,180,237

Replying to Yarddogkodabear (#2,180,187)

Hey it’s nice to hear that!!

I haven’t yet fallen on a particular style that I’m drawn to most, I’m sure it will pop up as I keep going

TreatThompson OP t1_jbaymt2 wrote on March 7, 2023 at 7:10 PM

#2,180,246

Replying to Yarddogkodabear (#2,180,233)

Haha that’s what I keep hearing! Everyone says it’s grueling

I’m ready for it

Yarddogkodabear t1_jbaz8u0 wrote on March 7, 2023 at 7:14 PM

#2,180,269

Replying to TreatThompson (#2,180,246)

You will get pulled towards a specialty based on the jobs you do. If you work on a cheap animation project cranking out animation is what you will learn. Or whatever games teach animators. Or VFX.

So your skills and demo Reel will start to reflect those skills.

[deleted] t1_jbbuqml wrote on March 7, 2023 at 10:35 PM

#2,181,641

[removed]

mace1173 t1_jbckgif wrote on March 8, 2023 at 1:44 AM

#2,182,764

I see you are young. It's ok to fail as long as you fail forward. That means as long as you learned something. Improve your thoughts and strengthen your emotions. It's easy to give up. But it's a hell of a lot harder to stand back up. Life isn't easy only the strongest make a difference. But that just means you grow in strength by dealing with the hardest parts. Think of life as going to the gym. You don't do it to lift the same lightweight you do it to lift heavier weight. To run longer than to run longer faster. You can't accomplish that by lifting the same weights or running at the same pace or distance. You look in the mirror every morning, thats the one person you have to convince. What do you tell that person.

WhimsicalUnknown t1_jbcvq08 wrote on March 8, 2023 at 3:10 AM

#2,183,269

Thank you for sharing this quote and your personal struggles.

With new things, expect to start really rough. It’s normal. Expect to give bad results for a while. It’s normal. You may not see others going through it. That’s because people tend to share their successes more. Behind all success is a lot of struggling.

Failure, mistakes, struggles, ugliness are a part of learning. The more you mess up early on, the more you will learn. What’s a better time to do poorly than in the beginning? No other time! Make all the “bad” things. Keep them to look back and reflect on your progress.

You are trying new things. You are learning. You are growing. Isn’t that beautiful?

Think of how wildfires encourage healthier regrowth. So so beautiful.

Keep trying. You are amazing.