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What does it mean to have character?

What does it mean to have character?

In this issue: defining character, how to protect your creative well, why "us" vs "them" is a superficial comparison, and what failure really is.

PJ Milani
January 21, 2025

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🤔 INTERESTING

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A hit or a miss doesn’t define your character.
It’s how often you come back to keep shooting.

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📐 DESIGN

Short Clip from a Q&A with “Thinking in Visual Metaphors” students

Imagine if you could write, record, and make meaningful work on demand. The thing is most people have ideas worth sharing, but the content they consume poisons their creative well.

You may have heard of the famous Jim Rohn quote: “You’re the average of the 5 people you spend most thing with.” I’d add that your work is the average of the 5 types of content you most often consume.

By the way, if you’re interested in how to make visuals yourself, be one of the first to know when Cohort 10 is open for enrollment.

🔮 ENCHANTING

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art showing an iceberg metaphor for understanding differences and similarities. Above the water, smaller sections labeled ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ represent visible differences. Below the surface, the iceberg is actually connected and is one and the same. This is a much larger portion labeled ‘Things in common we don’t see’ highlights unseen shared qualities, emphasizing deeper connections.

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❝

We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.

Maya Angelou

🧠 ANALOGY

Illustration by milaniCREATIVE.art contrasting perceptions of failure. On the left, a trash can filled with crumpled paper is labeled ‘This is not failure,’ symbolizing attempts at writing and lots of effort, but not getting it right just yet. On the right, a trash can with a discarded typewriter and written page is labeled ‘This is,’ representing giving up entirely.

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Definition of Failure

For every idea shared, dozens never see the light of day.

Messing up and failing isn't a sign you're doing it wrong. It's a lesson to help you course correct.

🤓 WHAT I’M READING NOW

“let’s draw a story” by Sachiko Umoto

Sachiko Umoto has created some of my all-time favorite drawing books, and “let’s draw a story” is my favorite. It’s a storybook, drawing book, and brainstorming book wrapped into one. I love browsing it for inspiration!

The adorable drawings warm up my heart (especially on a cold day like today!).

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