performance anxiety

Mar 13, 2014

Every single time I design or create something I get ‘performance anxiety.’ I’m talking about that uncomfortable time from the moment I share my creativity (no matter if it’s a website or a photo or a publication or just an idea or thought) to the time I receive feedback. I don’t get anxious because I’m not confident in my abilities or feel “my stuff isn’t as good as XYZ’s stuff” — it’s because everyone thinks differently and likes different things. I’m lucky though! I can go right back to the drawing board if the outcome isn’t 100% what I want it to be. Others aren’t so lucky. Maybe you’re one of those “OTHERS.”

If you don’t get a standing O at the end of a speech you don’t get a do-over. If you’ve designed a casket spray the family doesn’t like you can’t say, “I’ll make some tweaks and we’ll connect again next week.” And if you’re a professional photographer you can’t request a wedding repeat or ask your client to please fly in for another shoot because they aren’t thrilled with what you captured the first time.

So my favorite brother was recently photographed by Paul Mobley. If you’ve not heard of him, check out his work — it’s all impressive. Scott was out of the country when the proofs were provided to him so he didn’t respond a few days. Paul then sent an email asking if Scott had seen the photos. If I were in Paul’s shoes, that email would’ve been sent because of performance anxiety. So I wonder if that’s also what sparked his follow-up even though he’s obviously talented and confident. Or… was he simply wanting to know how to proceed and I’m just too much like my Dad — a ‘people pleaser’ to the umpteenth degree?

That’s one really cool thing about whatifitdid — since I don’t charge for ads or sell/market ONE THING here, I can post whatever I want and only need to please ME. Let me show you how it works…

that's my girl

See? No anxiety whatsoever.

What about you? Do you experience performance anxiety? Or do you just kick-back and roll with the flow?

no anxiety here