by Maya S Penn
When I got a little older—this is after I saw the Playhouse Disney special—I wanted to learn everything I possibly could about animation; I wanted to understand how it actually worked. I watched tons of YouTube clips and tutorials (a great source of information for learning more about . . . well, almost anything). I also learned more than I could have imagined just by paying closer attention to my favorite movies. Whenever I got a new DVD of an animated film, I’d head straight for the behind-the-scenes footage. Over time, I became familiar with all the major styles and techniques: 2-D, 3-D, stop-motion (like Coraline or The Nightmare Before Christmas), and Claymation (like the Wallace and Gromit cartoons).
Since my dad knew how much I loved animation, and also how much time I’d spent learning about it, he got me an intro-to-animation computer program for kids when I was around eight years old. He also gave me my first digital drawing tablet, let me borrow his old MacBook, and installed all the software for me. The program was easy to learn—a great teaching tool for me at the time—and helped me grasp how basic animation worked.
Obviously, none of my original animations were super-full-blown cartoons. I was mostly trying to master small movements—not even as advanced as getting a character to walk across the screen or move his mouth in time to dialogue, more like getting him to wave or jump in the air, just basic stuff like that. Eventually, though, I was able to make my first digital short, a thirty-second clip about my pet cat fighting a toy mouse that I’d left lying around on the floor of my room. (Except they were ninjas. I called it Ninja Kooky, because Kooky is a nickname I sometimes use for my cat Coconut.) Little did I know I’d later showcase my animations when I did my first TED talk, premiering my creations on a global stage.
Back when I was four or five, I could have just said, I like cartoons; I’d like to do that someday. But by educating myself—by being curious—I didn’t just learn about animation, I did it. By eight years old, I was able to create my own cartoons.
Now I want you to take another look at that dream board. You may have already identified the broad themes, you may have already pinpointed some general interests, but what makes you genuinely curious? What might you learn more about?
For example, maybe your dream board is filled with images from your favorite movies because you dream of one day becoming an actor. Have you ever actually given it a shot? Ever acted in an actual play? Is there a community theater in your area? Acting classes in your city? A drama program you can join at your school?
Or perhaps you posted a lot of postcards from foreign, exotic places, because what you really love is photography. Do you know how to check your camera’s aperture (or f-stop) setting? Do you know which chemicals are used in photo processing? Ever been inside an actual darkroom?
All of those questions provide a way forward, a way to start turning your passions into actions, and there are a ton of ways to learn more about all the things that you love: Internet research, YouTube tutorials, television shows and documentaries (even the behind-the-scenes footage from your favorite movies), educational programs or summer camps, local book clubs or sports leagues or theater troupes you could join. (If there isn’t a club or a group in your area, perhaps you could start one.)
Success isn’t really based on how smart a person is—lots of kids (and adults, too) are plenty smart, have really great ideas, and are in tune with their creative mind. Success is much more closely linked to taking that next step, to educating yourself and exploring, to being curious.
WHAT IF NOTHING ON MY DREAM BOARD JUMPS OUT?
So, you’re gazing at your dream board and—to your horror—it looks like a jumbled mess. You’ve got a postcard from London up there, a magazine article about surfing, a dried flower from the garden, screenshots from The Lego Movie, a quote about courage, and a lot of pictures of strawberries . . . for some strange reason. You have no idea what any of this means; you can’t find any themes or common ground. Now what?
If themes or interests or passions don’t pop out from your dream board right away, don’t worry. We all feel a little foggy sometimes, or distracted or out of touch with our creative mind. People sometimes forget, though, that creativity (as well as your ability to recognize creative impulses when you have them) is something you can improve upon, something you can get better at, just like any other skill. Sometimes that takes practice, and sometimes what your mind needs is a bit of a break. When I get a little stuck or my ideas feel stale, I do a few things to recharge my batteries:
Unplug. I love technology in all its forms. I’m fascinated by it. But the truth is that tech and social media are kind of like the elephant in the room for our generation—whether we admit it or not, we all know that we’re probably spending a little too much time on our phones, online, on Facebook, watching TV, or scrolling through the videos on YouTube. So, hard as it is, I purposely set aside some time each week to step away from the texts, the emails, and the computer holding all my work files. I leave my studio and go outside to walk or run or meditate, or I play with my dog or hang with a friend or paint or read or sometimes just wander into the other room to see what my mom is up to. Even when I’m really busy or up against a crazy deadline, I feel much more fresh and productive and creative when I allow myself to take an occasional break.
Eliminate the Negative. If too much exposure to technology is the elephant in the room for our generation, then it goes without saying that we’re all exposed to various kinds of media. The problem is that sometimes magazines, television shows, music videos, and even our friends’ Facebook pages can send subliminal messages about how we should act, dress, feel, or think. Media can make us feel as though we’re not quite—or we’ll never be—hip or cool enough. Sometimes it’s healthy to take a break from all that, especially if certain kinds of media make you feel down.
For example, you might want to periodically clean up your Instagram feed, especially if you’re seeing a lot of negative posts or fads. If whenever you look at your Facebook timeline you’re inundated with negativity, perhaps it’s time to hit that magic Unfriend button. You can also make an effort to start following or friending more positive, uplifting people and pages. You want to feel inspired when you read or watch television or check into your social media accounts, not depressed. The good news is that we have much more control over the media—and the things we allow to influence us—than we realize. So get rid of the negative.
Be Bored. Being bored is kind of like unplugging, except instead of taking a break to do something fun, I purposely set out to do something kind of dull, like running an errand I’ve been putting off or doing a chore like folding laundry. I often find that doing boring, minimally stimulating tasks gives my mind a chance to wander and daydream—which just happens to be when I get some of my best ideas. As it turns out, boredom is a great motivator!
BUSTING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
While you’re perusing your dream board and taking notes (either mental or actual) on what you might like to learn more about, I’d like you to take a moment to list some skills or hobbies that you’re not good at, that you aren’t interested in, too. That goes double for all you Blank-Drawers.
Let’s say you’re really not into drawing. You’re no good at it. You still have untouched art supplies from second grade lying around, and stick figures are about all you’re capable of (forget trying to draw anything more complicated, like hands . . . or humans). But are you really a terrible artist? Or is that just a story you’ve told yourself for years? Just because you weren’t a little Picasso at age seven doesn’t mean you can’t develop some artistic talent at seventeen. What would it hurt if you looked up drawing tutorials on YouTube and gave it a shot?
Or, even if you don’t think of yourself as a techie, maybe it’s time to learn a little about coding or scripting. Coding, by the way, isn’t just for people who want to build computer programs, nor is it just for nerds (such as myself) who are deeply obsessed with technology in all its forms. Learning to code, rather, is pret
ty much like learning a cheat code for the entire Internet. There are lots of tools and tricks you can use to help you in everyday online situations, like selecting a font that isn’t available in your email’s WYSIWYG editor (that’s short for “What You See Is What You Get”), or discovering an old password that, although you forgot it, is still saved deep inside your computer. Maybe with a little practice, you’ll discover an affinity for coding. Or maybe you won’t—and that’s okay, too.
Why am I asking you to try something you already know you’re not interested in? Because it’ll open up a whole new part of your brain, that’s why! You can’t really know for sure what you’ll connect with or what you’ll be motivated by until you try something. So, try this: pick one skill—drawing, coding, singing, bird-watching, sewing, reading about historical events, whatever—and devote a week to it. For a set period of time every day of that week, commit yourself to learning something about that skill. You’ve never been into exercising? Try going for a jog, just for five minutes, simply to see how it feels. The next day, do it again. And then do it again the day after that. You hate getting your hands dirty? Try attending a pottery workshop. If you always sign up for chorus, why not dip your toe into acting? If you love writing code, why not try writing a poem? The key is to bust out of your comfort zone. If you try something and you still hate it, well, no harm, no foul. But what if you don’t? What new and amazing opportunities might present themselves if you suddenly discovered a new talent, a new skill, a new love?
CREATING A CONCEPT VAULT
As you begin exercising your creative muscles and indulging your innate curiosity, you may find yourself inching closer and closer to coming up with that Big Idea. Mine was to start a business, but yours might be to found a club at your school or place of worship, or to gain support for an issue or a movement in your community. Or, you might have lots of little ideas (which can be just as powerful and meaningful as the “big ones”), but you aren’t sure which to pursue—or how, or when.
One way to keep those creative impulses coming, without getting overwhelmed or sidetracked or flummoxed (especially if you’re a Flip-Flopper), is to write all of those ideas down. Even the crazy ones. Even the what-if-dinosaurs-had-dinosaur-sized-sunglasses type of ideas, which I call “one a.m. thoughts.” (You never know, maybe your dinosaur-sized-sunglasses idea will drive you to create a new kind of protective eyewear or something.)
Some of the best ideas I’ve had concerning my business have leapt from the pages of my Idea Book. For instance, whenever inspiration hits and I get an idea for a clothing or headband design, I sketch it out quickly and jot down the name; then I know I’ll be able to create it later, when the time is right. Granted, keeping an Idea Book is a little different from starting a dream board—think of it as a bank where you can save your best ideas for later use—but here are some tips to help get you started.
MAKE YOUR OWN IDEA BOOK
What you’ll need: A spiral notebook, diary, journal, or three-ring binder; something to write with; and some discipline.
Write It Down. Whenever a burst of creativity hits you, jot down a short entry with the general idea, write up a super-detailed description complete with concept art and thesis, or do a quick doodle and record a few key words—whatever it takes to get it out of your head and on paper.
Go Old School. Yes, paper. Sure, you could type it up with an app, but I think the things we put on our phones or save online often stay in the digital world, a place where ideas are—in my opinion—easily forgotten. Being able to actually touch the pages and feel the indentations of the words you’ve written or the pictures you’ve drawn, on the other hand, brings your ideas into the real world, the place where ideas and concepts can blossom into actions.
Choose the Right Tools. Your Idea Book can be a fancy-looking journal or a cheap spiral sketchbook. It could be a loose-leaf binder that you’re constantly adding pages to, or a pocket-sized notebook you tuck in your jacket. You can decorate the cover, or leave it pristine and untouched. It doesn’t matter. As long as it has paper, it’s an official Idea Book.
Find a Rhythm. There’s no hard-and-fast rule concerning how often you should log your ideas—it’s not like inspiration strikes every day at the same time (and if it does, I want to meet you!). Just make an effort to find a practice that works for you. With an Idea Book on your desk, atop your nightstand, in your backpack, or wherever, you’ll have a physical reminder to do just that.
Keep It Fun, But Take It Seriously. Pay attention to your ideas, even the ones that seem ridiculous. It could be that your “silly” idea for how to conserve water or stop a bully in his tracks is the start of a major project or business or solution.
I believe that all people have been blessed with their own power, their own place, and their own way to influence people around the world, and by now, I hope you’re feeling a little more in tune with your passions, your goals, and the things that make you tick. In part II, we’ll talk a bit more about how to turn those passions into actions. But for now:
Be creative. Be curious. And watch as your awesomeness is unleashed.
Earlier in this book, I told you that in the years prior to launching my business, I hadn’t even known that it was possible to sell stuff online—I thought that you needed a physical store, and that if I ever wanted to sell anything, I’d probably have to buy a building or hire a construction crew (both equally unlikely for an eight-year-old). What I didn’t tell you was that I also thought you had to be a grown-up to own a company.
It’s not that I thought kids were too immature or too little, per se, I just thought you had to be a grown-up. I thought those were the rules. After all, I’d never seen or heard about any other kid entrepreneurs. Had there been a special on Playhouse Disney about kids in business (rather than, or in addition to, the one I’d seen on professional animators), I probably would’ve jumped right in. But there wasn’t at the time, so I figured it just wasn’t possible. I thought that no kid would be allowed to open a nonprofit, or head an animation studio, or run a fashion company. I thought being a kid and owning a business might actually be illegal.
Obviously, I was wrong about that.
In fact, it wasn’t even all that difficult to convince my parents to let me start Maya’s Ideas. (As it turns out, running a business is a great way to learn about everything from marketing to money management to math skills—which you’ll need in order to purchase supplies, keep your costs in check, and track your revenue.) So the next step in my journey, after getting my parents on board, was setting up my online shop. I read through some FAQs and tutorials on Etsy (incidentally, the site kind of walks you through how to set everything up), then I made an account, created my “store,” jumped right in, and got started.
The very first item I uploaded for sale on my shop also happened to be one of the very first headbands I ever created. Instead of a blue ribbon with a yellow flower appliqué, or an orange ribbon with an orange-and-blue flower, this one featured a zebra-print ribbon onto which I sewed a little red butterfly. In addition to being the first item I uploaded, though, “Zebrafly” (the official name I’d given to this particular design) also ended up being the very first item I sold. I just hadn’t realized that my first sale would happen so quickly.
When I first started designing, photographing, and uploading items to my digital store, I certainly did so with the intention of selling them—I mean, why else would anyone spend time on an e-commerce site? But at the same time, I don’t think I actually believed that anyone would buy any of the things I had made. It had been only a matter of months since I’d learned it was even possible to sell stuff online; the whole concept was still pretty foreign. So when that first order came through—within days of launching my business—I was pretty much blown away. Someone had actually taken the time to browse the items in my shop, say to herself, Well, this looks cute, and then buy something! With her hard-earned money! How crazy is that?!
Since it was my very first order, I k
new I couldn’t possibly just box up the headband, toss in an invoice, and have that be it—receiving my first order felt celebratory, and I wanted the customer to feel like she was celebrating, too. I wanted to make the package itself seem special. So I decorated the box with ribbon and plastered stickers all over it. I also dropped in a handwritten thank-you note. (Decorating packages and handwriting thank-you notes is still something I do to this day. I like all the boxes from Maya’s Ideas, when they arrive at a customer’s doorstep, to make a kind of grand entrance.) I can’t remember if I went with my dad to the post office to drop off the package—I have a vague memory of waving good-bye to the box before walking out the front door, so it’s possible that he dropped it off at the USPS for me. And a few days later, I received my first bit of positive feedback, in the form of a five-star review.
Who knew that my next major milestone would be filling an international order?
Sure, Etsy is a global website, so it’s conceivable that a vendor could receive orders from people all over the world. I just hadn’t expected my third or fourth order—ever—to come from someone in Italy. Immediately, I became consumed with making sure the package would make it to its round-the-world destination. I peppered my parents with questions: How long would it take to get there? Would we have to buy some kind of special stamps? Did I have to address the package in Italian?! Thankfully, they kind of took care of the international shipping part for me, which was good: the headband arrived safely, and I wound up with another satisfied customer.
