Jacob Wells: I’m talking to somebody whose work I admire deeply and I want to learn how to do what he does, but he’s trying to learn from me how to actually make a living, so why can’t I go towards something that is good work and makes money?

• Don’t fall into the trap of generalizing from one person and one story. It is not going to be representative of everyone that works in the industry
• Reframe rest as strategic growth, not wasted time, especially when learning or thinking deepens your long-term value.
• Don’t pursue perfect at the expense of progress. Progress might not be perfect, but it’s going to move you further along than waiting for perfection.
• Meaningful connections can take years to compound. Getting a breakthrough at outreach requires a tremendous amount of patience and perseverance. 
• Provide value even before being hired by finding simple, immediate ways to help others without expecting anything in return.
• Keep your outreach human and personal. Use AI for outside objective perspectives, not for replacing your creative voice or doing the hard thinking for you.
• Generative AI is a completely new medium.  It's a medium for experimentation, to pitch an idea and visualize something that you couldn't do before.
• Define success as making impactful work with great collaborators, then use it as your filter for every opportunity you consider.

Useful Resource:

Where Do the Robots Belong in the Creative Process and Where Do We Belong?

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