If you're in that stand-still period of life when you're starting to wonder, "What next?" or, "What am I going to do after college?" then you've come to the right place.
Neil Gaiman couldn't have said it better than during his speech to graduating students of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia: Make good art. These three simples words form one command that can change how you think about your future.
We don't know what to do when we finally get out of the institution that is supposed to guide us toward a successful path. We want to be happy and enjoy every day, but we also want to have a high income and a respectable job title. As our world becomes more advanced and complex, we seem to be simplifying our lifestyles and responsibilities. Gaiman says:
“People keep working in a freelance world… because their work is good... they are easy to get along with and because they deliver their work on time. And you don’t even need all three. Two out of three is fine. People will tolerate how unpleasant you are if your work is good and you deliver it on time. They’ll forgive the lateness of the work if it’s good, and if they like you. And you don’t have to be as good as the others if you’re on time and it’s always a pleasure to hear from you.”
Now if that doesn't make you stop and think a little, consider how his world-famous story's character was named...
"If you're making mistakes, it means you're out there doing something. And the mistakes in themselves can be useful. I once misspelled Caroline, in a letter, transposing the 'a' and the 'o,' and I thought, 'Coraline looks like a real name...'"
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Don't be afraid to try something new, something outside of the box and outside of your comfort zone.
"The moment that you feel that, just possibly, you're walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself. That's the moment you may be starting to get it right.
When I was given Gaiman's speech in the illustrated book by Chip Kidd, I must have read it at least three times within the first few days. It's not long, but it has something important to say -- something our generation seems to be forgetting as we delve deeper into the science of the world, as we cure diseases and as we reach deeper into space.
His three simple words: Make. Good. Art.
I'm not sure why I was so inspired by this speech, but it definitely touched on what our society is in danger of losing. Without good art, the world will not be how we know it today. Without people who at least want to make good art, the world will not be.
To view Neil Gaiman's full speech to the University of the Arts, click here.
