Week 5:Uncertainty, Cross-Border Wisdom, and the Search for My Next Chapter

What people say and what i hear?

Its Thursday somewhere.

Lately, the question of "which direction?" has been echoing in my mind, often accompanied by the resounding sound of "no." This feeling has been particularly acute over the past six months as I've been actively seeking a new job, navigating a landscape filled with rejections. Despite numerous interviews, successfully passing assessments, and meeting with various teams, the right opportunity has yet to materialize. This season of figuring things out has been intense, feeling like being tossed in the middle of a stormy sea. The weight of uncertainty feels heavier when you're not just navigating your own path, but also responsible for little ones, creating a constant undercurrent of anxiety. One of the biggest hurdles I've faced lately is the challenge of "readability." How do you package a multifaceted experience and a diverse skillset in a way that resonates with opportunities when even successful interview stages don't translate into an offer? It feels like sometimes the more you have to offer, the harder it is for people to see the full picture, leading to a frustrating feeling that your past experiences, rather than being assets, sometimes create more questions than answers.

This has brought to the forefront a significant internal question: do I focus on rebuilding Creative Nestlings full-time while simultaneously building CRCO, pursuing filmmaking projects, taking on consulting work, and exploring other avenues? Is this multifaceted approach the path God intends for me? It feels like multiple paths are pulling me in different directions, each with its own potential and set of challenges. As we get older, it sometimes feels like we lose those open spaces for honest conversations about the messy parts of life, and I've been missing the dialogue, the shared experiences of navigating such significant decisions, and the feeling that you're not alone in the search for the right direction. Here's a funny truth though: I seem to be much better at giving practical, impactful advice than I am at following my own. This week, I'm diving into this very paradox as I navigate my own crossroads, seeking clarity on the best way forward and trusting in a larger plan.

To Conference or not to Conference

Something On My Mind: Where Did All the Big Creative Conferences Go?

While researching conferences recently, a question popped into my head that I had to throw out to my LinkedIn network: South Africa used to have some of the best conferences for creatives, but are they still happening, or have they all shut down? The responses were quite insightful and painted a varied picture:

Trevor Ndhlovu shared, "I think we have a lot more micro summits/conferences than ever. Currently in South Africa we have what might feel and look like a buzzing creative economy but things are happening in isolation hence the need for micro gatherings.”

Thabang Buthelezi reminisced, “Do you still remember Estée Lauder’s creative conference with Between 10and5? it used to be called POSSIBLE 👌🏾 top stuff! But I guess brands are spending all their money on influencer marketing.”

From my own observation, it does seem like we're seeing more conferences focused on the creative economy practitioner side of things. Maybe it's just me, but it felt like the bigger ones like Design Indaba created a more unified vision, a real north star, and perhaps we didn't fully appreciate them when they were active.

Then, this perspective shared on Threads by Gary Williams Jr (@masterwilliams) really struck a chord:

It definitely makes you think about the evolution of creative gatherings and what we truly seek from them now.

Creativity Knows No Borders, thats what Iria also says.

This week, on a recent episode of my podcast, "Creativity Knows No Borders," where I had an absolute fire conversation with the amazing Iria Marina. She's a seriously inspiring fashion entrepreneur from Mozambique, and we got into the real nitty-gritty of running a creative biz across African borders. One thing she dropped that totally blew my mind about the hustle was: "If a product costs 3,000 rand, then to ship that product is 4,000 rand." Talk about keeping it real!

Beyond the pure grit of logistics, Iria shared some seriously sharp insights into the connections between the South African and Mozambican economies. If you're in the creative game, dreaming of your own entrepreneurial adventure in Africa, or just curious about how things actually work on the ground, this is an episode you gotta check out. Trust me, you'll get some serious takeaways and a fresh appreciation for the hustle.

Catch the full vibe and all the wisdom on "Creativity Knows No Borders" – you know where to find your podcasts

Keeping it short, in conclusion

Kept it short so you have time to visit my VSCO and also my insta.