Official blog of The Great Discontent.
@greatdiscontent
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A year ago, after having just moved to New York City, we had the pleasure of meeting Keith. We were already fans of his Made by Hand series, but over the past year, we’ve also grown to admire and respect the man behind the films. In an effort to learn more about Keith’s path, we met him for an interview at Prospect, a bar in his South Slope neighborhood. As Keith shared about his experiences—from how films and MTV shaped him early on, to the jobs he worked before taking a risk and going freelance—it was made clear that his path into directing wasn’t fast or easy, but it was worth it. We ended our night of conversation with one last round of drinks and a deeper appreciation for our friend, whose story reminded us that there’s no magic, only hard work. We hope Keith’s words will encourage you to do the hard work, because, in the end, it will be worth it.
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When we met James Victore at his Williamsburg studio a few weeks ago, we knew it was going to be a special evening. And it was. Over the course of the night, James recounted his path with unflinching honesty, describing his parent’s early influence on him, the events that led him to New York with dreams of becoming the best poster designer ever, and how he found, lost, and regained his dharma. Now, in the midst of doing the most important work of his career, James is certain that his life’s work is no longer about him; nor is it about money, awards, or fame. What drives James now is the simple, yet profound truth that, “Our work is a gift.” As you read the interview, it’s our sincere hope that James’ words will resonate with you, kick your ass into gear, and set you on course to view your work as a gift. Because no matter what you do, you have a contribution to make, but it’s up to you to be courageous enough to believe it and audacious enough to act on it.
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Hello friends. We’re taking this week off, but will return to our regular publishing schedule next Tuesday. Take the week to browse through the TGD archive and revisit some of your favorite interviews or catch up on the ones you haven’t read yet. Cheers!
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If you work on the web, you’ve likely read Veerle’s blog in search of inspiration or knowledge–both of which are plentiful. We’ve certainly followed Veerle’s work and read her blog over the years, which is why it was such an honor when she agreed to talk with us. Veerle is as big-hearted and kind as one would imagine and our conversation was full of lively banter and laughter as Veerle shared about her path and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Read on to find out exactly how Veerle discovered graphic design, what sparked her interest in the web, her experience of working with her life partner, Geert, and her best business advice. While Veerle is enjoying a slower pace of life these days—along with her newfound love of cycling—she hasn’t slowed down on sharing her passion and knowledge with the rest of us. And for that, we are grateful. Thank you, Veerle!
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Want to know what initiative looks like? Read this interview with James White. He grew up in a small town where the schools didn’t offer art programs. Even so, James loved drawing from a very young age and explored his interest in art with encouragement from family. At 18, his high school guidance counselor gave him a brochure for a graphic design course and his life trajectory was forever changed. He studied graphic design and then moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to work at an agency—but that’s only the beginning of the story. James’ prolific body of self-initiated work has led high-profile clients to knock on his door and, as a result, Singnalnoise Studio was born. James continues to push the boundaries of his work and challenges all of us to chase after what we love to do—because no one is going to do it for us.
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The story of 37signals is widely known among those who use and love the company’s web-based apps, but what about the story of Jason Fried, President and co-founder of 37signals? We had the pleasure of talking with Jason, a fellow Midwesterner, who recalled his path prior to 37signals. Although he originally pursued a finance degree, an interest in developing software led him to working on the web and the rest is history. In addition, his early job experiences taught him about the kind of company he wanted—and didn’t want—to build as well as the kind of culture he wanted to create. And he set out to do just that. Read on to learn about Jason’s personal path and to gain a deeper understanding of the philosophies that have shaped the way he does business and why he’s most interested in making something that stands the test of time.
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On a beautiful Friday afternoon, we joined the urban art duo of Patrick Miller and Patrick McNeil at their Greenpoint, Brooklyn, studio for an interview. The pair, along with their team of assistants, were busily preparing for FAILE’s upcoming collaboration with the New York City Ballet. After touring the studio, admiring their work up close, and taking a few photographs, we sat down to talk with FAILE about their journey. Miller and McNeil—as we’ll call them in the interview—opened up about their paths as artists, how their work found its way onto the street, and the evolution of FAILE over the last 13 years. Plus, we’ve included some amazing bonus content at the end—don’t miss it! Thank you FAILE for inspring us with your work and your story, and big thanks to our friend, Meryl, for making this happen!
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Amazing things can happen when we say, “Yes,” and Esther’s story bears witness to the power of saying yes over and over, even without knowing the outcome—and even in the face of fear. Esther picked up her first camera at a young age, but it would be years before she would find herself at home behind the lens or realize the fullness of her calling to photograph people for who they are and not their circumstances. After seven years of journeying around the globe to photograph for a variety of nonprofits and causes, Esther’s story continues to unfold. As you read about her path, may you be reminded that anything is possible if you are willing to say yes and give it a shot, because your potential is greater than your circumstances.
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Stories are powerful reminders that we are never alone and we’ve been continually reminded of that since beginning TGD in August 2011. Over and over again, we’ve received responses from readers who have felt a connection with the experiences of people we’ve featured. From the beginning, we have encouraged those we interview to be as open and honest as they’re comfortable with—those moments of vulnerability are the moments of deepest resonance. This is Brad’s story, uncensored. Drawing upon his wealth of experiences, he offers us what he’s learned about business, risk, purpose, community, and finding success in the unlikeliest of places—because sometimes success first looks like failure.
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It’s an honor to finally have Matthew Smith on TGD! We have followed Matthew’s work online for some time and finally had the chance to meet him in person last October at Brooklyn Beta. This guy is the real deal! He is super talented and has a heart of gold. After a long journey from hopeful fine artist to designer and entrepreneur, Matthew’s path has taken shape to reveal a man who truly cares about the work he does, but it goes beyond that. His desire to make a meaningful mark on those around him is evident in all he has accomplished in the last few years and we know this is just the beginning. Read on to learn about Matthew’s journey, be encouraged by his story, and be challenged by his bravery to ask the tough questions about the work we do and what really matters.
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