How creators experiment? Q & A with Vikram

I met Vikram in one of the early Thinking Masterminds 🧠 Twitter Spaces where we discussed the Research Career: Yes or no?

His take was:

Career switch won't solve your problem if the new career isn't satisfying to you.

Now that I know more about his life story, I understand his wisdom. He lived through a career jump.

V Keerthi Vikram is from Pune, India, where he currently works as a software developer. In his spare time, he's toying with the online creator journey.

Chances are you haven't heard about city of Pune (or maybe I'm the only un-educated person here):

It's the eighth-most populous city in India, with around 7,4 million residents (2020). Pune is widely regarded as the second major "IT hub of India" and the top "automobile and manufacturing hub of India". It is known as the Oxford of the East. (Wiki page to the rescue 😛)

Vikram did his degree in biotechnology because he was fascinated by how organisms looked under a microscope. Still, during his studies, he realised that biotechnology is not his cup of tea. The field lacked the the creative aspect was too routine and too monotonic to his liking.

So few Udemy, Coursera courses later, he transitioned into Data Science where he now works.

For more check his Twitter or his web page .

Ziga: Why participate in the Creator Economy?

V: Personal growth & fun.

After some personal turmoil, I started to binge-watch YouTube videos from the prominent Youtubers: Thomas Frank, Ali Abdaal, Matt D'vella to small ones such as Robert Blanc. I started consuming productivity content and started building my workflows to make myself more efficient.

I joined The Productivists community, and then later in January 2021 Reddy convinced me to join Ness-Labs. I slowly started to share my experience first through a YouTube video, then re-started the newsletter, ...

I became a creator to avoid boredom but remain a creator just for fun. I use creation as an outlet for stress.

Creating only for money is selfish and narrows down your perspective and limits you.

My Data Science job (which I like) allows me to invest what I earn into creating stuff.

Should one experiment or follow a system?

This is tricky. I like to experiment around with stuff in my life, but at the same time, I do follow systems.

Systems allow me to be in control, to achieve a higher quality of life.

Experimentation is a must, as long as no one gets hurt.

Had I not experimented, I would have never embarked on the creator journey. I would have forever remained just a collector that consumes knowledge and never applies it.

I am not saying being a collector is terrible. But consuming and not sharing is very selfish. You never know when a random post on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, anywhere really will make someone re-think a part of their life.

I feel that there is a need for a hybrid system of experimentation and systems. Being too free-flowing or being too rigid is dangerous.

The amount of creativity and systems is a balance that is unique to each individual, and everyone has to find that balance themselves.

No matter what you do, become independent. Having too much outside help can become a crutch you rely on. If you really on others, you'll never be able to find that optimal balance.

What is the one thing everyone should experiment with?

Create something. Doesn't matter if you succeed or fail. Do something creative.

Try painting, drawing, music, video making, storytelling, whatever suits you. It is quite a lot of fun trying to find what works for you creatively.

Failing doesn't mean creating can't be fun.

Perhaps you might be a great artist but are scared of public speaking and don't know it because you never tried it until you experiment with it.

Experiment creatively.

Don't constrain yourself down to one outlet. Explore all of them. You don't like it or don't feel comfortable with it! That's cool too! At least you experimented with it and won't have any regrets later on.

What would be one concrete tip that a person can try right away?

I would say building self-confidence by talking to new people.

They don't know you, so you are basically a blank piece of paper to them. You can open up and make loads of new friends this way.

Especially during the current pandemic, due to lack of social contact, many people are experiencing mental issues (ranging from very minor to severe).

I feel like talking to a person who does not know you but is ready to listen to you allows you to build up self-confidence. You start to feel better and make new friends.

Another thing I would suggest is:

When meeting a new person, give them an honest and welcoming smile.

Your smile can make that person's day better. In case you have difficulty smiling, think of something that makes you happy.