creativity and career:

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on self-promotion: There is always more than one way, find yours.

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CAREER | by Logan Nakyanzi Pollard | October 30, 2025

take the first step, and then another.

I’m of course not talking about the kind of promotion that your 13-year old is doing on social, and I’m not talking about the humble-bragging and fake virtue signaling that people do online. And I’m not of course talking about political rants, cancel culture, or violent rhetoric and activity. No, none of that. All this stuff is easy, perfunctory, and low-minded, and even ofttimes demonic, and not at all my point. I’m talking about boosting the thing that terrifies you: That you really want to do because you know it’s good, and will help (rather than hurt) people, but ‘everyone’ (in your circle or life or experience) thinks is stupid. For that, keep reading:

1. You’re on your own schedule.

Everyone is here for a unique reason. So don’t compare yourself, even with your competitor. I know that sounds crazy, but the reality is, by doing this, you are in a weakened position because you are looking at someone else, rather than at what you are doing. There is always more than one way, find yours.

2. Let it go.

As a creative, there is an impulse to hold onto things— because “the artist” wants the thing to be perfect before s/he releases it/ because s/he doesn’t want people to mis/appropriate the work, or whatever the usual issues are around creativity from a human perspective. But the reality is, as we get older, you realize all of these things will fall away— meaning we can’t take any of these things with us. Case in point: as my relatives cleaned out the house, they found all these things of my parents, particularly of my dad’s artwork . . . will anyone see his beautiful pieces now? Maybe, maybe not. But those works were in a sense his life. Why did he hold onto them? How much more could he have enjoyed sharing and discussing his work? Maybe he didn’t want that. But I can totally see him doing this . . . Maybe I’m projecting. The bottom line is: All we have are the memories we made, the good we did, the people we loved. So isn’t it better to just let go, and give something beautiful to the world (or your best approximation of it)—? That is, after all, why we were gifted in the first place . . .

3. Don’t be reactive, be responsive.

Life is always coming at us. I can list 20 things happening in the news right now that give me agita . . . And yet, as Christians we know this is not any kind of way to live. Equally in our professional lives, we have to strain towards reframing our experience(s)— we see the things but they do not get inside us. We give these worries to God, we do what we can do to help, as guided by the Holy Spirit. A corollary to this, is that this frees us from being batted about like a ping-pong ball going after every debate, or trend, or even calling-out every idiot we encounter . . .

4. Treat yourself like a client.

As a small business owner, there are certain things “I know,” but somehow I feel great about applying them for other people, but for myself— I feel I need to “justify” why. And to you and myself, I say:

No. Just go for it!

Why is this the case? Because well, it feels easier, safer to hide behind a brand, or a personality, than to stand on your own.

But you must.

All of this noise comes from fear, rather than insight. So do what you know you should do: post that article, meet that person, set-up that meeting. And keep doing it, even when it feels weird.

5. Go where there’s heat.

I’ve written about this before, how I have one idea to do something, but then I go in another. And I think this is because real “flow states” are actually governed by God working in us, and He doesn’t think like we do. He doesn’t move like we do. So if you feel the impulse to move in another direction, don’t necessarily fight it. It’s probably a good idea. And anything worthwhile will get done in due time.

6. Be equivocal about resistance.

Resistance is a teacher: if you are saying something of substance, which upsets the things that keep people (especially and including yourself!) — bound, afraid, and oppressed— you will encounter resistance: self-doubt, fear, etc… Keep at it, this is a sign you are living with purpose. And this is part of the joy in life.

Why? Because, we weren’t made to loll around, or to live without meaning. This is why retirement is a kind of purgatory for many people. But to get out of that space of meaninglessness: You need courage.

7. Seek God’s guidance.

And indeed, “life rewards courage,” — James Clear.

This teaching is often said in the secular world. Nothing necessarily wrong with all that. But, even a fool can show courage (meaning: is not a bankrobber courageous in some stupid way?) So, is courage enough? No it is not.

It is not enough to only be governed by your internal volitions, opinions, desires. This is why, we say instead: seek God. And in the end your “self” promotion becomes something else entirely: it becomes a divine work, in alignment with God’s will. This is a much higher and better calling, no matter what you put your talents to do.

For those who will hear God, He says:

⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9

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