
Stop Having Shallow Skill-sets
Be more like Aaron Draplin
Have you ever heard of Aaron Draplin? Neither had I until a couple of days ago. I was in the throws of the YouTube time continuum. I was watching videos that I hadn't even searched for when suddenly I stumbled on an interview with of a large bearded man. Check it out.

Aaron is a graphic designer and the founder of Field Notes. He is an all around cool dude and has some killer designs. He has worked for small mom-and-pop companies as well as some major brands like Nike. All the while, creating killer logos and designs.
What really struck me while watching Draplin speak is that he takes his art seriously. It is apparent that he doesn't just think that calling himself a designer is cool, he actually loves design work. He loves creating.
In his interview he talks about how he travels the country searching for inspiration. He will snap pictures of typeface he finds on a barn, he will buy old badges and signage from antique shops and estate sales, all because he is developing his eye.
He loves simple and timeless pieces — things that will be relevant for generations.
The point here is, he continually works at getting better. He is always looking at other people’s work to refine his own.
He doesn't just call himself a designer because it’s trendy, he calls himself a designer because he loves it and thinks it is important.
I think about how so many of us that call ourselves entrepreneurs, writers, artists, musicians, designers, creators, etc. It seems as though we like to call ourselves some of these things because it is trendy — I am looking at myself here too people.
Being a writer sounds cool, but how often do I study the greats so that I can make myself better? How many nights do I stay up studying — refining my craft? It sounds cool to say you're an entrepreneur, but how much time do you spend learning about business and implementing those practices to build one?
Tagging yourself as something is cool and trendy, but being that thing is what will separate you from the pack. If you are a writer BE a writer. If you are an entrepreneur BE an entrepreneur.
Cheers
Jarod Dickson


