Diversification and persistence are areas in which creatives and leaders make decisions on a daily basis. In this story, I’d like to share a bit of perspective on when to give up, when to press through, and how we can get the best return on our investments of energy.

Ira Glass, the host and producer of the Public Radio International storytelling program “This American Life,” expounds on the importance of fighting through the beginning stages in your career, work, and life.

When a student gets out of design school, they often resort to taking any work they can get, working for anyone who will write them a small check. This often gets your career off to a fast start, but it may not be in a direction you like. What if there was a better way?

In order to be relevant and effective at influencing the decisions of others, we may need to reexamine our personal view of art… and our level of commitment to it.