The biggest mistake I've seen artists and creatives make

The sun had barely risen, and I was still up. Sitting in my old office, staring at a manuscript – my manuscript. It was the first draft of a book I’d spent months on.

Something didn’t feel right.

A crazy thought crossed my mind: should I throw all of this away and start fresh?

Some would say that’s crazy. But first, let me share a story.

A few weeks ago, I met a young designer. Let's call him Alex. Eager and enthusiastic, Alex spent days creating designs for a project we had. He poured his heart and soul into each pixel.

But in the end, his designs weren't the ones we went with. Why? We simply had others that fit much better.

His disappointment was clear. He felt it was a personal defeat. And while I was the one paying for his time, this wasn’t about money.

I felt he missed an important lesson about the creative process.

It reminded me of another time when a photographer was surprised (ehm, angry) that only one of his photos was used on our Instagram. But that’s how it goes, even in the advertising industry. Thousands of clicks, but only a few, sometimes just one, make the cut.

It's about finding that 'golden' shot.

This brings me to something I’ve noticed. Young creatives often get too attached. Loving your work is great. It keeps the passion alive.

But being able to let go and start over? That’s powerful.

A design not chosen, a photo left out, a draft put away – none of these are wasted! They’re stepping stones, experiences, lessons that make the next attempt even better.

And it’s not just in creative work. It’s the same in life.

We make plans. Sometimes they don’t work out. But starting again with the knowledge of what went wrong before? That’s a huge advantage.

For me, when I revisited my book years later, I wasn’t truly starting from scratch. The core ideas, all the work, the thinking, the background effort, the spirit of the book, it was still there. It just took on a new, improved form.

That first draft? It wasn’t a failure. It was a foundation for what came next.

So here’s my message: Be brave. Don’t be afraid to ditch your work. Start over when you feel it’s right. There’s growth and learning in that decision.

And remember, when you pick things up again, you aren’t starting from nothing. You’re starting with a head full of lessons.

Always go the extra mile,

Tino