A lazy man works twice as hard, and according to Issa Rae, a procrastinating woman will secure twice the bag. The 34-year-old Insecure creator recently spoke at POPSUGAR's Play/Ground event and spilled the secret sauce on how to be a self-made mogul from the ground-up and honey, we are taking notes.
Here are three things we learned about being a boss and creating a successful career from scratch.
Embrace Your Doubt
One thing that keeps Issa Rae focused and overflowing with ideas is self-doubt. Issa pointed out that it's important to know your worth, but it's also important to stay on your toes. Pressure makes diamonds, and Issa Rae applies that pressure all damn day:
"Doubting myself is what drives me. A part of me hates being underestimated but loves to be underestimated because I'm driven by proving people wrong. That's the Capricorn in me. 'Oh, you don't think I can do this? Let me show you.' There's so much fun in that."
Never Limit Yourself
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The most important thing to have when on the chaotic quest to achieving your wildest dreams is intention. God has blessed us all with a number of talents, and it's a total waste of his gifts to only focus on one. According to Issa Rae, as she continues to progress in her career, she never limits herself when it comes to what's next. She said:
"I always think about what I want to do next. I want to be able to create other people's projects, finance other people's projects, have a studio, [and] do things outside of entertainment. I don't like being limited. That is my worst nightmare. I want to be able to flex other muscles and see what else I can do."
It's OK To Procrastinate
All work and no play makes me a very dull girl, and an even sh*ttier writer. To Issa, part of her secret to overcoming a creative block is allowing herself at least one day every week to let her mind wander. She said:
"I allow myself one day a week to procrastinate because it's inevitable. Allowing myself a procrastination day makes me really, really want to work the next day because I'm like, 'Oh, I wasted a whole day' … And I'm just really more driven."
Refuse To Fall Prey To The Con Of Comparison
Procrastinating on a big deadline is much different than taking the time to clock out altogether. Self-care isn't a luxury, issa necessity, and Issa says she is adamant about making time to chill out sometimes. Log out of social media, put your phone on do no disturb, and be proud of what you've accomplished lately.
Constantly being "plugged in" can cause you to fall victim to the con of comparison, and Issa Rae shared that she can totally relate. During the chat, Issa shared the one piece of advice she would give to herself:
"I would tell her to chill — to stop comparing herself to other people. I compare myself a lot to others. Sometimes, we feel like, 'Why is that not my opportunity?' But what's meant for you is meant for only you. You get anxious. You feel like everybody's surpassing you, and everybody's doing better than you are. That's just not the case. Everybody has their own journey, and your journey is yours."
Read everything Issa had to say a POPSUGAR's Play/Ground here!
Featured image by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for POPSUGAR and Reed Exhibitions