Deep Work vs. Fast Work
Being a creative is tough today. Our work has become a bunch of data and numbers, and everyone wants results fast: pitch more, make more, and ship more. The speed is enough to paralyze anyone trying to build something real. While our iconic heroes mastered their craft through deep work and dedication, that world is gone.
Rapid digital content is our reality. Look at big studios, luxury fashion magazines, leading game studios, and dedicated publications—you'll see fewer major and ambitious projects each year. It's about lightning-fast delivery or getting left behind.
But it's on us to balance deep work with modern demands. I found myself caught between two extremes: the pressure to produce and create constantly, and the desire to dive deep into my craft and create "real work." I've experimented with various approaches to finding balance, and here's what helped me play the game on my own terms.
Fast Production + Consistent Focus = Mastery
Here's the thing: deep work doesn't necessarily mean slow work.
Deep work is not just about sitting on a project with a big idea for a long time. Instead, it can be about finding your fundamental ideas and developing them through consistent, small pieces of work that add up over time. Each piece builds on the last, letting you explore and sharpen your vision through regular practice. And repetition is the cornerstone of mastery.
MODERN CREATIVE
Quick Iterations + Long-Term Consistent Focus ➜ RESULTSTRADITIONAL ARTIST
A Single Massive Project + Deep Isolated Focus ➜ RESULTS
Deep work today is about religious focus on your main themes, big ideas, and your original style while working and shipping quickly. This approach is what's relevant today.
But how do we achieve this?
How do we deliver quickly while maintaining quality? Some might say "just shrink your timeline and use smart deadlines" or "create systems and templates." Sure, these aren't bad ideas, but they weren't breakthroughs for me. The real game-changer was something else entirely.
Transform Your Craft for Today's Reality
Here's the real breakthrough I've discovered: don't fight the speed of modern platforms and tools—use them to practice your craft while generating income and visibility from the start. This approach is about leveraging modern creative tools, digital platforms, and innovative technologies that streamline workflows and enable rapid iteration to deliver fast while staying true to your vision.
Next to your work in conventional formats, translate your skills into forms that allow quick delivery. Here are some examples in action for different creatives:
Filmmakers, documentarians, and journalists: Create web series, YouTube videos, and short-form content rather than waiting years for one big feature or a TV channel's green light. Best example: Cleo Abram, who transforms complex tech topics into viral videos, growing a huge following while keeping her journalistic vision.
Designers and product creators: Build platforms that let you create instantly instead of staying stuck in months of traditional design and manufacturing cycles. Best example: Dive Design studio, which mastered rapid iteration by combining AI tools with custom 3D printing workflows. Their platform transforms concepts into physical products within days, speeding up development while maintaining quality standards. (I've just returned from NY, where we produced a video about how they built this system. I'll write about them soon.)
Writers: Launch newsletters and build a Twitter presence rather than spending years pursuing traditional publication. Best example: James Clear, who turned Atomic Habits into bite-sized wisdom on Twitter while building an audience, reaching millions before his book became a bestseller.
Advertisers: Turn your social feed into a living, open sketchbook and, through daily micro-collections, put your best works in front of agencies and brands. Best example: Pablo Rochat, who turned his Instagram into a playground of creative experiments, leading to work with Netflix, Apple, and major agencies.
Musicians: Create bite-sized content from live performances and studio sessions while working on albums. Best example: Jacob Collier, who built a massive following through creative YouTube arrangements and Instagram clips while developing his Grammy-winning albums.
Let the rhythm of this modern world guide you to new forms of expression. You can start today, right where you are, with everything you already have.
Alright folks! That's all. If you enjoyed it, please forward this email to a friend who's suffering from being a creative! :)
In March and April, I'll be in Portland, Prague, Milan, and Boston. If you're in any of these cities and are pioneering AI in creative work or building sustainable modern studios, I'd love to meet. These coffee conversations often become newsletter features—Drop me a note with some details about your project!