We recently connected with Alfredo Conrique Rosales and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alfredo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

When I came out of college, the natural thing for me to do was to look for a job as a Graphic Designer in an advertising agency or Design Studio. At first, it seemed like I was a perfect fit, I love sharing my creative input on things and I specially loved doing more than I was asked for If I was asked to design a logo for a campaign for example, I would pitch creative ideas for the campaign during meetings and such, and I was often received with praise from my superiors and sometimes (a lot of the times) I was told to focus on the thing I was asked to work on. For years, I assumed this was the way to go, do what you’re told and never get your nose in other affairs. When I was laid off from my highest paying and fanciest advertising agency job I had I was devastated, I felt like I had failed, and I also felt like a misfit, like I could never get another good job and that the advertising world wasn’t for me even when I tried hard to fit in, during that off time when I had no money, no job, lots of bills to pay, etc, I met this amazing person who invited me to form our own creative studio and clothing brand, this is the first time in my life when I sincerely felt terrified of taking a chance on some endeavor of my own, with no paycheck attached to it, I took the risk and even when we made incredible stuff together it didn’t work out, we were struggling to get commissions all the time and we eventually after 5 years of incredible work we decided to put an end to it. That’s when it hit me, I took a risk on this thing that had failed, and now I’m back at square one, what am I gonna do?. I started looking for commissions on my own and just like magic (I thought) I started getting more and more personal commissions more focused on my personal style of artwork and little by little I started gaining recognition and praise. The way of risk taking many times seem like a nightmare but to be honest, and I know this might sound corny and cliché but if you listen to yourself and then act according to what feels best there is simply no way you can get it wrong, at least not in the long run.

Alfredo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Alfredo Conrique (a.k.a. Pogo), I am a Mexican artist, musician, animator and Designer. I studied Graphic Design in a desperate attempt to explore most of my interests in life and was somewhat disappointed by the small scope and even smaller career opportunities my freshly acquired degree would lead me onto. When I got 30, working for an advertising agency, feeling like I was not able to express my creativity in all the ways I could and smashed from the pressure and the overworking I started feeling uneasy at work and decided to start my own thing. At the time I felt like I had so much more to offer to the projects and clients that I started trying out new things from scratch, I started doing animation (not knowing what I was doing), Illustration, Fashion Design, Music, and I finally got it. I am an artist who can do many different things and can thrive in many different worlds. I can do creative copywriting, Drawing, Painting, Murals, Textile Design, Animation, Music, etc. I can do creative consulting and I can draw a hand properly (ha ha).

But all of these things I do now came not from my education or my previous jobs, it all came from taking a risk over and over, failing over and over to the point when I though I was better off in Law School and working for my father (he is a lawyer). I once heard somebody say that no one really knows what they’re doing and that we are all pretending to know what we’re doing while figuring it out. I felt like that when I came out of college, I felt that all the things I learned at school were nothing like the real thing and since I was always such a bad student i figured that I had to do things on the run and try to get better at them while doing, trying, failing and trying again.

I was so desperate to let all the things that I had inside me out that I was willing to be terrified for years just to try out new things all the time, even when it meant being broke, stressed and doubting my every single move I somehow managed to try it for so long that it led to results, good results.

I started getting more and more commissions that gave me the freedom to experiment and that way I learned this is how I can thrive, if I get a new client I will always try to get into things that are way over my responsibilities, I like to get involved and create something together that is meaningful to both parties while trying my best to make it look perfect from all sides, I never think something is somebody else’s problem, not if I can help it.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Whenever I hear that somebody is being called ‘Creative’ a sort of distinction is made. It’s almost like the thing said was “You are creative by some magical force of the universe, the rest are not so lucky” and that’s something that has always bothered me. I think the human being is creative by birth. Being creative is the way we get to solve problems and create solutions for our survival. Whenever you take a detour to save time you are being creative, whenever you add something extra to a recipe you are being creative, whenever you make a joke, even the simplest jokes are sparking creativity.

I always tell people to allow themselves to be perceived as creative and to recognize the true power of it in their lives. The creative power has the force to change things in your life and those around you but first you have to acknowledge yourself as a creative being.

A lot of people tell me that I’m the creative type as I dwell in the classic pre-approved little compartments of “creativity” which are painting, making music, drawing, singing, etc. I see this as a false statement and a mistake. I often find myself in awe at how creative a solution to an engineering problem is, or even a medical solution to an ilness. Solving things require creativity, always, so try to embrace it, feel free to listen to your own internal voice, that is the voice of creation.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

My bible is The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. I’ve been following Rick’s work for years, from the very first albums he produced to the insight filled interviews he participates in. When I first came upon an interview of this man I was blown away by the sheer wisdom and calm genius this man oozes. All he talks about in this book has helped me tremendously to fathom and value my own creative impulse but to realize it’s always all around me and that we all have the potential to express it. I often quote him by saying “and as Rick Rubin the guru says…” and a lot of people around meare probably tired of me talking about him, hahaha.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.behance.net/heypogo?log_shim_removal=1
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heypogo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yosoypogo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredo-conrique-031a8348/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elmarnegro

Image Credits
Yoshi Yanagita