We were lucky to catch up with Dan Alssid recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

I think the biggest problem is that there is a lack of structured pipelines from schooling to a solid start in a career. This comes from both directions. Schools focus so strongly on theory that it is often at the expense of real-life experience. There is such a lack of practical learning, no formal structure for mentorship, and very rarely any avenues for a recent graduate (who is likely walking out of their chosen school in debt) to immediately get a start on their career. Former students are simply thrown out into the world to fend for themselves and figure everything out on their own. Some colleges even struggle with providing students avenues to proper unpaid internships.

On the other end of that process, companies make the barrier to entry very high for people who are just starting off. Entry level jobs are often listed as requiring 3-5 years of experience, making it difficult for someone just out of school to get their foot in the door. By relying on a blind application process over a more robust educational on-boarding structure, companies leave a lot of untapped talent outside their front door. Instead, it is those who are best at selling themselves (and not necessarily the most qualified) who end up getting the jobs.

Schools and companies should be collaborating with more intention to bring young talent into the workforce. We have a culture that is fixated on everyone fending for themselves. But the reality of this is that many talented and inspired minds never reach their full potential because they lack the guidance or opportunities to get them properly started. The wasted potential is a detriment to companies, our communities, and the world as a whole.

Dan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I think something I’ve realized about myself more recently is that I have an addiction to being in the ‘flow state’, and I think that explains a lot about how I ended up where I am. That’s not to say I’m always successful at getting to a point of flow (it’s definitely a struggle more often than I’d like it to be), but it’s an important component of what I consider a fulfilling life.

I got my start studying Digital Art & Design in college, and I have a lot of fond memories of sitting in studios and computer labs and learning alongside friends and classmates. After college, I worked abroad a bit and then came home and taught myself how to code websites by buying a textbook and just sitting through and doing all of the lessons. I got my first full-time job through a referral from a friend who I had never even thought of as a work contact. That was one of my first big lessons – that you never know where opportunity is going to come from. Be nice to everyone. At the end of the day, work is a human experience, and you need to be the type of person that other people want to be around.

I worked as a designer and developer for the same non-profit organization for 8 years. I didn’t do the jumping around thing as much as everyone else my age. It was a small marketing department in a big organization, and the lack of staff size provided me with a lot of opportunities to wear multiple hats and learn new things. I also learned that a big budget is not nearly as important as a good plan and a strong team. By my mid-twenties I was co-heading a relaunch of several websites for a global organization,

While all of this was going on, I was spending my free time honing my abilities to write. It is another craft I care about deeply, as I place high value on ideas and the sharing of them. While I’ve taken classes that were invaluable, I’ve always preferred to take something of a DIY approach to new things. So a lot of the work I’ve done has simply been spending thousands of hours reading, writing, and learning about the creative process.

5 years ago I decided to strike it out on my own, and I’ve been freelancing ever since. Again, I got my first jobs through referrals that I did not anticipate, and I again I learned the value of just being someone people like to work with. That is my advice to anyone looking to approach their career as an independent contractor or consultant: be the kind of person people want to interact with, listen to your clients needs, and deliver what you say you are going to deliver at the necessary deadlines. If you do those three things you will keep finding work.

My bread and butter has been in digital branding and graphic design. I can build a WordPress site from scratch, if needed. But I am transitioning towards copy writing as I find the work more interesting, and I need a new challenge. My best work is usually a result of finding the subject matter intellectually stimulating.

I’ve also started running workshops that help people write creative fiction. The entire premise is basically that people who want to write come to a space that feels safe and welcoming, and then through the use of various prompts we gain momentum and tap into our own creative thoughts. By the end, people walk out with a finished draft of an original story.

The main details I’d like people to know about me are that I always try to keep things authentic. That goes for who I am as well as my work. I don’t really throw around a lot of buzzwords. My main priorities are to do the work, and do it well. I’m a good problem solver, so if you come to me with a problem, I will listen intently and work with you on finding a solution. I truly do believe the cliche of ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’. I love the feeling of being resourceful and finding solutions in creative ways.

I’m also something of a generalist. I am interested in a lot of things. I write, I design, I draw, I code, I edit video, I’m a decent photographer, I love history, I sing (pretty well) in the shower, I’ve even taken a stab at video game development (though not to much success). I think each medium informs the other, and I think it’s part of what brings value to my approach. It’s easier for me to think about things from multiple angles, and to apply a method of thinking from one craft to another, usually with success.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

As I’ve mentioned before, it’s almost always been personal referrals. In fact, that’s been so common that I haven’t really spent enough time working on the sales end of my own business. That’s one obvious drawback – but the benefit is that I’ve been able to spend more time being productive, and less time looking for new work. But personal relationships and bringing positive value for others are the best ways to succeed in any field. Again, be the person that people want on their team.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

‘Enlightenment’ is an interesting word to use for this question, because I think it has some relation to my own feelings towards the creative journey. I think a lot of people look at creative professions and ask why a person would be willing to take on that much risk instead of finding employment at a job that’s safe and secure. But I think a lot of us creatives are really just seekers at heart. We feel a calling inside – and we don’t always know for what. But some part of us feels we can’t ignore it. That there’s something fundamental to the experience of our lives that’s attached to it.

For me, it definitely has something of a spiritual edge to it. I’m having trouble finding the exact quote, but there’s a line from Alan Watts where he discusses the spiritual journey, and he says something along the lines of “…it’s so harrowing that one must be prepared to break their own neck.” And while that’s an extreme way of saying it, I believe that is a similar feeling that drives creatives as well. There is something more than just physical safety on the line, something difficult to describe yet important enough that it compels us to dive into the deep waters of the unknown.

While some jobs may be perfect for growing your bank account, art helps us grow as people. There’s an internal alchemy that goes on through the act of creating. We become a fuller version of ourselves. I think it’s hard to put a price tag on that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://danielalssid.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-alssid-14927822/

Image Credits

Profile photo was taken by Brian DiLorenzo. Photo of sitting on rock was taken by Daniel Rodenhizer. All other photos were taken by me.