Learnings of the Day
written by Audrey Leboutte
Have you ever wondered...
-
What can I do for a living and what’s better kept as a hobby?
-
How do I find my mission ?
-
How can I define myself as an artist or creative ?
-
What should I invest my time, skills and resources in?
Confidence & Relationship to Creative Work
Quotes from Shady
“You have to be very confident about your work. You have to like it.”
“If you don’t feel it, don’t do it.”
“Create first for yourself.”
Key idea: Confidence comes from doing, from trusting your taste and from following what feels true.
How to Become More Confident?
Quotes from Shady
“Talk about your ideas to people, get critique, believe in it.”
“It’s not about the likes. I post what I like.”
Key idea: Confidence grows through sharing, receiving honest feedback, and liking your own work before anyone else does.
Starting Out & Building a Personal Brand(ing)
Quotes from Shady
“For six months, I told people they could use me for free, but they had to mention my name.”
“Start low and then build up.”
“There is no point in not asking for collaboration.”
“If you fit the aesthetic of a brand, it will be ok.”
Key idea: At the beginning, visibility, experience and collaboration matter more than perfection. Momentum is built step by step.
Balancing Stability and Creativity
Quotes from Shady
“A 9 - 5 job helps me be stable and invest in my project at the beginning.”
“It also gives a clear schedule so I can plan creative time.”
“Work on your creative side every day, even 30 minutes.”
Key idea: Stability can protect your creativity. A structured schedule helps you invest in yourself consistently.
Finding Focus When You Have Too Many Ideas
Quotes from Shady
“If you have many ideas in different disciplines, take 2–3 months to focus on one at the time and see if you like it and if you're good at it.”
Key idea: Short sprints of focus reveal both interest and potential, without locking you in.
Legitimacy, Doubt & Taking Action
Quotes from Martha
“Am I legit?” (a question that came up in every conversation) “Just start. The moment you start having interest in something, you are legit.”
“It’s important to talk about your ideas to receive feedback.”
Key idea: Legitimacy doesn’t come before action, it comes from starting.
How to Move Beyond the “Beginner” Stage
Quotes from Martha
“Set goals. Define for yourself the achievement you want to reach.”
Key idea: You stop being a beginner when you set milestones and grow toward them intentionally.
Who is Shady?
My name is Shady. I’m a fashion stylist, content creator, and photographer whose work blends street style, Y2K, and bold urban aesthetics influenced by music and culture. Mainly influenced by my own culture the Black community and slightly the Asian culture. My looks have been featured by Vogue, Essence, Pause online and GOAT, and I specialise in transforming personal style into visual storytelling for shoots, brands, and individuals.
Who is Martha?
Martha is a Brussels born and raised music professional specializing in talent development, booking, and project coordination, with a particular focus on rap and hip-hop. She has organized and produced concerts, open mics, parties, and conferences in Belgium and Costa Rica, collaborating with well-known institutions and cultural organizations. Holding a master’s degree in Sociocultural Animation and Cultural Mediation from IHECS, Martha combines her multilingual skills with a deep passion for artistic creation.
As A&R and co-creative director for rapper ONHA, she played a key role in developing his career, leading to performances at La Cigale in Paris and the Festival des Musiques Émergeantes in Canada. She currently works at Muziekpublique as a label collaborator and booker, where she continues to support the Belgian music scene and build bridges between artists, institutions, and audiences both nationally and internationally.