#Substack Peer Recommendations | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

darkmaga-returns · 6 months ago

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Originally posted Jan 2023.

The medical community and the media hang their hats on the use of ‘double-blind, placebo-controlled, peer-reviewed studies published in legacy journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In a future substack, I will go into detail about the fallacies, and even the scam, of peer review and why it should not be held out as sacrosanct.

For today’s discussion, let’s examine why all vaccine research should be questioned. Yes, ALL of it. If you read enough studies, you’ll see the patterns described below. For this substack, I’ll use this study on the safety of hepatitis B vaccination in children in India as an example. The vaccine used, Revac-B, contained both 0.5mg of aluminum and 0.05 mg of thimerosal, considered to be safe.

1. Vaccine trials can be quite small and include only healthy children.

Every study begins with ‘selection criteria’ that describe including only healthy individuals. This is from the hepatitis B study example:

All 60 subjects included in the study were in good health and had a negative history of hematological, renal, hepatic, or allergic diseases. All were screened and found to have normal blood panels, including normal liver enzymes.

When a vaccine trial has been completed and the vaccine is approved for use by the FDA, the vaccine is recommended for ALL children, regardless of their health condition, family history, or genetics. In fact, the new shot is most ardently pushed on children with underlying health concerns, such as seizure disorders, cardiac anomalies, and conditions such as cystic fibrosis or Down’s syndrome. These children become the next round of experimentation because the vaccines were never tested for safety on these groups and others.

2. Vaccine studies follow side effects for a short period of time.

Most clinical trials monitor for side effects for a paltry 21 days, often less. In some studies, such as in the example we are using, children were monitored for 5 days by study monitors and 5 days by cards given to parents. If no reactions occur, the shot is deemed to be ‘safe.’

However, it can take weeks to months for immune and neurological complications to appear. These arbitrary deadlines, allowed by the FDA, prohibit making the connection between vaccines with chronic health disorders. If an illness emerges later, of course, the doctors will say it has nothing to do with the vaccine.

3. Most vaccine safety studies do not use a true placebo.

The gold standard in medical research is the "placebo-controlled" trial. A placebo is an inactive or inert substance, such as a sugar pill or a shot of saline. In the trial, the placebo is given to one group, while the treatment group is given the experimental product. The placebo arm is used to ‘blind’ the study so the investigator doesn’t know if the subject received the Real Thing or the Inert Substance to minimize interpretation bias.

When reading a published vaccine trial, the substance used as the placebo is often not identified; it is simply called ‘placebo.’ For example, in this study for a new hepatitis B vaccine to treat chronic hepatitis B, the word ‘placebo’ is used 22 times, but we don’t know what placebo was used.

And that’s a problem. The substance used as a ‘placebo’ is often not inert; it may even may be another vaccine. For example, I remember reading a study where the meningitis C vaccine was used as a placebo because it was considered to be non-immunogenic and non-reactive. Or, in the instance of the Gardasil (HPV) vaccine, the ‘placebo’ was an injection of aluminum.

All studies for the Gardasil vaccine were said to be placebo-controlled and the total population that received a placebo included 9,701 subjects. The placebo was an aluminum adjuvant in all studies except study 018 (pre-/adolescent safety study), which used a non-aluminum-containing placebo [and we don’t know what that placebo was]

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anawkwardlady · 4 months ago

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hey, so I want to post some stuff that I write and someone recommended tumblr to me but ever since I made this acc (I think some years ago) I’ve been constantly confused and idk if and how I should do it and I just wanted to ask if you had some tips. Anyway you’re very cool :3

Hiiii! (thank u for the compliment first of all <3)

Well I guess it would depend on the kind of things you'd like to post and what you're looking for? If you want to share your creations and have a place to post it tumblr can be good because it's better with writing format, longer posts etc than other platforms which can be more centered on pictures/videos (such as twitter/insta etc). If you're writing fanfics, or anything based around a fandom the tagging system helps having more eyes on it if thats what you're looking for (though i'd still crosspost to a fanfic website too for that).

Noww if you're doing original content, still a good place pragmatically speaking but usually you're not going to have a lot of traction unless you already have some kind of built following and its not even sure. Thats just how it is, not that you have to care about that but some people do. If you're looking for peers, ideas, connections and so on you can search in popular writing tags for prompts, challenges, contests, theres blogs dedicated to that. (I also know some people like substack as a writing platform but I don't know much about it)

I've been posting poetry for some years on tumblr now so it's a platform that works for me (and you have the tumblr archives and tagging system that helps sorting your own posts out thats practical). If I was looking for traction and all, i'd be disappointed tho. So it really depends of what you have in mind. I made a sideblog for that so I could organize it better but to each their own.

If you were asking for more "I'm scared of sharing my stuff" kind of thing my tip is just... It's okay, just do it once and you'll see it's not a huge thing. If it's imperfect so be it, you'll progress. Theres nothing embarrassing about being genuine and sharing something you made. I've written a lot of embarrassing stuff very publicly and I survived, so can you lol. I hope I helped in any way? Tell me if you have more specific questions.

#answered

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revotalk · 1 year ago

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Substack is updating its peer-to-peer recommendation system, the company announced today. With this new update, Substack is helping writers aid other writers in expanding their reach and potentially getting more subscribers and followers, as the company is now allowing writers to curate and share a list of publications for their readers to subscribe to. In […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

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theapprof · 1 year ago

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Dissecting the Kenhub Atlas: Insights from Editor Mike Pascoe | TAPP 144

Mike Pascoe joins host Kevin Patton in Episode 144 to chat about Mike's experience in editing the new Kenhub Atlas of Human Anatomy. We go behind the scenes to see how this new kind of anatomy atlas was developed. Let's see how those decisions get made and how the learning perspective gets incorporated into anatomy manuals. And we explore diverse representation in anatomy images and why we won't find any eponyms in this atlas. We also have a brief remembrance of our friend David Allard.

00:00 | Introduction

00:45 | Remembering David Allard

04:25 | Introducing Mike Pascoe

06:12 | A New Take on the Human Atlas

19:00 | Debriefing and Predictions Ahead

19:55 | Creating Books

34:25 | Your New Thing

35:44 | More Features of the New Atlas

47:27 | Staying Connected

★ If you cannot see or activate the audio player, go to: theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-144.html

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Remembering David Allard

3.5 minutes

In this segment, Kevin reflects on the recent passing of a friend and colleague, David Allard of Texas A&M University-Texarkana, who was an exceptional educator and human being. Kevin finds inspiration from David's generosity and commitment to his students and peers.

★ Muscle: A Gripping Story by Roy Meals | TAPP 142 (mentioned in this segment)

★ The One Teaching Strategy That Will Fix Your Anatomy & Physiology Course | TAPP 143 (where I talk about generosity in teaching)

★ Longtime Texarkana College and Texas A&M University-Texarkana biology professor David Allard dies (from Texarkana Gazette) AandP.info/qll

★ Dr David Allard Memorial Service 11-30-23 youtu.be/Gi2ZunUtMxk

★ Two new species of sand-burrowing amphipods of the genus Haustorius MÃ¼ller, 1775 (Amphipoda: Haustoriidae) from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (journal article in Zootaxa by David Allard's former student Zachary Hancock, who named one of the new species after David [Haustorius allardi]) https://aandp.info/rzp

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Introducing Mike Pascoe

2 minutes

In this segment, we introduce the guest for the episode, Mike Pascoe, who is an associate professor of anatomy at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Mike is involved in developing and delivering anatomy curricula to various student groups and has a research interest in innovative learning approaches. He's the editor of a new learning resource, the Kenhub Atlas of Human Anatomy.

★ Here is a single link with everything about the new atlas in it: linktr.ee/kenhubatlas

★ Additional links:

★ ★ www.kenhub.com/en/atlas-of-human-anatomy

★ ★ www.goodreads.com/book/show/200471864

★ The A&P Professor Book Club (our own recommendation of the new atlas) theAPprofessor.org/kenhub-atlas

A New Take on the Human Atlas

13 minutes

Editor Mike Pascoe describes his new Kenhub Atlas of Human Anatomy. First, we look at the relationship of the innovative, disruptive Kenhub website and this new print manual. Mike mentions how Kenhub often ranks high in web searches and how they aim to make their atlas concise and lead readers to a larger library of materials using QR code scanning. The convenience and accessibility of QR codes, easily scanned with smartphones, and the pocket-sized form factor of the atlas, making it easy to carry around in a lab setting.

Debriefing and Predictions Ahead

1 minute

Coming soon will be our annual debriefing episode that features predictions for anatomy and physiology teaching in the coming year ahead. What are your predictions or concerns for the next year? What are you excited about? Why not share your thoughts?

Share it with us on the podcast hotline!

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★ Review a Year. Preview a Year. | Debriefing & Predictions | TAPP 132

Creating Books

14.5 minutes

In this segment, we shift the conversations toward the process of creating a textbook or atlas and the many design considerations that happen behind the scenes. We discuss inclusion and diversity in both art representation and in anatomic terminology.

★ Weight Stigma! The Difficult Cadaver | Journal Club Episode | TAPP 93 (an episode where Krista Rompolski discusses weight bias)

★ Preview of Kenhub atlas linktr.ee/kenhubatlas

★ The Eponym Episode | Using Modern Terminology | Episode 40

★ More on Eponyms in A&P Terminology | Episode 41

★ NOMENs land: The place of eponyms in the anatomy classroom (article from Anatomical Science Education) AandP.info/36s

Your New Thing

1.5 minutes

Do you have book or article or project that you want to share with other anatomy and physiology faculty? Or maybe your experience trying new things in your course? Or an interesting story or experience? Here's your forum for doing that! Contact me if you want to be part of this podcast!

1-833-LION-DEN 1-833-546-6336

Or send an email to [email protected]

Using the New Atlas

11.5 minutes

Mike Pascoe rounds out the discussion of his Kenhub Atlas of Human Anatomy by listing some of its essential features and the things that make it a unique resource for the study of human anatomy.

People

Production: Aileen Park (announcer), Andrés Rodriguez (theme composer, recording artist), Karen Turner (Executive Editor), Kevin Patton (writer, editor, producer, host).

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Check out notes and transcript for this episode!

#podcast

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davidabheeru · 3 years ago

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Birth of the Aquarian Age

This is an essay that examines our current global challenges in terms of the transition from the Piscean Age to the Aquarian Age. I look at the major characteristics of both eras, and also consider the potential timing for when we will come through this 'birth canal' into the new era. This essay is part 1 of a 4-part series, called Navigating the Storm of Global Change. It was first posted on Substack here: Birth of the Aquarian Age.

Navigating the Storm of Global Change

By David T. Nicol

Part 1: Birth of the Aquarian Age

If you are new to astrology, or reflexively dimiss it as new age fluff, I will just say here that we are passing through one of those rare, extraordinarily fertile periods of history in which virtually everything we thought we knew is in flux. This doesn’t mean of course that anything goes, but it is a very good time to be re-examining our foundational assumptions. There are other forums for obtaining an introduction to astrology or learning how it can be coherent with contemporary intellectual thought (I recommend Steven Forrest’s The Inner Sky for the former and Richard Tarnas’s Cosmos and Psyche for the latter).

Personally, I am already way too far down the rabbit hole as a practicing astrologer to want to spend time making the case for it. For me it is simply too cogent an explanatory framework to ignore. With so many of our traditional sense-making systems breaking down, I find the astrological lens invaluable for understanding the archetypal dynamics unfolding in world events. I will proceed here on the ambitious assumption that, even if you have not yet been ‘initiated’ into the astrological worldview, you may still find the following commentary intriguing and hopefully edifying.

In astrological terms, the most important overarching dynamic occurring on the planet today is the shift from the Piscean to the Aquarian Age.

Based on the so-called Precession of the Equinoxes, every 2000 years or so we move into a different astrological era associated with a particular sign of the zodiac. For the last 2000 years, since around the time of the birth of Christ, we’ve been living in the Age of Pisces. For the next 2000 years or so we will be in the Age of Aquarius.

As the new age comes in, the fundamental organizing principles of society start to change in alignment with the archetypal qualities associated with the new sign.

The main difference between the Piscean and Aquarian Ages is that the former was structured primarily by top-down vertical hierarchies, whereas the latter will be organized through horizontal, peer-to-peer decentralized networks.

This distinction corresponds with a fundamental difference between these eras in how people access knowledge and power.

In the Piscean Age, the central tenet is “I Believe.” Most people in the Piscean Age did not have direct access to knowledge, but developed their belief systems based on the edicts, philosophies, religions, or ideologies of the relative few who did. The priests, gurus, emperors, kings and queens — and, later, politicians, scientists, media broadcasters, academics and other elites— passed down knowledge and wisdom to the masses, who absorbed that information and formulated their beliefs accordingly. A natural outcome of this pattern of developing beliefs through intermediaries was the creation of hierarchical power structures of top-down control.

In contrast, the central tenet of the Aquarian Age is “I Know.” The emphasis is on direct access to knowledge and wisdom for everyone, without any intermediaries. This means that more and more people will be able to directly access a source of wisdom from within and navigate life primarily via their own inner compass. People will rely less and less on external sources of information to guide them, but will rather trust their own inner knowing.

The Aquarian archetype is associated both with individual sovereignty and autonomy and the higher collective intelligence that can arise from voluntary associations of sovereign individuals. As we transition from the Piscean to the Aquarian Age, we can thus expect to see a shift from top-down, centralized structures of control to horizontal, decentralized, peer-to-peer networks as the basic organizing pattern of the emerging era. It is hard to overstate just how radical this transformation promises to be.

We are, of course, already well and truly in the midst of this great change.

Because we are dealing with such a long cycle, there is no one moment that definitively marks the end of one era and the beginning of the next. Rather there is a period where the two eras overlap, like intersecting parabolas. Some astrologers, for instance, believe we can trace the first signs of the emerging Aquarian Age as far back as the beginning of the twentieth century, with the development of new technologies like airplanes. (Aquarius is an air sign and is associated with technology.)

Recently, however, we passed through a very significant transit that most astrologers would agree strongly signified that we are now accelerating full steam into the Aquarian era. In December of 2020, Jupiter and Saturn aligned in the sky at 0 degrees of Aquarius, a configuration known as the Great Conjunction. To the ancients, the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, the largest of the visible planets, was seen as the most significant celestial event of all, announcing the arrival of a new era. Modern astrologers similarly associate Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions, which occur roughly every 20 years, with the start of new eras, often associated with a generational shift in the leadership structures of society.

The fact that this particular Great Conjunction occurred at 0 degrees of Aquarius gave it special significance as a powerful symbol of the birth of the Aquarian Era.

Further, in November 2024, Pluto will also move into Aquarius. (It actually first enters Aquarius in January 2024, but then moves back into Capricorn for part of the year. In November it leaves Capricorn for good and will then stay in Aquarius for almost 20 years.) Astrologically, this is a big deal. Since 2007, Pluto has been moving through Capricorn, the sign of the established order and the traditional institutions of power in society. Pluto is the great transformer that relentlessly brings to the surface anything hidden in the depths that is out of alignment with truth. The transit of Pluto in Capricorn can be seen as the massive and intense purification of previously hidden corruption in the established systems of the old order in preparation for our entrance into the Aquarian Age.

If the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in December 2020 announced the formal start of the Aquarian Age, the ingress of Pluto into Aquarius in 2024 may be when the new systems and technologies that will form the basis for the Aquarian era will fully come online.

Birth Contractions

Focusing our lens more narrowly on the particular archetypal dynamics of our current times, I want to draw now from the model of transformation developed by psychologist Stan Grof, based on his clinical observations of thousands of supervised LSD sessions. Grof observed that, at critical junctures in their psychedelic therapy, patients consistently cycled through four basic stages of experience that corresponded with identifiable phases of the human birth process. He called these phases “Basic Perinatal Matrices” (BPM). (Perinatal means ‘around the time of birth’.)

BPM I is the phase in the birth process before labor has started and the infant is still safely and fully within the mother’s womb.

BPM II is the phase when labor has started but the cervix has not yet opened, creating an intensely claustrophobic condition, a sense of being stuck and with no way out.

BPM III is when the cervix has opened and the infant starts to move through the birth canal. This phase is usually experienced as a tumultuous, dynamic, and dangerous process — a titanic life-and-death struggle with a truly uncertain outcome.

BPM IV is the moment of birth itself, when the infant emerges from the womb. This tends to be associated with a sense of sudden, unexpected release from an all-or-nothing struggle for survival. It is felt to be the beginning of an entirely new phase of radically expanded possiblity.

Grof theorized that the birthing process itself was like a template for the process of transformation more generally, with these same phases constituting the underlying dynamics of all genuine initiatory or transformative processes, whether in individuals or society at large.

If we apply this map to our times and the process of ‘birthing’ the new Aquarian era, we can identify many interesting parallels.

In broad terms, our pre-Covid world could be said to correspond with BPM I in Grof’s model. However problematic those times might have been, we still felt ourselves to be held within the basic contours of our familiar world. The structures of the old era were still essentially intact.

When Covid hit in early 2020, it was like the waters broke. The labor had started, the birth contractions were happening, but for some time there was very little dynamic movement of energy. For most of 2020, we were in lock down — holed up, confined, and isolated. With no vaccine or other solution on the horizon (for most of 2020), we were in a holding pattern with no end in sight. 2020 thus seems to correspond quite well with BPM II in Grof’s model.

In 2021, with the introduction of the vaccines, an apparent solution was presented, and the energy started moving again. Many got the vaccine and there were attempts to re-open the economy, but there was also widespread angry opposition to the official Covid response, an ever-increasing polarization of views, and a near total breakdown in our ability to come to consensus on anything. As of writing, the atmosphere feels increasingly tense, as if something has to give, as if we are waiting for the deeper convulsions of change to erupt forth in the collective. It is starting to dawn on many that we have arrived at a truly dangerous fork in the road, with various dystopian scenarios awaiting us if we choose poorly. There is a growing sense of deep disquiet and genuine uncertainty about our capacity to make it through the initiatory crisis intact. Our current moment thus feels thematically very resonant with Grof’s BPM III.

When might we arrive at BPM IV, the birth moment of the new era?

Let me switch back to astrology now to give a possible answer.

I’ve already mentioned the significance of November 2024, when Pluto moves definitively into the sign of Aquarius. On its own, this transit is a powerful signifier of our entrance into the Age of Aquarius. As I mentioned, it may be then that we will see the decentralized systems and technologies that will underlie the Aquarian era come more fully online. However, within short order of Pluto moving into Aquarius, both Saturn and Neptune move into the sign of Aries (May 2025), and Uranus moves into Gemini (July 2025). Whenever an outer planet changes sign, there is a distinct shift of mood in the collective. When all four outer planets change signs within such a short space of time, you can bank on it registering as a seismic shift in the zeitgeist.

Moreover, in 2025/26 Saturn and Neptune come together in the sky at the very beginning of Aries. (They will be exactly conjunct at 0 degrees of Aries in February 2026.) Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, so the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune (two heavyweight outer planets) at the very first degree of the whole zodiac is another exceptionally potent symbol of the birth of a new era.

Further, the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune in Aries in 2025/26 will be in what is considered a harmonious sextile aspect with both Uranus and Pluto respectively. At the same time, Uranus and Pluto will be in a similarly harmonious trine aspect with each other. Thus in 2025/26, all four outer planets will be in harmonious aspect with each other, accentuating the higher and more creative possibilities of these archetypal configurations.

AND, as we have seen, they will each have recently changed signs, with Saturn and Neptune meeting at the very beginning of the entire zodiac. To me, this points to a genuinely promising possibility of a BPM IV-like birth moment for the world in 2025.

I don’t believe that such a birth is guaranteed. Not every baby survives the birthing process. I will have more to say later on the crucial choice I believe humanity needs to make if we are to find the narrow path through the crisis. And even if we do come through this crucible with our humanity intact, it will likely take several decades before the new systems and ways become firmly established.

Nonetheless, it may be helpful to know that there is a potential light at the end of this extremely long, dark, and dangerous tunnel.

To sum up.

We are in the midst of an epochal shift of the ages from the Piscean to the Aquarian era. The top-down, centralized structures of control characteristic of the Piscean Age are giving way to the emerging horizontal, decentralized networks of the Aquarian era. The formal beginning of the era was announced astrologically with the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn at 0 degrees Aquarius in December 2020. We are in the throws of the birthing process, now in a dynamic but very dangerous phase akin to moving through the birth canal, with the outcome of the whole process deeply uncertain. In 2024/25, we can expect a dramatic shift in the zeitgeist that may — if we choose wisely and bravely — correspond with a widespread sense of having come through the initiatory crisis and having entered into an entirely new era with radically expanded horizons.

This is my best current big-picture understanding of the epic process of global change we are living through together. In Part 2 of this series, I will look at how these dynamics are manifesting in two specific areas, technology and spirituality, to illustrate more concretely how the change is taking place.

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literateleah · 3 years ago

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hope ur well leah! so the thing is. i was wondering if you had any advice about writing? it can be for any type really, but i'm currently trying to improve my academic writing and essays, which is hard as writing is unfortunately something i'm not good at & i struggle a lot with it. (coming up with topics is hard too) i was hoping to ask you as i really admire how you write and honestly i'm not sure how to research this or know where to go to improve

hi anon!!! first i'm honored that u asked me bc i am just a child who writes a Lot and not really well at least not all the time but i'll do my best at sharing what helps me most of the time <3

- as far as academic writing and essays, i find it easiest to write when i know where i'm going. for essays i outline EVERYTHING then literally just start writing anywhere in the outline + save intro for last. here's an example of my process for a critical essay im working on as we speak

- first i came up with a thesis based upon the required sources i was given, then i came up with a counter argument. i created branches for arguments for both, then more for the thesis. i figured exact quote tidbits or excerpts i wanted to use and paired each with an argument, then just started writing each section from the top down

- its impossible for me to write academic work without some idea of an outline or what the intention/audience is, so i recommend starting there! read the prompt/rubric/guidelines until you're sure that you can meet them with the ideas you're trying to communicate

- obviously that is more suited to academic/professional writing, but when it comes to personal essays and narratives more often found in creative nonfiction i tend to subscribe to the same flow! knowing in my head before i start writing a personal piece, "okay, i want to address xyz which happens to show up in my life in abc so i should universally tie that in with 123 and finish with 456 attitude/mindset", helps guide the emotion behind whatever story im trying to tell

- then i sort of squeeze out every thought i have on the previous formula in one or two sittings and pare it down structurally/narratively. for things like personal substacks i've learned how much is too much and what i'd like to save/consider over a boundary etc, and knowing those limits has helped me in terms of form as well. i also have a few friends/peers who review read and comment on some more complex issues before i consider them "done" but mainly its a solitary editing process

- fiction is its own daunting beast i just dont try to tame because i dont have the brain space or skills to do so but. poetry works kind of similar for me i just feel a strong emotion and vomit out 20 lines then serve it up to workshop cold turkey OR one little line will pop in my head and i write it down immediately in my notes app to remember and prompt me later

- in workshop for class i get specialized feedback on rhythm, sound, image, sentiment, form, and general audience perception of my work which is really valuable to me personally but not for everyone! it takes a while to find a group that can do that for u and im very blessed to have the one that i do

- long story short structure and intention are everything!!! and will help you find your own voice which is much of the hard part

- i try to maintain my voice in my academic works because i think it helps me stand apart, and in general i can work in a formal writing space pretty easily so it just sort of flows but that took a long time to get to that place!!! taking classes like ap lang in high school or just having to write professional emails and press releases for work and that sort drilled those kinds of verbal patterns into me that i break sometimes with personal details. unfortunately im a firm believer that practice is the best way to learn so even if you work through prompts on your own or for a free online course or something, each piece is going to teach you something and make u better. undeniably i feel that way too! ur always improving, its our nature!

this probably sounds crazy but thats my vibe rn. i'm also probably forgetting things im sorry its 2 am but if u have any specific q's or think of anything else please send me an ask or dm!!! i would love to talk through it or see if i can help more

#ask tag #anon tag #on writing #leah writes

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t-baba · 6 years ago

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9 Key Ways to Turbocharge Your Design Career

This article was created in partnership with StudioWorks. Thank you for supporting the partners who make SitePoint possible.

Sure, you need a certain minimal viable level of design skill prowess if you want to have a successful career as a designer. But a lot more than that goes into it, too. Think about how many people you know who can cook amazing food but who would never last five minutes in a restaurant kitchen during the lunch rush.

It would be great if we could just sit down, design pretty things, and go home. Or better yet, just chill in our home studios, creating. Unfortunately or not, design is a business just like everything else, and that means you’re going to have to put time, effort, and sometimes money into cultivating the soft skills and business side of your design career.

This means managing your time well, marketing yourself, building a brand, experimenting, maybe launching a side business, and generally just putting your name and work out there for people to find.

These days, it’s not enough to have a portfolio. That’s just table stakes. You need to plan out your whole career — with the understanding that plans change.

Let’s look at some of the things you need to do to develop your career until you’re basically the next Jen Simmons or Jeffrey Zeldman.

Get Your Communication Skills Flowing

Communication skills come naturally to some, and not so naturally to others. In both cases, those skills are rather drastically affected by the people you have to communicate with most. Most of us find ways to convey our thoughts and intentions clearly to our friends, and also to people in our industry and hobby communities. We learn the lingo, we learn which topics encourage discussion, and which are best avoided.

Writing for anyone who’s not a part of your immediate community, and especially writing for people who don’t know what you know, is hard. Speaking to them in person can be harder, depending on how you, as a person, prefer to communicate. But, all the same, you have to.

Even if you work in an agency amongst other designers right now, there will inevitably come a time when you have to pitch clients on the benefits of your work, explain to a newbie the processes you use, or defend your decisions to developers who push back, or to other people who just don’t know what you know.

If there’s any single thing you take away from this article, focus on your communication skills. It will affect your career more than anything else on this list. If you’re looking for a place to start learning those skills, CopyBlogger always has you covered — at least for the writing side of it.

Branch Out into Side Businesses

Some side projects are great, strictly because they allow us to get out of our comfort zones, try new things and regain a sense of creative discovery.

Others may overlap with the activities you’d use to build a personal brand, which we’ll get into shortly, with the added benefit that they can bring in extra money while you’re establishing yourself as an expert in the field.

Here are some of the more popular ways of doing this.

1. Courses

Sure, you can throw some tutorials onto your blog, or onto YouTube, for free. And you probably should. But if you want to make a side business out of teaching others what you do, and further your career in the process, you’re going to need an actual product. This is where courses come in.

Quality video courses, which are quite popular these days, can be expensive and time-consuming to set up. It’s gotten easier, though, now that you can use all-in-one course development and delivery services like Kajabi. This platform can help you manage everything relating to your premium educational content and running the business around it.

You can create membership sites, host live events, create automation funnels, upsells, maintain a blog and manage contacts all in one place, so it’s not as hard as it used to be. However, you still have to get a half-decent camera, a half-decent microphone, and ideally learn some basic video editing skills.

This is a side hustle I’d frankly only recommend if you’ve got some time on your hands, and a bit of extra money for some beginner hardware. It can be quite rewarding, though, so don’t dismiss the idea out of hand.

2. Live Streaming

I mentioned live events in the last section, so I thought I’d mention streaming as its own thing. Streaming doesn’t have to be educational, although education is probably the best way to sell your expertise. You could just sit there and share designer memes on Twitch if you want.

The problem is mostly that the requirements for video and audio haven’t changed, and depending on how you set up your stream schedule, it can be even more demanding than making video courses.

Then again, if you don’t mind not making a lot of money, and want to do it for fun, it’s still a great way to “meet” new people, and to be seen.

3. Paid Newsletters

Now this is an option I’d save for when you’ve already built a bit of an audience by other means, such as social media and/or blogging. But Substack has made it easier than ever for people to pay writers directly.

If you’ve got wisdom to share, and if you think people would be willing to pay to have that wisdom beamed straight into their inboxes, go on and have at it.

4. Make Stuff for Other Designers

Plenty of designers and agencies have kept up a healthy “passive” revenue stream by making resources for other designers.

Be it a template, a WordPress theme, a Sketch UI kit, an icon font, or whatever else, if it’s valuable to you because it solves problems that you have, then there’s a good chance your peers will be willing to pay for it. Just don’t forget to also give stuff away once in a while. Gratitude goes a long way in the design world.

The post 9 Key Ways to Turbocharge Your Design Career appeared first on SitePoint.

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