Uff … just got a kick out of being judged by Documentary Family Awards Team #DFA and Nancy Borovick. My series “Valentina’s Day” from “Donbass Survival Guide” Project (2018-2019) was selected for the final stage of the contest, yet lost to another great series. Actually, what else adults can learn from every competition they take part in?
• Contests create clarity. Regardless of the result itself, the reflections force you to clear out the noise and zero in on what is most important to your personal growth or being the winner.
• Contest questions the approach. It makes us a better judge of our work. You get tools to better monitor your projects and quickly look for ways to alter the idea with an eye to reaching your goals.
• Contesting always builds constraints. You must shake up your creativity to generate fresh vision. My biggest professional contests resulted in my biggest increase in knowledge and deepest understanding of the subject and self.
• Competitors are the best teachers ever. Try once to check others’ contest items and you certainly gonna catch this typical “That’s not bad at all!” reaction. Your own approach will never be the same.
If there is one thing I’ve learned from contests, it is persistence. Every piece of advice is a new opportunity to level up.
