Meet Eric Shilling: Graphic Designer | Photographer | Videographer | Sound Designer | Athlete

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Shilling and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
There are a few habits I feel that I possess that have helped me succeed in my career/life thus far, and those would be relentlessness, consistency, loyalty, respect, passion, willingness to learn & understand others, maintaining a positive mindset, and ultimately, just believing in myself, my craft, and my creative ability first and foremost. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In terms of my work; I can’t really say I specialize in just “one thing,” when it comes to graphic design, photography, videography, sound design, athletics, etc. I’ve had many family members, friends, and fans of the work I’ve released question what I do, and that’s the interesting thing of being a creative entrepreneur. Every project for me is completely different from the previous one. One day I could be working on filming/editing a video, and the next I might be working on a logo, an album cover, a photo edit, an apparel design, etc., but regardless of what it may be, if it doesn’t inspire me, push me to learn more skills, or be involved around good, hardworking people, I’ll patiently wait for my next opportunity. I’ve always been a big fan of the “iceberg” metaphor and how it equates to my life & career, as I’m sure for many others as well. Everyone always sees what’s at the tip of the iceberg; the finished music video, a new logo design, the updated website, that extra mile on your run, etc. but it’s what’s beneath the surface of the “iceberg” that separates those who want something in life, and those who don’t. The things others don’t see, all the hard work, the late nights, the rejections, the setbacks, loss of family, you name it; those are things we have to go through on our own and understand that not everyone is going to have the same challenges or understanding, just like you’ll never understand the next person’s struggles. One thing I’ve learned is to be open-minded to new opportunities when it comes to career advancement and networking. You never know how much a simple conversation with someone can lead to a future project, a future job, a future connection, so don’t be afraid listen to new ideas and meet new people. The biggest thing for me, and probably the most important, is to be able to live a balanced, yet structured life. I’ll get burnt out if I just sit around and “try” to create all the time. For me, I have to have external sources of inspiration to keep me going. Things like listening to new music in the gym, doing yoga, going for a run/hike, throwing on the hockey blades, really anything that keeps me active, helps me stay creative and on top of my craft. With that, I hope you’ve all enjoyed learning a bit more about my experience through life as a creative entrepreneur, now let’s make some awesome work together and keep inspiring others to be their best!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
All dependent on who it was coming to visit, I would definitely bring up golfing, hiking, grabbing a drink by the pool, get a workout in, paddleboarding, snowboarding, watch sports, and just enjoy different cuisine & drinks of the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Realistically, I want to give a shoutout to everyone who has, who is, and who will continue to enter my life, whether for the better or for worse, because we grow and learn by who/what life sends our way. I’ve gotten to a point in my career, where I’m starting to truly understand the meaning of the word, “reciprocation.” People come and go throughout our lives, but it’s those who make the effort to be a part of my life, as well as those who support my creative work, that I really have an immense appreciation for.

Website: http://www.shil-ling.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__shilling__/?hl=en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eshilling/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShillingCreative
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYzBPxOXEiia1TQ7gVfUiw/videos?view_as=subscriber