For the Love of the Grind

Embracing the Creative Struggle

When it comes to creative pursuits, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is this: growth happens in the grind, or what I call, the Core Design Loop. That’s why I’ve always valued teammates who embrace this truth, and George—Stone Blade’s creative director—is a prime example. Whether he’s crafting SolForge Stories, designing new art, or, as you’ll read here, wrestling with the intricacies of learning a new language, George approaches challenges with a determined and growth-oriented mindset.

In this article, George describes the parallels between learning a skill and playing a punishing video games like Dark Souls or Elden Ring—where the grind isn’t a hurdle but the core of the journey. Through his personal quest to conquer Italian, he describes what it means to embrace the struggle, not just as a means to an end, but as a transformative process in itself.

George’s lesson will remind you that the grind might be tough, but it’s also what makes the victories worthwhile.

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