What is the best thing I love about my job?
The possibility of deepening and investigating what surrounds me in absolute freedom.
What is my idea of happiness?
Power to have the opportunity to spend my time doing what I want and most I like.
What is my greatest fear?
Lose this possibility.
What is the trait that I most deplore about myself?
The shyness and the little cunning.
Which living people in my profession do I admire most?
There are many painters that I admire and follow the first to come to mind are Cecily Brown, Alessandro Papetti, Alex Kanevsky, Edwige Fouvry Jenny Saville, David Hokney.
What’s my biggest extravagance?
Be normal.
When should I lie?
Maybe I should learn to lie when they ask me for my opinion on a painting that I don’t like.
What is the thing I don’t like most about my job?
The falsity of a system that too often mistakes the show for art.
When and where have I been the happiest in my job?
The memory I have in mind is the victory of the Youth Prize at the Florence Biennale in 2009. It was my first success and it gave me a lot of strength.
If I could, what would I change about myself?
I would like to be less insecure in some circumstances.
What is my biggest job success?
Being a teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts is a great success and a wonderful responsibility for me.
Where would I most like to live?
I chose to live in Milan and as long as I can I will stay here. It is the city where I was born and I have a huge feeling for this place.
What is my most precious asset?
The affections that surround me.
What is my most marked characteristic?
Tenacity and humility.
What is my most stimulating position in my city?
I really like walking through the streets of the center and sometimes getting lost in areas I don’t know.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink in my city?
I don’t have a real favorite place, I really like eating sushi and drinking where it happens, there are many places.
Which books have influenced my life and how?
On the road by J. Kerouac influenced me a lot in the adolescent period, afterwards the readings of Proust, Bauman, Galimberti, Dostoevskij contributed to the formation of my current thought.
You only die once. What music would I listen to on my last day?
Definitely something from the Beatles.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?
Dylan Dog
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?
Kathe Kollwitz, Velasquez, Lucian Freud and the italian partisans.
Which movie would I recommend seeing once in a lifetime?
Manhattan by Woody Allen and Barry Lyndon by Stanley Kubrick
What role does art play in my life and in my work?
It is a fixed and constant thought, when I get distracted I feel guilty.
What do the words “You are the storyteller of your own life” tell me?
I would like to be the protagonist.
Who is my biggest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?
Surely those who appreciate my work and those who have the patience to endure me.
Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2020?
Continue the collaboration with Dario Molinaro on the artzine dedicated to the drawings “La.banana” (www.facebook.com/la.banana.fanzine) and start collaborations with other galleries here in Milan.
Which people in my profession who can really make a difference in my creative career would like to meet in 2020?
Salvatore Alessi, Marc Dailly, Benjamin Bjorklund.
What project am I looking forward to working on in 2020?
On my next exhibition.
Where can you see me or my work in 2020?
In the month of June there should have been a solo exhibition but for the pandemic it was postponed to a later date. I am starting new collaborations that will lead to new exhibition opportunities as soon as possible.
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?
Try to be as sincere as possible in your work to avoid betraying your passion.
Which creative heroes should invite Peter to tell their story?
Dario Molinaro, Marc Dailly, Benjamin Bjorklund.
How can you contact me?
https://leoragnolr.wixsite.com/leoragno
https://www.facebook.com/leo.ragno.5
https://www.instagram.com/leoragno/
Here follows a message of Peter de Kuster, founder of The Hero’s Journey
Are you a creative leader or creative professional looking to develop your business skills and storytelling?
Amidst today’s uncertainty, it is more important than ever to reconnect with yourself and others, develop your creative business, and build your story. Dive deep into your unique business style and areas for growth with the coaching of Peter de Kuster.
IS THE HERO’S JOURNEY COACHING FOR YOU?
You are a creative leader or creative professional who is interested in developing yourself, your business, and your story.
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You are aware that there are no quick fixes. Learning is a journey that works when you are fully committed to it. Coaching can bring awareness and help you navigate, but in the end it’s you who is in charge of your growth.
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You want to learn more about how to resource yourself, learn about blind spots, and get feedback.
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You are curious and want to engage in online learning.
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You are motivated to work in-between sessions on yourself (e.g. working on homework assignments that will help you develop new storytelling, skills, and behaviors).
WHAT’S YOUR COACHING QUESTION?
The Hero’s Journey Coaching is all about your development. To make the most out of your sessions, we ask you to prepare topics to work on with Peter. These topics can serve as a starting point for further in-depth exploration with Peter.
These coaching topics typically resonate with the creative leaders Peter works with:
How can i tell the most powerful story possible about myself and my creative business?
How can I handle self promotion and marketing of my creative business better?
How do can I stay authentic and with focus when having difficult conversations with potential clients?
What are my creative values and how do I align these with my business values?
How can I manage my time and energy better?
How can I radiate confidence to my clients while feeling anxious inside?
How can I steer myself towards creative excellence without becoming rigid?
About Peter de Kuster
Peter de Kuster is the founder of The Heroine’s Journey & Hero’s Journey project, a storytelling firm which helps creative professionals to create careers and lives based on whatever story is most integral to their lives and careers (values, traits, skills and experiences). Peter’s approach combines in-depth storytelling and marketing expertise, and for over 20 years clients have found it effective with a wide range of creative business issues.
Peter is writer of the series The Heroine’s Journey and Hero’s Journey books, he has an MBA in Marketing, MBA in Financial Economics and graduated at university in Sociology and Communication Sciences.
PRICING
The Hero’s Journey Coaching online sessions last 50 minutes and the fee is Euro 189 excluding VAT per session. The Hero’s Journey Coaching is suitable for people at any stage in their career.
FAQ
Who can sign up for The Hero’s Journey online coaching?
Creative leaders and creative professionals who wish to improve their business story and develop their business skills and mindset.
Should I choose 1:1 coaching?
Our The Hero’s Journey experiences in world cities allow you to learn not only from the coach but also from your peers. For the small group coaching (1 – 4 people), we have selected important, relevant topics that we find regularly come up for creative professional: purpose, storytelling, creative confidence, self promotion, time & money and resilience.
If you would prefer to work alone or on a different topic, individual coaching is a better fit for you.
What language do we speak in the coaching sessions?
English.
Can I buy coaching for my organization?
Yes, you can! We support many organizations around the world with their coaching needs. Please contact us for more information.
Can I bring my own topics?
Yes, for individual coaching you get to choose your own topic.
Are coaching sessions confidential?
Yes. Peter will not share anything that is discussed in the coaching sessions.
Where will the coaching sessions take place?
Sessions will take place online (as per the times we live in) via an online tool like Zoom or Skype. Peter will let you know.
How do I sign up?
Send Peter a mail to theherojourneyquestionnaires@gmail.com to start booking your coaching sessions.
How do I pay?
After you send the mail, you will receive an email with a link to pay.
How do I book and reschedule sessions?
Once we’ve received your payment, Peter will contact you and book your coaching sessions. He will also support you with rescheduling sessions if needed.
What is your cancellation policy?
Individual coaching sessions can be postponed up to one week before the session.
The Hero's Journey 