Stories of artists, writers, musicians who decide to put a hold on pursuing their artistic ambitions to have to get a “real” job to make ends meet or provide for their family. But they can’t get over “giving up” their dreams, they’re unhappy, miserable, hate what they do. Strains their relationships, drains their energy, makes them so unhappy and difficult to be around. They’re stuck, can’t move forward in their career cause they’re still stuck in what they could’ve done or couldn’t do. The saddest thing is they’re so unhappy but they have something unique, inspiring, purposeful to give.
What makes them/us/me so miserable? Isn’t it being stuck in the ambition of it, the expectation, validation, recognition? As a writer, musician, artist, creator, we only see one definition of success. Getting paid to create. Becoming a “professional”. Being recognized. Having credibility. Being validated. Having a demand, an audience. Anything outside of that, isn’t “success”. And if we’re not successful, then I guess we weren’t good enough, didn’t have the talent, or didn’t work hard enough. Or maybe it’s other people’s fault for not recognizing how great our talents are.
But wouldn’t “success” be doing what you needed to do, taking the job to provide for your family. Couldn’t success be doing your “job”, while also keeping your creative work. Couldn’t success be producing, mastering and improving at your creative craft even without the monetization or recognition. Maybe the world doesn’t see it, maybe it’s only your family, friends, community. The success is in the process not the recognition. The creative process you create and develop, actually translates to your “job” – the thought process, creative insight and experience, the compassion and empathy creativity requires, that is the unique, under-recognized, desperately-needed value we should want in our teams, groups, business, companies, corporations.
Anyone can create but being paid to create is a privilege, and that’s okay, and has nothing to do with your value, importance, need or identity. Know there is a place for creatives in the corporate world, it just requires a lot more conviction, steadfastness, work and perseverance to get to the place where your work recognizes, values, needs, wants and seeks your creativity.