If you're creatively inclined, remember that there is a thing called the overjustification effect whereby monetary reward for a craft you're already passionate about can actually kill that intrinsic motivation to do it, especially when you're looking at adding administrative work, networking and hours behind a desk to work doing something you would once just sit down and start doing for pure enjoyment.
Many artists have to sacrifice how they would prefer to go about their craft to cater to the demand of the consumer they need to purchase their work/service. Being bent into a pretzel as an artist can often cause burnout because of this. That's on top of the fact that only select minority actually make it big and create a name for themselves.
It's really better to do creative work as either as side hustle or strictly a hobby in your spare time, if you set time aside to do it. That way you don't mess with a good thing and can do it on your own terms.
Having your actual work fulfill other values than bliss/passion, such as connecting with others and improving your community in some way can give a profound sense of meaning (and compensate you in a way that doesn't leave you stressed and overworked), meanwhile you're still doing your other things on the side.
If you work strictly for the paycheck or for family/legacy reasons (your parents were doctors so you go to med school) can create its own set of problems. And I guess that depends on your personality and requirements for personal satisfaction. I think becoming an expert at something you're already proficient at that others can benefit in some way from has so many benefits, especially for men.
Being THE guy at a specific trade or profession, regardless of what level or scale it may be just has so many trickle down perks.
Last edited by TrentCrimmIndependent; 12-07-2025 at 11:27 PM.
^ very general, wondering how many successful creative people you know
Obviously relying on solely your creativity, without some acumen how to parlay that in to a living, is not enough
I know a lot of people who understand that their creative hobby is best served as a pastime, and I know several people who have found their own way to be successful
There are things you can do, and the ones who have been successful have put a ton of time in to their skill and a lot of time in to their business and networking, while figuring out what works specifically for them in that regard
The investment in skill is key, as well is a good plan and continual work on your network and target market
Yeah it is general. It does depend on what type of creative endeavor. Some are applicable to businesses and institutions and can be lucrative with enough of a feeling out process to figure out what has demand. And some areas require a lot more legwork to even get close to making a living off of.
I know extraordinarily skilled individuals that have cultivated their craft over thousands of hours and who've found a niche and still struggle to string together enough projects consistently that pay enough to make a living. I'm also a creative.
It isn't advice for everyone because it doesn't apply to every case. But it does apply to some. You often don't know until you go down that path and figure out for yourself if it's worth it for you. A lot of people experience the above though. They lose the fire and passion and just ran into burnout trying to make the thing into a vocation.
Different strokes for different folks. No harm in giving it a run, but life is also short, and you want to make calculated decisions. You can still have your passions while keeping them separate and use your work life to address different needs and values (including monetary needs).
Find someone who will be your ride or die, will always defend you, support you and be by your side no questions asked, the way dino is with our Calgary Flames.
#1 is really hard, because #######s are relative. You will hate (yes, outright hate) 30% of the people you meet in your lifetime, not because they're #######s, but because you simply will not get along with them.
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The one thing I've noted with lazy but talented people like my father who was a very good artist and went to school with guys that really did well and made it in the art world mostly by hard work rather than talent is it's the regret and the envy that is the saddest place of all to be.
My father was always jealous of the guys that did better than him, he always resented the fact that he felt he was more talented but that somehow life had conspired to keep him out of the fame and success that he felt that he should have had.
It wasn't that he didn't do well it was the fact that he felt that he should have had more that made him so unhappy, I had way poorer family members that were way happier than him because they were content that they pretty much got what they deserved in life.
The one thing I've noted with lazy but talented people like my father who was a very good artist and went to school with guys that really did well and made it in the art world mostly by hard work rather than talent is it's the regret and the envy that is the saddest place of all to be.
My father was always jealous of the guys that did better than him, he always resented the fact that he felt he was more talented but that somehow life had conspired to keep him out of the fame and success that he felt that he should have had.
It wasn't that he didn't do well it was the fact that he felt that he should have had more that made him so unhappy, I had way poorer family members that were way happier than him because they were content that they pretty much got what they deserved in life.
I picture every one of your posts with a backdrop of a drabby UK street that is overcast, dour and rainy in some crappy pub that smells of fish and chips and full of regret and hopelessness. Like Coronation Street on CBC on a Sunday and there is nothing else to watch.....and this post is the perfect example of it.
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I picture every one of your posts with a backdrop of a drabby UK street that is overcast, dour and rainy in some crappy pub that smells of fish and chips and full of regret and hopelessness. Like Coronation Street on CBC on a Sunday and there is nothing else to watch.....and this post is the perfect example of it.
Life can't disappoint if you expect nothing from it
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