Creative businesses are reflections of their owners. They embody all that we bring to our lives – strengths, weaknesses, neuroses and glories. As my career working with creative businesses continues to develop, I realize more and more how deeply personal my work is. Even though what I do is strictly in the context of a business, there is definitely a psychological component in the mix.
I have often written that I want creative businesses to be the best versions of themselves, their owners and the art that is behind them. I am realizing that I have to revise that thought: I want creative businesses and their owners to be the truest, purest versions of themselves. Artists should celebrate what is unique about their art and use their intrinsic, iconic nature to drive value for their businesses and their clients.
I am all for life coaches, motivational speakers, and all things empowering to help you to have the courage to make happen a reality you imagine for yourself. We all need to dream, to create and to manifest something larger. The world can only be better off if everyone on the planet can believe all things are possible.
However, too often the dream is not our own or, more importantly, it belies our essential nature. You have to accept, embrace, and savor the you that you are before you can think about what can be. Specifically for creative businesses, how many of you have websites, pricing models, contracts, even pictures that in some way hide the real you? Extrapolating from what my clients share with me in their journals versus what they put out to the world (and share with me in their answers to my business questionnaire), my answer is all of you. Me too.
The process of revealing ourselves to the world (and to ourselves) is often exquisitely painful, always enlightening and ultimately freeing. I have seen the literal weight come off of a creative business owner’s shoulders when they realize that pretense is unnecessary, limiting and destructive. Having your creative business be the best version of itself means that it has to be the truest, purest version of you and your art, warts and all. You are who you are and you need only read Danielle LaPorte’s last post to know how valuable that really is. Your creative business is no different. Authentic power comes from internal integrity. From your place of conviction your creative business can manifest the destiny you envision, not the other way around.
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Every time I read one of your blog posts, I get a little clearer about what your message is – of course it’s more complex than one thing……
I feel so very fortunate to have worked with you on my own project. I am still a little terrified and have to stop looking at the analytics every day, but I’m seeing more and more your extraordinary wisdom and subtle guidance.