I was always good at school. Some kids are great athletes, artists, musicians. I was and am a great student. Mind you, it does not mean that I was the smartest – far from it, only that I understood how to play the game of school really well. And knowing how to play the game, coupled with my own drive served me well in the eyes of so many. What it did not do though, was to put my feet on the ground and have a sense of perspective. I knew all the rules and none of the nuance that we all need to navigate our way through the path we choose for ourselves.
I have been out of school for over 25 years and during that time I have learned more than I ever did while I was in. What I learned was to have purpose, intention, and, on my best days, integrity as to who I most believe myself to be. I have come to understand that many do not see the world as I do, and that is ok. However, if we are to accomplish anything together we have to share a perspective, a vision, even if we may not manifest said vision the same way.
It might not be immediately apparent to you, but I also feel very similarly to many creative business owners and their path to what they consider success. Perhaps you too were great at school, although I am fairly certain you were better at artistic endeavors. No doubt, you gave yourself permission to be an artist so much so that you decided you could make a living at it. The issue for you, like me, is that you arrived untethered. Even the very best of us needs to learn how to put our feet on the ground before we can move with intention to where we seek to go. Having a purpose is not working with purpose, even perspective. Having a purpose is faith that what you are doing matters. Working with purpose is the fortitude you need to manifest your faith.
Just like me, your ability to be good at the game, your talent as an artist, can carry the day, serve you past innumerable obstacles than those who do not have it will succumb to. There is a limit though, a place where nuance and wisdom and experience and integrity matter more than talent. This is the place of true learning, where you have to say that we do it this way because and that way is entirely unshakeable. And if you do not yet know the difference between unshakeable and inflexible, you have more work to do.
Unshakeable means a deep understanding of why you, your art and your creative business travel the path you do. Every moment, every conversation, every text, email, call, is done with purpose because it is the very manifestation of the philosophy, the faith, you espouse. Inflexible is like the parent who tells their children not to fight with each other or else they will get a spanking. Inflexibility means for clients to follow your rules simply because you said so or, worse, because that is just the way it is done. Good luck with that.
The issue is that inflexibility is the providence of those looking for the shortcut, to excuse the responsibility that your business needs to be as creative as your art. The responsibility for creativity exists because both your art and your business tell your story. One without the other implodes the rest. Conviction and faith go hand in hand with your need to be a profound storyteller to realize the success you seek.
To the practical, if you cannot share with me (or anyone for that matter) how your creative business works in less than two minutes, you are doing it wrong. You should be able to state your role in the business, the stages the client will go through, when those stages will happen and who is responsible for those stages in a way any ten year old can understand. I should know that you have a firm (meaning iron) grip on what it will take to do great work. Whether the person on the other side has a monstrous bank account, huge acclaim or status is irrelevant, they have to believe in what you are going to do for them and how you will do it or they cannot be your client. Period. You cannot wish for your client to appreciate what you need, you have to tell them. Two minutes. Go.
