What I generally say to artist clients is, “No one is going to discover you. No one is coming to save you. So if you’re secretly hoping that your artistic talent will be discovered, forget it now. Define your notion of success then plan and build it.”
I recently read this except from an article on Psych Central.
Writer Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) italicize, relates about a friend of hers, an Italian filmmaker of great artistic sensibility, struggling to get his films made, sent “an anguished letter to his hero, the brilliant (and perhaps half-insane) German filmmaker Werner Herzog.
Herzog replied to her friend, saying something along the lines of, ‘Quit your complaining. It’s not the world’s fault that you wanted to be an artist. It’s not the world’s job to enjoy the films you make, and it’s certainly not the world’s obligation to pay for your dreams. Nobody wants to hear it. Steal a camera if you have to, but stop whining and get back to work.’
We know that being an artist is generally a tough gig. But is it smart to waste your valuable and limited energy and time complaining about it? Accept it.
Push aside non-productive thoughts and conversations and figure out specifically what you need to accomplish next to meet your definition of success.
Maybe that’s where you need to start. What is your definition of success? Is it crystal clear? Like a physical fitness goal, do you want to drop 10 pounds? Be able to bench press 50 lbs 15 times?
We are not owed anything by anyone just because we are creative. There are many amazingly talented creative people on this planet. What makes you special?
Be clear and confident about how your talent is different, “Do You.”
Then start laying out what success would look like as if you had a magic wand with an on/off switch.
Once you have a clearer picture of success you can break this down into bite sized pieces, milestones.
You can do this. It’s simply another creative process.
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