4. Passionate about art and Profit
If you are an artist passionate about your art, you are in the majority.
If you are passionate about art and business, you are in a rare and a fortunate minority who stand a chance at making a profitable enterprise from their creative expression.
If you are not interested in business and marketing, what are you doing here?
Personally, I find business just as creative and satisfying as painting.
I like marketing so very much that I dedicate every Monday to cooking up business and marketing strategies for other creatives.
In fact, it is my passion for business that fueled the creation of my upcoming online business course for artists, Making Art/Making Money. And, if I hear “starving artist” one more time I’m going to scream.
Think the artist’s and the entrepreneur’s personality profiles are incompatible? Think again.
The most successful entrepreneurs are highly imaginative. Think Steve Jobs.
The only subject Jobs studied in college was typography. The beautiful and elegant designs of all things Apple is a reflection of his keen interest in the Japanese Zen aesthetic.
5. Emotional Intelligence
The biggest indicator of success and happiness is EI (Emotional Intelligence).
The good news about EI is that unlike your IQ (Intellectual Quotient), which you are pretty much stuck with, your EI can be elevated.
Because art is personal, and rejection can sting harder, a high degree of EI is required to persist.
6. Ability to Focus
Last but not least. Since you will be shifting from creator to entrepreneur you need the ability to shift gears and focus.
Too many artists think that somehow they are separate. One painter I consulted with remarked about me, “You are an entrepreneur first and artist second.” I replied. “Really? Actually, I am proudly both.”
Each ability resides within me. They are not separate aspects of myself with a hierarchy. Jeez! I have my work cut out for me.
If you are a surgeon with your own practice you are an entrepreneur and a surgeon.
If you are a plumber who owns his or her own business, you are an entrepreneur and a plumber. It’s that simple. And it is possible!
So you must focus on the business side of your enterprise as expertly as you focus on the creative side.
Did you enjoy this article?
Yes. Money making and art making are not oil and water. They are each creative endeavors that require imagination, focus, and skill. Just different kinds of skills.
Hi Ann:
I concur whole-heartedly. I’m lucky to have both skills (art and business). I also have a high-EQ, and agree with your statements about the value of a strong EQ.
I would also say that an artist without business acumen can always obtain it, either through instruction or partnership. Not everyone enjoys business. I love it myself, just as I love art. They are a great fit together.
Nice read. Thanks.