"Rule the day or let the day rule you."
"Rule the day or let the day rule you."
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I have been haunted by this phrase for just about ten years. In the wake of hustle culture, it's easy to fall under the spell of productivity especially when you are a professional creative. The lure of checklists, protocols, and days scheduled down to the minute seems like such a logical solution for an artist who is starting their business - especially for one who has spent a lifetime in a superstructure educational system and workforce. With validation coming from teachers, grades, and a steady paycheck, we often learn to stop trusting ourselves.Often when starting a business, it's easy to second guess yourself and ask "Is this the right thing to be doing?" or "Have I done enough?" This permeating question eventually seeps into your skin and you end up creating an elaborate plan. You make the lists, fill the calendar to the brim, and forgo all personal care and interests. The plan, initially, works when you complete it. The promise of perfectly polished planners and well-intentioned tasks whisper the promise of success. However, the next day, when you go to execute the plan, your mind revolts. Sound familiar?
As the owner of a creative business, you are both retailer and manufacturer.
As the owner of a creative business, you are both retailer and manufacturer.
That's often because when an artist decides to make a business of their work, they turn to business practices. Again, this seems perfectly logical. However, as a creative, you serve a unique role in your business. You are both the retailer (the one who sells) and the manufacturer (the one who makes). Traditional businesses do not suffer from this problem. These businesses sell the product and either have their product delivered to them or hire employees to provide the product in the form of a service. In this scenario, the mental and emotional state of the owner is not directly affecting the product. But, as a creative, yours does. Since your state of being (emotional and mental state) is so critical to the success of your business, you must strive to create conditions that put you in the right state of being rather than striving to simply "increase productivity." Creativity comes from feeling safe to explore or to solve problems. This is not merely anecdotal but is supported by lots of biological research (which we'll leave for another day). Think of children. Children are inherently creative until they reach age 11-12 when they begin to feel compared and criticized to their peers.
Be the boss you have always wanted - not the one you walked away from.
Be the boss you have always wanted - not the one you walked away from.
You cannot activate this part of the brain if you are treating yourself like a horrible boss. Often, when we attempt to go into business for ourselves we accidentally replicate the behaviors of authority figures that tormented us in the past. We do this for many reasons: fear of failure, fear of shame, fear of criticism, etc. The problem is that these behaviors were why you started this endeavor in the first place! You began your art business to give yourself freedom - not to exploit yourself. This is where you have to be very careful when using traditional productivity hacks to scare motivate yourself. When you are trying to create, you must emulate the characteristics of a compassionate and empathetic boss who cares for their team. You must demand the same respect, time, and workload of yourself that you would demand in a traditional job. Anything more will lead to burnout, creative block, and, honestly, eventually quitting your dream of running a creative business.
Where do you start?
Where do you start?
- Ask yourself "What situations and factors halt my creativity?" Then reduce and eliminate as many of these as you can. There will always be those little peccadillos in life that throw you a bit off. That's okay! As a caring boss, your job is to make these as few and unaffecting as possible.
- Ask yourself "What things make me feel excited, energized, and ready to create?" Do you prefer to create at 1 am? Does a long run or maybe a good slice of cake make you feel delightful and giddy? Does wearing those comfy goofy house shoes make you just sink into the moment? Make a list of the things that make you just feel good and make those a part of your day before you create!
- Make a list of all the characteristics of a horrible boss that just make you feel sick. These are your warning signs. Be mindful of yourself and make sure you're not exhibiting these characteristics toward yourself! Use a partner, your kids, or a friend to help you keep a watch out for any "bad boss" behaviors.
- Make a list of your dream boss and work environment and work every day to add just one small thing that makes this list a reality.
You're not alone. All creatives struggle with this.
You're not alone. All creatives struggle with this.
Remember, all creatives struggle with creating this balance for themselves when they decide to go it alone. But, the good thing is that you are not alone! These things are precisely what we talk about in our workshops and at our monthly meet-ups. If you find yourself continuing to struggle to find your stride, our community is always here and welcomes you with open arms!
For more information about joining our community, click here.
For more information about joining our community, click here.
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