By Angelina Henry
If you are a creative, likelihood is you’ve heard the general consensus is that the pursuit of a creative livelihood is a super bad idea, and bound to have you struggling to pay your bills.
If you’re like me this advice didn’t stop you. But it made you too careful. you didnt go balls to the wall with your dreaming, because what if the inevitable happens??
What if you fail and you end up destitute, just as predicted?
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I have always been a highly creative person, and though I was thrust into a life of corporate product sales, I have always fiercely rejected the idea that I could not become wealthy through the use of my talents.
After-all, I do have a LOT to offer the world, right — How could I starve?
I reasoned that, Sure.. there a many starving artists out there But there are some highly paid ones too..
So I did some research and found exactly what I had to enhance in order to thrive as a creative entrepreneur.
#1) SKILL > Get Good at your chosen craft, Then Get BETTER!
– People who have taken the time and effort to cultivate and perfect their skills are the ones who win, and continue to do so consistantly..
#2) VISIBILITY >
Get OUT THERE and be noticed.
– Expanding your network and becoming increasingly visible is the ideal way to grow an audience for what you have to offer.
#3) CONSISTANCY >
SHOW your people what you’ve Got!
– Showcase that skill in the places where they can be seen and appreciated
#4) ACTIONABILITY >
Solve a problem or fill a need with your work
– Successfully link the goods or skill YOU HAVE with how it can fulfill a need someone has, and you will have a way to profit from what you know, thus supporting your continued work in that particular field.
All the greatest artists out there who have employed these principals have gone on to impact the world and their pockets significantly.
And these points don’t only apply to individuals, groups can and do follow the aforementioned steps to achieve success on a much larger scale;
Jamaica for instance, (a very small country in the Caribbean) was able to elevate from the realm of relative obscurity by leveraging the resource of creativity held by its people — With the figure heading of one individual the legend mr BOB MARLEY, among others, They were able to gain unprecedented visibility, Literally moving the entire world, with the power of its signature sound, Reggae.
India and Nigeria were able to enjoy similar successes, making millions building their own twist on the U.S’ notoriously homogeneous and culturally exclusionary film industry in Hollywood, California,
Each building their own version of the platform (Nollywood and Bollywood) by leveraging their own unique culture and the creativity of its people.
Bottom line here is this.. CREATIVITY is indeed a HIGHLY valuable gift to possess, but you must follow rules to win!