Creative Advice for Creative People (10 shareworthy tips)
Hanging lanterns from a random yokocho (alleyway) in Tokyo…
This is a collection of my favorite tips. This is practical advice for creatives, musicians and artists.
(although, these ideas are probably relevant for everyone)
Whatever the case, these are the tips that continue to help me in my creative journey.
I hope they help you too.
1. It’s not what you know that matters…
There’s a phrase I often think about (not sure by who though): “It’s not what you know that matters, it’s what you do with what you know that matters.”
That’s fine and everything, but I like to take things one step further.
Because it’s not what you do with what you know that matters, it’s how long you do what you know that matters.
This ties into patience and being consistent.
We all know that knowing isn’t enough. But sometimes, just doing what you know also isn’t enough.
It’s noisy out there and information is ubiquitous. So what stands above more than anything else is relentless consistency and discipline.
It’s the new modern skill and a great way to reach your goals.
2. It takes a long time to be an overnight success
Here’s the punchline: process > results.
I don’t want some viral moment to shortcut my way to reaching my goals.
Learning to love the process teaches me how to rinse and repeat things. This is the valuable skill that creates longevity and expertise.
It’s easy to assume that all creators who enjoy viral success were lucky or didn’t earn their keep (maybe some, sure).
But what we don’t see are the 100s of videos, trials and errors and years of practice leading up to that moment.
Mr. Beast was doing YouTube for many many years before he “cracked the code” and got better.
I believe one big reason many creatives don’t experience the success they deserve is due to giving up too early and not loving the process.
So remember, fall in love with your journey, have realistic time horizons and appreciate every little step.
You’ll be unstoppable.
3. There are no finish lines
Goals are great, but checkpoints are better.
It’s my thesis that there are no finish lines. For creativity, this means I focus on meeting milestones and key checkpoints.
Because goal posts move, life changes and things evolve.
Plus, it would be hella boring if we just stopped after reaching our core goals.
So the advice here is simple: don’t always look for or strive for finish lines.
Again, enjoy the journey.
4. You are an artist (entrepreneur)
As modern creatives, we’re more like entrepreneurs than ever before.
There are no gatekeepers anymore, which means opportunity is open for everyone everywhere.
But this also means you’ll need some extra skills, strategy and finesse.
You’ll need to become a creatrepreneur, or an artrepreneur…also called a creative entrepreneur…or a creatorpreneur.
Whatever you call it, here are some quick tips to fine tune the business side of your creative vision:
Know your goals and break them down into actionable steps
Use workflows and templates
Create a multi-year plan
Isolate your high-impact actions from low-impact ones
Automate, delegate or delete non-essential tasks
Know when to test and when to double down
Learn how to unlock multiple cash flows (digital products, prints, affiliate revenue, etc.)
5. Take breaks (don’t quit)
Hitting the pause button is normal and you should step away from time to time.
Because burnout can be misleading and cause rash decisions, fatigue and a feeling like you should just cut your losses and quit.
(but don’t quit)
Of course, discipline is important when you’re just dealing with a case of low motivation.
But recognizing burnout and your triggers is equally important. And if you are having burnout, practice getting comfortable with taking breaks.
Stepping away and doing something else is healthy, because creativity isn’t a race.
We shouldn’t worry about the 14 year old millionaire YouTuber or the overnight viral sensation who looks like they’re way ahead of you.
We’re not late.
You’ll never be late.
So take care of yourself first and your creativity will thank you later.
Whether it’s for an hour, a day or even a week, give yourself a break.
6. Not everyone is your audience
This tip follows a marketer’s mindset.
If you try to reach everyone, you’ll reach no one.
Not everyone will like your work. Some will criticize it. The best strategy I’ve found is to just smile, say thank you and pay attention to any feedback that’s actually valid.
It can also help to create a customer avatar, which is a persona profile of your ideal audience (their interests, demographics, artistic preferences, etc.).
So stay loyal to your specific audience and try not to stress too much if and when haters come along.
Because you know, naysayers gonna naysay…
7. Play with new tech + trends
There’s a lot of debate over AI and its effect on creativity.
But regardless of where you land on things, learning how to use it is definitely not wasted energy. It’s the best way to safeguard yourself and stay competitive.
Actually, if used right, it can streamline your processes and actually make you more creative.
This dance between technology and the artist has always been there.
From electronic music, loops and sampling libraries to digital illustrations, technology has always “threatened” the role of the artist.
But none of those threats changed things like many feared.
They opened up new creative doors and paved ways for new artists to express themselves in new ways.
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the only constant is change. And creative tools (which AI is) are no exception.
Of course, if your brand is built around being analog and raw, then that’s different.
But if you’re feeling nervous about the recent trends and technological changes, my advice would be to lean into it and use it (not fight it or fear it).
Just my two cents though…
8. Make smart comparisons
As you know, comparisons kill creativity.
But it’s hard to avoid them altogether. So the best advice is to become aware of them and practice making healthier, smarter comparisons.
For example, comparing yourself to who you were before is always inspiring for me. I sometimes forget how much I’ve grown, even over the last few months.
Another helpful comparison (for me, at least) is to watch videos or content from successful or talented people before they were successful or where they are now.
This Ed Sheeran video always helps me.
Other than these tips, it can also help to take social media detoxes and connect with more creatives in your niche.
9. Change how you see your social metrics
Social media growth and likes can quickly turn into the law of diminishing returns.
One day you get 100 likes, the next you get 20.
Then maybe you have one post go crazy and you get a few thousand.
Then you have another “flop” and only get 20.
Let’s reset things. Because getting 20 (or 10, or 5) likes is amazing. That’s 20 people who went out of their way to watch or view your content and like it.
Imagine those people in a room all liking your stuff.
That’s a pretty full cafe show.
And 100 likes? That’s a pretty solid gig and a full gallery show. That’s amazing.
So remember to celebrate these moments. They’re wins and even getting a few likes is a stepping stone.
10. Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right
Self belief is more important than anything.
This last piece of advice is all about mindset. There’s a quote I like to remember here (from Henry Ford I believe):
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”
I’ve often found that I can be my biggest obstacle. A belief in yourself is what will push you forward more than any new skill, creative tool or shortcut hack.
So fall in love with yourself and your creative vision – it’s everything.
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