Thank you for this post! I have a day job too. It’s true that we easily lose touch with our why, why we create, because we must, and for the joy, not for the numbers. It’s easy to get addicted to the numbers. 😅
Thank you, for a wonderfully open, wise and helpful post. The other dimension I see is, you have kindly been forerunning these experiences and as you share them with us we become wiser. Forwarned is forarmed.
Thank you for sharing! Also feel it right now, when we become more ourselves, opportunities just flow. Just write and do whatever we want, everything will come the to right place. Sounds cool and fantastic ✨
It's a very interesting balancing act given you can look at monetization as a means of freedom, a way to exercise your passion freely. However, when creativity is commoditised and is looked through the lens of production, as you said, that takes a hit on motivation and the purpose behind why you started in the first place.
That point on having second channels is also something I have noticed and is very much a manifestation of that monetization and creativity paradox. Thank you for sharing!
I completely understand this and I think it’s a trap so many of us fall into, not necessarily just in the creative sense either.
10 years ago I took 2 elements of my personal joy to search for a more fulfilling job. I succeeded but lost my joy in the process, became burned out and was no longer fulfilled.
Would I have listened if I’d heeded such a warning as yours? I’m not sure, but I hope someone else will 🧡
I really agree with everything you said about creativity. I think when we are working purposefully on something that is deeply personal, along with all the efforts we put into it, we also need to protect it fiercely. Protection might not necessarily be from the external world, but from our own internal conflicts when we tend to seek validation.
The general motivation to do anything creative is to have a positive impact, unless we are working selfishly for our own self-improvement. I have noticed that when I start working/writing with the intention that "I need to do a great job", I produce sub-standard work. Some people say our only competition should be with ourselves. But even if I try compete with myself, I fail to do good work, since the motivation is no longer for the greater good. I feel pressurred to constantly improve followed closely by a bitter feeling when the thought arises 'how good a work should be done for it to be considered great'. These internal conflicts somehow show in the work you have produced too.
On the other hand, when we focus solely on the creative aspect alone, its a beautiful process. I feel myself grow, and produce great wrok (great for me at least). There is a general sense of satisfaction in the knowledge that at the time, I laboured and produced the best piece I could. But what about the impact? Does creative, real work from heart guarantee that it will create a good impact? If not, what is the point of doing it?
I fiercely protect my creativity, but what if it is too fierce?
I think it all depends on what you want and what you are trying to achieve. If you are really trying to create an impact then yes you need to focus on reach which means your strategy will be a little more complex…
I agree, I just read your writing on the 9 - 5 being an asset, where you broke it down into steps: transforming interst into passion, energy management and then consistency and monetisation/impact. :). Almost felt like I got the answer as soon as I asked the question!
I got all your points but I was left wondering, were does more nefarious brand deals wanted to have a say on the actual content, or just the sponsorship part?
The reason I ask this is could you have found a way to still have your creativity intact and just do the sponsorship?
It was just the sponsorship part…I will do more brand deals in the future but only if the communication is natural and easy. If it’s a constant back and forth with new information each time then I just loose interest - it’s not worth the money.
It means reconnecting with the part of myself that creates not to be seen but to see.
😭😭😭 This is something you can only truly experience when you write. I've started writing here, and the most beautiful thing that's happened is that I'm starting to know myself. Who I am. And I seem like a totally different person on the page ✨️
Agreed. The creative process is about the act-of-doing and where it takes you, not the output. Creativity isn’t about making product. Corp America just wants to make product and money.
I worked at the Market. Used to stand _right under_ the Market sign, and some very out-of-town tourists would walk up to me and go, excuse me, can you tell us the way to the Pike Place Market...I'd usually send them back up about 4 blocks to 4th and Union.... "walk about 4 blocks thata-way and and you should see the Market sign then just walk toward it." they were so grateful. "thank you! thank you!"
people thought I was a real asshole.... from 4th and Union you could see the Market sign better than standing right under it. fact.
plus... market wasn't really a cosher place for old codgers to amble around, I was doing them a favor really.
Thank you for this post! I have a day job too. It’s true that we easily lose touch with our why, why we create, because we must, and for the joy, not for the numbers. It’s easy to get addicted to the numbers. 😅
It is a tricky balance
Thank you, for a wonderfully open, wise and helpful post. The other dimension I see is, you have kindly been forerunning these experiences and as you share them with us we become wiser. Forwarned is forarmed.
Eternal love, Leona.
Thanks Leona. I highly encourage experimenting. I have a lot more to share as will be experimenting a lot more in the next few months
Thank you for sharing! Also feel it right now, when we become more ourselves, opportunities just flow. Just write and do whatever we want, everything will come the to right place. Sounds cool and fantastic ✨
Definitely at least in the beginning..not need to overthink things just implement
Wow. Thank you.
It's a very interesting balancing act given you can look at monetization as a means of freedom, a way to exercise your passion freely. However, when creativity is commoditised and is looked through the lens of production, as you said, that takes a hit on motivation and the purpose behind why you started in the first place.
That point on having second channels is also something I have noticed and is very much a manifestation of that monetization and creativity paradox. Thank you for sharing!
Yeah it's something which I am going to explore more deeply in the next few months. It's something that few people get right
I completely understand this and I think it’s a trap so many of us fall into, not necessarily just in the creative sense either.
10 years ago I took 2 elements of my personal joy to search for a more fulfilling job. I succeeded but lost my joy in the process, became burned out and was no longer fulfilled.
Would I have listened if I’d heeded such a warning as yours? I’m not sure, but I hope someone else will 🧡
I really agree with everything you said about creativity. I think when we are working purposefully on something that is deeply personal, along with all the efforts we put into it, we also need to protect it fiercely. Protection might not necessarily be from the external world, but from our own internal conflicts when we tend to seek validation.
The general motivation to do anything creative is to have a positive impact, unless we are working selfishly for our own self-improvement. I have noticed that when I start working/writing with the intention that "I need to do a great job", I produce sub-standard work. Some people say our only competition should be with ourselves. But even if I try compete with myself, I fail to do good work, since the motivation is no longer for the greater good. I feel pressurred to constantly improve followed closely by a bitter feeling when the thought arises 'how good a work should be done for it to be considered great'. These internal conflicts somehow show in the work you have produced too.
On the other hand, when we focus solely on the creative aspect alone, its a beautiful process. I feel myself grow, and produce great wrok (great for me at least). There is a general sense of satisfaction in the knowledge that at the time, I laboured and produced the best piece I could. But what about the impact? Does creative, real work from heart guarantee that it will create a good impact? If not, what is the point of doing it?
I fiercely protect my creativity, but what if it is too fierce?
I think it all depends on what you want and what you are trying to achieve. If you are really trying to create an impact then yes you need to focus on reach which means your strategy will be a little more complex…
I agree, I just read your writing on the 9 - 5 being an asset, where you broke it down into steps: transforming interst into passion, energy management and then consistency and monetisation/impact. :). Almost felt like I got the answer as soon as I asked the question!
I got all your points but I was left wondering, were does more nefarious brand deals wanted to have a say on the actual content, or just the sponsorship part?
The reason I ask this is could you have found a way to still have your creativity intact and just do the sponsorship?
It was just the sponsorship part…I will do more brand deals in the future but only if the communication is natural and easy. If it’s a constant back and forth with new information each time then I just loose interest - it’s not worth the money.
It means reconnecting with the part of myself that creates not to be seen but to see.
😭😭😭 This is something you can only truly experience when you write. I've started writing here, and the most beautiful thing that's happened is that I'm starting to know myself. Who I am. And I seem like a totally different person on the page ✨️
That's beautiful :)
Thats a hard truth.
Depends on the intention of the writing. My goal is to monetize later on , I'm building my writing skill for now .
The most important thing is our values will align with our goals.
Yes that is incredibly important
Agreed. The creative process is about the act-of-doing and where it takes you, not the output. Creativity isn’t about making product. Corp America just wants to make product and money.
I worked at the Market. Used to stand _right under_ the Market sign, and some very out-of-town tourists would walk up to me and go, excuse me, can you tell us the way to the Pike Place Market...I'd usually send them back up about 4 blocks to 4th and Union.... "walk about 4 blocks thata-way and and you should see the Market sign then just walk toward it." they were so grateful. "thank you! thank you!"
people thought I was a real asshole.... from 4th and Union you could see the Market sign better than standing right under it. fact.
plus... market wasn't really a cosher place for old codgers to amble around, I was doing them a favor really.