Its really interesting the way you describe your experience with "succes" and what it means personally.
I'm an artist and creative person who's always been motivated by the glamour of "succes", not particularly the money or the reach aspect, but rather the idea of being recognized. That my work has impacted or touched the world in some se…
Its really interesting the way you describe your experience with "succes" and what it means personally.
I'm an artist and creative person who's always been motivated by the glamour of "succes", not particularly the money or the reach aspect, but rather the idea of being recognized. That my work has impacted or touched the world in some sense.
But for the past year, through a lot of perspective and soul searching, I fund myself conflicted. Why do we need to reach that perfection? Why do we need to achieve that glorified succes? To inspire others and ourselves or to satisfy the ideal of a happy life, constructed by the society we live in today. In which case social media doesn't help either our self-confidence or image of the perfect existence.
Granted it has value for different people how and why they define succes in their way, I guess my question is, why do we need it? As artists and writers shouldn't our happiness/succes only derive from doing what we are passionate about and only for that reason?
I have rambled on a bit too long and maybe confused more than informed. Either way those are my thoughts 😂
For me, I've always consider writing to be my CAREER. I am not an "amateur" -- this is what I do for a living. So I need to be financially successful to live my life. At the same time, if I was only trying to make money, I wouldn't have chosen this as much career, so it's definitely a delicate balance.
It's complicated: For me, yes, it's about internal rewards and artistic satisfaction, but it's also about external validation. I've always seen all art as a conversation between the art and the audience, and it's a two-way street. As an artist, I exist in a society of artists and a great community: how they respond to my work is a factor in the process -- how "successful" I was.
I've never been an inward-looking artist. I want to connect and communicate my vision, and have that vision reflected back at me in ways I didn't expect. For me, that's the whole point.
A valid point, didn't consider that. It's great to be confident in the things you make, be it from succes or failure.
I know some people who define their own personal worth with how much they achieve career wise, but for my self i never wanted to let that define me or the life i live.
Its really inspiring to hear your view on the subject, but I can't help being curious; Do you have a big goal you wanna reach in your future tied to being successful? (besides what you mentioned in the original post)
Hmmm, that makes me think hard! Yes, I confess there is a certain level of "mainstream" success that I would really like to achieve. I don't need to win an Oscar, but when I was nominated for an Edgar (in 2016), I got about 80 congratulatory emails, and I thought, "This is nice!"
It's not a specific destination, but there is a "level of success" that I've come close to before, but not quite achieve. I don't THINK it's an illusion -- in that once I arrived there, I would want the next level of success. I think I'd be happy being there, especially at this stage of my career. But I dunno.
Financial security is also very important, because, hey, we all need to live and eat. But I'm more comfortable now, so that matters less. It's mostly about impact: I would like to have at least a small mainstream impact before I sail off to the Undying Lands.
Not cause I don't want to or anything of the sort. I can honestly say I'm still "learning" to look for what kind of artist I am. What I wanna look like, feel like and what I want people to see.
I just want to impress, show the world what I can, even if it's just to satisfy my inner artist or sense of accomplishment.
I never wanted to make a major impact, I just really want to be sated. I want a "simple" life, where I'm comfortable and my art had time to grow and thrive. Yes I realize that is very much a dream and of course we all need to eat and live, but I never think i would mske a career dependent on my art on less i was 100 % sure it could sustain me.
In that regard I probably need to be brave or take more chances I don't know. Either way it is something I'm still working out haha.
I remember reading your post about first jumping into the life of the digital nomad, has it in some way given you a different view on how to live and just life in general?
And yes I know it's a loaded question, in which case it's fine if you don't wanna reply to that. I shouldn't become an interviewer xD
Those are all fair feelings. But it might become clearer in time.
Oh, yes! Nomading has completely transformed my view of myself and of life in general -- mostly for the better, honestly. And it has made "success" much much less personally important -- which is probably why I can write about it here (now much less shame in admitting failures). I used to be obsessed with "making it," now I'm much less so. That probably also has a lot to do with age.
I think the key to happiness, for me, is more simplicity, more focus on friends and loved ones.
Well said, that's at least the things I'm certain of must be a part of any life; surrounding myself with love, good friends, healthy experiences. And yes, aspects of life which should always be simple, to avoid to much stress overall 👍
Great to read Financial Stability mentioned here so much...it is part of feeling secure as a human, living (and nomading) comfortably, for you and those you care for....
Get's discussed so little. It needs to be brought into the light.
Its really interesting the way you describe your experience with "succes" and what it means personally.
I'm an artist and creative person who's always been motivated by the glamour of "succes", not particularly the money or the reach aspect, but rather the idea of being recognized. That my work has impacted or touched the world in some sense.
But for the past year, through a lot of perspective and soul searching, I fund myself conflicted. Why do we need to reach that perfection? Why do we need to achieve that glorified succes? To inspire others and ourselves or to satisfy the ideal of a happy life, constructed by the society we live in today. In which case social media doesn't help either our self-confidence or image of the perfect existence.
Granted it has value for different people how and why they define succes in their way, I guess my question is, why do we need it? As artists and writers shouldn't our happiness/succes only derive from doing what we are passionate about and only for that reason?
I have rambled on a bit too long and maybe confused more than informed. Either way those are my thoughts 😂
All great questions!
For me, I've always consider writing to be my CAREER. I am not an "amateur" -- this is what I do for a living. So I need to be financially successful to live my life. At the same time, if I was only trying to make money, I wouldn't have chosen this as much career, so it's definitely a delicate balance.
It's complicated: For me, yes, it's about internal rewards and artistic satisfaction, but it's also about external validation. I've always seen all art as a conversation between the art and the audience, and it's a two-way street. As an artist, I exist in a society of artists and a great community: how they respond to my work is a factor in the process -- how "successful" I was.
I've never been an inward-looking artist. I want to connect and communicate my vision, and have that vision reflected back at me in ways I didn't expect. For me, that's the whole point.
A valid point, didn't consider that. It's great to be confident in the things you make, be it from succes or failure.
I know some people who define their own personal worth with how much they achieve career wise, but for my self i never wanted to let that define me or the life i live.
Its really inspiring to hear your view on the subject, but I can't help being curious; Do you have a big goal you wanna reach in your future tied to being successful? (besides what you mentioned in the original post)
Hmmm, that makes me think hard! Yes, I confess there is a certain level of "mainstream" success that I would really like to achieve. I don't need to win an Oscar, but when I was nominated for an Edgar (in 2016), I got about 80 congratulatory emails, and I thought, "This is nice!"
It's not a specific destination, but there is a "level of success" that I've come close to before, but not quite achieve. I don't THINK it's an illusion -- in that once I arrived there, I would want the next level of success. I think I'd be happy being there, especially at this stage of my career. But I dunno.
Financial security is also very important, because, hey, we all need to live and eat. But I'm more comfortable now, so that matters less. It's mostly about impact: I would like to have at least a small mainstream impact before I sail off to the Undying Lands.
Do you have a specific goal as an artist?
Honestly that is the hardest question to answer.
Not cause I don't want to or anything of the sort. I can honestly say I'm still "learning" to look for what kind of artist I am. What I wanna look like, feel like and what I want people to see.
I just want to impress, show the world what I can, even if it's just to satisfy my inner artist or sense of accomplishment.
I never wanted to make a major impact, I just really want to be sated. I want a "simple" life, where I'm comfortable and my art had time to grow and thrive. Yes I realize that is very much a dream and of course we all need to eat and live, but I never think i would mske a career dependent on my art on less i was 100 % sure it could sustain me.
In that regard I probably need to be brave or take more chances I don't know. Either way it is something I'm still working out haha.
I remember reading your post about first jumping into the life of the digital nomad, has it in some way given you a different view on how to live and just life in general?
And yes I know it's a loaded question, in which case it's fine if you don't wanna reply to that. I shouldn't become an interviewer xD
Those are all fair feelings. But it might become clearer in time.
Oh, yes! Nomading has completely transformed my view of myself and of life in general -- mostly for the better, honestly. And it has made "success" much much less personally important -- which is probably why I can write about it here (now much less shame in admitting failures). I used to be obsessed with "making it," now I'm much less so. That probably also has a lot to do with age.
I think the key to happiness, for me, is more simplicity, more focus on friends and loved ones.
Well said, that's at least the things I'm certain of must be a part of any life; surrounding myself with love, good friends, healthy experiences. And yes, aspects of life which should always be simple, to avoid to much stress overall 👍
Great to read Financial Stability mentioned here so much...it is part of feeling secure as a human, living (and nomading) comfortably, for you and those you care for....
Get's discussed so little. It needs to be brought into the light.