Creatives

Artists create. They create – books, paintings, a performance, a cabinet – and they usually put it out for public consumption. I work with a couple of creatives, and the biggest needle I see them work to thread is reminding themselves that they are most obligated to the work itself. Not to the acclaim, or the reception, but rather to honoring the process of creating. They must remain deeply rooted in their why to do so. Of course reception matters if you’re trying to make a living at it or even simply as a source of feedback to improve your craft. AND the reception is a lagging indicator. It can be (but not guaranteed) a reflection of how well one stays focused on excelling in their craft and honoring the creative process.

Same is true of leaders. If a leader chases the acclaim of others – the team, shareholders, public opinion, then they will be on a high when the fickle nature of acclaim is at its peak, and broken when it inevitably swings the other way. Reception can be A data point, but the most important filter is a strong core. Stay focused on the craft, have a few trusted truth tellers, build the hell out of your core in pursuit of your OPUS. Rinse and repeat.