As a creative, your best creativity will be applied to your own life. Yes, your gifts and talents contribute greatly to the world but it’s the way you manage your gifts and your talents in your creative business that will sustain you. How you manage the output of your creativity will allow you to build a healthy life that doesn’t revolve just around your work life and career.

There are so many stereotypes around what it means to be a creative, the truth is that there’s no one way to go about building your career. When transitioning from a 9-to-5 into a full time creative, your approach and perspective will be key in shaping your career. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you make that move: 

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Being a full-time creative doesn’t mean you lack structure, it means you have to create your own. 

When you are working for others, your schedule is practically handed to you. When you’re working for yourself, your schedule is determined by you. Yes, YOU get to decide what time you wake up, when you work, how long you work, who you work with, etc. The key thing to remember is that these things can change at any time based off your lifestyle, life events, seasons, or circumstances. 

Being a full-time creative doesn’t mean you’re always winning, it means you’re always learning

We live in a society where praise is often given to accomplishments and achievements, and we’re constantly bombarded with announcements and good news. Reaching milestones and making headlines can be good, but as a full-time creative, the process is full of no’s, rejections, and delays. If you build all of your confidence around your wins, you’ll miss out on the lessons that come with your losses. Information mixed with your unique insight is your most valuable currency as you guide your career.

Your confidence has to come from within, mistakes and failures are common and they usually contain our greatest lessons.

"Information mixed with your unique insight is your most valuable currency as you guide your career." via @blkcreatives Share on X

Being a full-time creative doesn’t mean you lack discipline, it means you have to love yourself through your mistakes.

Discipline is a process, not something that is a one and done deal. It’s a constant decision to commit to something no matter the outcome. That takes practice. Practice usually involves making mistakes and not getting things right. No process is perfect, your discipline included. So the next time you want to beat yourself up about not doing enough, allow yourself some grace.

If you stay committed to being flexible in your processes, being a full time creative can enhance and elevate the rest of your life, especially your relationships. It’s a career choice that grows over time, so as you grow, so will your creativity.

"If you stay committed to being flexible in your processes, being a full time creative can enhance and elevate the rest of your life, especially your relationships. It’s a career choice that grows over time, so as you grow, so will… Share on X

We’re wishing you the best on your journey.

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