How Far Should You Go For Creative Success?

Competitive creativity

It’s no secret that creative fields are competitive ones. For every successful artist there are 10 starving ones begging for attention. Getting yourself out there is easy these days. There’s self-publishing, YouTube, social media, etc. Those methods are easy to break into, but getting noticed is trickier than ever.

The number one piece of advice for success is to work hard and not give up. Most are likely to throw in the towel before they reach this point. They aren’t willing to put in the time or the effort to master their craft and then hang in there until somebody else recognizes it as great work.

But then you have the overly determined individuals. This is a small but driven group of people who are super focused on becoming the best that they can be. Their goal may be fame, money, or just a sense of accomplishment.

We see this personality type represented in films like Black Swan, Birdman, and Whiplash. Their dedication is admirable, but their obsession is unhealthy. They risk their mental health, their relationships, and even their lives in order to make their mark on the world. This begs the question: How Far should You Go For Success?

Beginner level

We break into our craft because it’s fun. It calls to us. It suits our personality. Artists like to be expressive, whether that’s through writing, painting, music, acting, etc. Sometimes it’s the best, or only way, to express ourselves.

Some are just trying it out. They take piano lessons only to realize that they don’t want to practice 20 minutes a day. Their mom was a cheerleader. So, they join too. They play football in order to get a scholarship to a good school.

Weeding out the undedicated

Some grow out of their interest, want to move on to other things, or finally talk their parents into letting them quit. Others latch onto it as part of their identity. They write stories just for fun. Instagram becomes a platform to post their art, just to see if it sparks a reaction. They go to auditions in their spare time and pay for head shots and acting classes to see if they have what it takes.

Some talk a big game. They are somewhat dedicated to their craft or decide to get back into it after taking a few years off. They set a deadline for success and decide to give it their all to see if they can hit a goal by that date. It’s all they talk about or post about on social media, but you never see them actually pursuing or perfecting their craft.

They pump themselves up with pep talks and let everyone else know how it’s done, but they haven’t put the energy into actually working on anything. Their manuscript becomes little more than a great idea brewing in their minds. Their band never seems to be able to find time to practice, and they fail to book any gigs.

Any experience must be paid. Opportunities must find them. They know it all and refuse help or advice. They know what they’re doing, and they won’t settle for anything less than what they think they deserve.

Those who don’t meet their deadlines

Then, there is the type who works for years to try to make it in their chosen field. They put in the effort, but then life gets in the way. Their attention turns to something else, or the frustrations of getting nowhere finally gets to them. They give up. Their photography equipment ends up in the back of a closet. Their sculpture that they have been working on for years is thrown away. They gave it their best shot, but the odds wore them down.

This is more common than you would think. According to Inc.com, most goals do go unrealized. It’s much easier to give up than to stick with it. So, having that determination to overcome all obstacles or to find ways around them has to be in there in order to continue on.

The practical but driven

Next up are the ones who refuse to give up. Yes, they get frustrated by their lack of success or the hours of hard work put in with little to no return. They can’t seem to get the attention of a wide audience or the right professional who can launch them into a career, or even stardom.

But they love what they do. They’d do it for free. So, they keep at it as best they can, despite the low points and distractions. They may have limits, maybe refusing to take a risk in quitting their job or neglecting their family, but these limits are practical.

So, even if it means waiting longer to achieve success or finding another route, they are willing to put in the time to do it on their terms. There will always time for it because it makes them feel good. It is a part of their identity. To them, it is not about the destination but the journey.

The obsessed

Then, there are the overly determined, super-focused artists who eat, sleep, and breathe their craft. They are obsessed with a goal and spend every waking minute pursuing that goal. It is all they think about and all that they do. This drive helps them hit those 10,000 hours required to be considered a master of their craft.

However, they maybe predisposed to mental illness. According to BigThink.com, mental illness tends to be prevalent amount creative individuals. It’s no shock that creative people are known to be quirky and bizarre. But are they born this way? Or do they have a genetic attraction to these highly competitive, mentally draining, and emotionally-fueled jobs?

Linking the two together is nothing new. Virginia Woolf and Vincent van Gogh are prime examples of creative types who met untimely ends yet whose work is still admired to this day. Because maybe you can’t have one without the other.

The downside to obsession

Creativity brings out deep emotional responses that people can relate to or sympathize with. Those with mental illness bring about some of the most interesting art because they involve some of the darkest and most intriguing work.

The boom in mental illness awareness and tragic suicides of more recent celebrities show how that attraction has continued to this day. These creative types have reached professional success, but it’s still not enough to cure them of their ailments or to make them feel whole. All it can do is suppress or even validate that darkness for a time.

Whatever drives them: personal fulfillment, proving themselves to someone else, or fulfilling a prophecy put on them by those looking to see them succeed, this drive has become obsessive, leading them to go to extreme lengths in order to meet these goals. They neglect even the most basic needs, such as food, hygiene, and sleep. They step on those who get in their way, even those on track to surpass them as the best in their field.

Their minds start to break, and they are unaware, or even unconcerned with how it is affecting them. The obsession has become more important than the goal. If they aren’t careful, they will pay the price for whatever success they achieve.

Finding balance

As with everything, I always stress that balance in anything is key. As a writer, I know that my chances of professional success are low. See author Kristen Lamb’s post on this subject with the gory statistics here. All I can do is increase my odds by perfecting my skills and keeping at it.

It’s important to make it to the finish line but not to drop dead when you get there. Part of achieving success is enjoying it and being proud of what you have accomplished. When you put your morals, your health, and your sanity aside, when the finish line is the only prize, it can ruin the success that you do achieve.

The one who runs off the cliff after winning the race isn’t considered a champion. The one who gives up their life for their craft is considered a tragic figure, not a hero.

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