Where is the line that determines your success?
The idea of success is complicated, to say the least.
There are almost as many ways to measure success as there are people on this planet. Thus, defining and measuring it is massively variable.
One person’s success is another person’s failure. Good enough is success for some, while perfect is success for others. How you define success tends to be a blend of your expectations of yourself and others, as well as your environment, outside influences, and other life experiences.
For example – in my life, one of the primary measures of success, according to certain outside influences, is money. Success equals having money. And more than that, buying all the things to show them off to prove to everyone that you have money and success as such.
But damn, is that a slippery slope. You get some for whom sufficient money is enough to afford all the necessities and put some away for savings. For others, it’s that, plus enough to buy any and all toys desired. Then, for some, it’s all about the flair. Do you have enough to show off and buy gifts for everyone if you so choose? Or have more money than some third-world countries?
Money is an often dangerous and inconsistent means to measure success. This can be doubly true for the author or artist.
Why? Because of a lot of false narratives surrounding artists and the arts.
The myth of the starving artist
I’m sure that everyone is familiar with this notion. The starving artist.
Art as a career is all struggle and challenge. To be an artist you sacrifice your life to your art. Artists are thus viewed as always hungry, starving – sometimes for basics since art is not always accepted as a means to the ends. And other times, it’s starving for attention and recognition. To be fair – sometimes it’s both.
In general, there is a societal belief that arts and artists don’t make a ton of money, nor do they gain success – save for a very select and lucky few.
For every Pablo Picasso, there is an unknown Spanish artist painting amazing works. Likewise, for every Stephen King, there’s an unknown American author writing incredible horror. For every Judy Dench, there’s a brilliant British actress struggling at auditions for TV commercials.
If you compare yourself to these known artists, and you are not known, success looks increasingly challenging. And yes, for every successful and known creator there is someone out there with great talent and skill who has not reached that sort of level. At least, not yet.
But let’s at least acknowledge that the myth of the starving artist doesn’t serve anyone. Literally or metaphorically, this notion is a disservice to creatives and the work we do.
Because of this myth, the bar is often set in a place that isn’t entirely realistic. It also creates unnecessary competition. Sure, some elements of the arts are competitive – but in reality, we’re not in competition with one another. Especially where success is the measure.
So where do you measure success?
Is done a sufficient measure of success?
It is a very easy argument that getting a work of art done is sufficiently successful.
For example –many would-be authors, have one or two or more unfinished books. Half-written manuscripts. Story outlines where no actual writing has occurred. Ideas that have not yet seen the light of day.
This is not just true of writers. There are lots of artists with sketched, but unpainted works. Songs never written down. Clay not yet sculpted.
Because of this – done is a sufficient measure of success.
When I first started self-publishing, I ran into a lot of people who expressed surprise that I had not just one, but multiple completed books. I was startled by the number of people who talked about beginning a project, plotting something, or some idea or other that they started but didn’t finish.
This made me aware that done was in and of itself a significant measure of success.
Does that seem too small a measure to you? If so, why?
The answer, probably, is the overblown belief that success equals wealth, fame, and other grandiose aspirations. To be a successful writer/artist you need to have a best-seller, gallery showing, or other popular visible presentation of your work.
But that’s not so. Just getting done is a success. And a big one. It’s not easy to finish works of art, whatever form they take.
Success is never the end
One of the biggest problems with measuring success is that it’s often seen as the end.
But it’s not. Success is a means to the end – but so long as you’re creating, the end never quite gets reached.
And that’s not a bad thing. There’s always something new and exciting to be discovered. There are numerous options to build and create new things. Success is great – but it’s not the ultimate end.
Hence, if every time I finish a book I have success, then I get to succeed over and over again each time I finish a book. That seems rather sweet to me.
Yes, it would be great to reach some of those higher levels of success. Writing a best-seller, perhaps becoming someone known and/or famous looks like it might be great.
But what if success is having a life of purpose, enjoying the people in your life, and having the time to do things that bring you joy – and maybe give joy to others, too? I don’t know about you – but that’s really worthwhile to me.
Thus, it’s important to be mindful of where and how you measure success. Keeping in mind the myth of the starving artist, the success of project completion, and success not being the end – set the bar accordingly. You get to choose what success looks like for you.
Whatever that may be – know that you are worthy and deserving of it!
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