Do you care too much?

I do like it when people agree with me, Reader, ;-)

When I talk about how I help creative professionals "improve the emotional relationship they have with their work (as they have a habit of getting in their own way)", there is always a furious nodding of heads (yay!)

When you're passionately connected to what you do, there can be a wonderful zen – an energy flow where ideas and inspiration tumble out of you like rainbow drops from a fairytale waterfall*

You're at one with your art. Isn't that the dream?

Art is everything

And that's a potential problem when you're an artist. Your work is your life. It can feel like the very soul and essence of you.

And 'there be dragons':

I can't put my work (myself) out into the world until it's just right
But when I do, what if no one likes it (me)?
What if no one wants to pay for it (me)?
Why do people want to use AI instead of my services (me)?
How can I compete with 'the establishment'?

Spot the pattern

Notice the 'me, myself and I' in each of those? That's not a coincidence. When your identity is wrapped up in your work, every business decision becomes personal. Every setback feels like rejection. Every risk feels like you're putting yourself on the line.

And that's when hesitation creeps in

Hesitation can cripple your business (unnecessarily so). Because somewhere along the way, you've lost sight of the "why" that drives you to keep creating.

Let's bring you back to the first two questions you (might have) asked yourself when you started out:

Clarity – What is it you REALLY want from your business (your art)?
Bravery – Why is that so important to you that you are prepared to work through the hesitation, rise above the competition, shout about your scrappy, imperfect genius and give the world something it truly needs?

Clarity or bravery. Usually both.

I created a free 4-minute Business Bravery Quiz to help you figure out which one you need more of right now. You'll get your scores and a personalised action plan based on where YOU are.

Take the quiz ->

Oh... and one more thing before you go...

Regardless of your industry, sector or title, if the work you do brightens up someone else's day or makes their life easier... you ARE an artist. You ARE creative. Never discount yourself from that title.

Now go find out whether it's clarity or bravery you need more of.

Take the quiz