Y’all know I love a good list. I spied 10 Mentalities That Will Keep Creatives Broke on blkcreatives.com and knew that this was a read for me. Please take the time to peep the thorough breakdown of each behavior on the site:
10. You equate your value and your worth with money.
9. You don’t take yourself seriously.
8. You consume someone else’s information in place of taking the time to learn yourself.
7. You don’t believe in yourself.
6. You spend so much time cheering on and investing in others that you neglect to do the same for yourself.
5. You think that where you are in your life right now is based on lack instead of timing.
4. You don’t ask for help nor do you express yourself.
3. You seek validation externally.
2. You underestimate the time it takes to be successful and quit on yourself too early.
1. You spend more time talking yourself out of something instead of doing the actual work.
I often overthink, getting in my own way. Take pause when I should take action. And where does it get me? Where does not going get me? And what does it hurt to give ______ a try? I also took the Broke in the title to mean not only financially broke, but mentally broke. Motivationally broke. Spiritually broke. All kinds of broke that only a healthy mindset and self-realization can change.
How broke are you in your blogging and other creative endeavors?
❤
black|burgundy 
Very true.
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Would you not say that the world is against creatives in general? I’ve mentioned similar aspects of this in some of my posts, albeit through sarcasm and satire I remain honest in that I fully believe most creatives are irrevocably doomed.
For instance, aside from being a writer I’m an illustrator. Pencil, paper etc. but, I’d also say that I should’ve been born in Italy in the 1600s as that talent is useless in 2017. Artists as creatives I’d say their mentalities are the last thing holding them back, the world is changing which will ultimately cease their existence to be irrelevant.
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In general, yes! The world is against creatives. They are starting younger and younger, taking creative classes like music and art out of public school to focus on academics and get little ones prepared to be narrow-minded minions. Art is advertised as a leisure, not a possible career goal.
I’m an illustrator as well, usually drawing on a smaller scale, so I do ofttimes wonder if I can ever break away and survive off art alone?? Are you planning on making a way for yourself in the visual arts realm where you can solely focus on art?
Another thing, society makes it seem like there is only room for one or two big names at a time Beyoncé + Rihanna, for example) when there’s more than enough space for everyone.
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” Are you planning on making a way for yourself in the visual arts realm where you can solely focus on art?”
When I mention art, I refer to painting, illustration, etc. traditional methods of art, not counting singing for instance, although that can also apply for the following answer – Never, as a child you consider pursuing art as a full time career. I think that’s a mistake a lot of artists make when they’re younger and it burns them once they leave college for instance. Never and I repeat never should an artist rely on art as their career goal. The truth of the matter is this isn’t the 16-1700s.
Art isn’t worth anything until you’re dead and dugged up by some privileged a-hole. Art should be seen as a talent and a lifestyle hobby, nothing else. If you can make it as a career then great but I would say never prioritize it. Art is disposable in modern times.
For those who can survive off it, that’s admirable. Good on them. But younger artists should wake up from now. Keep expectations in check, sell a masterpiece now and then, but be realistic.
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All of the above. I feel you. Completely! Can you think of a current artist that is widely known like those of the 1600s? Banksy maybe. The amazing artists I know are alive, painting the beautiful art scene in Atlanta, but this is one small city in one small state in one small country. And it’s not up to us small-town folk to decide what’s or who’s great, right.
I read a quote yesterday by Dally London: replace the name on your art with someone popular, and watch the populous parade the genius of it.
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I’d say Banksy is popular but it doesn’t grant him the means to push his art as a career. Art was once a force that wasn’t to be trifled with. Considered to be a form of magic, vodou. Now it’s nothing more than a means of stereotyped expression with little to no substance or value other than to those who also do it. And this right here is the problem, as long as it’s ignored or watered down to something that most perceive as something that can be substituted by the means of some crappy phone App, art holds no place in our world. I rarely doubt any artist in this day n age will be remembered when they’re dead 40 to 80 years from. Artists have become disposable. Look to Banksy, his works are masqueraded across slackless t-shirts and posters by market stall runners and cheap department stores. He’s nothing. and thats a grand shame.
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Again, I have to agree. Many art forms- from conversation to musical expression once done with fervor are severely watered down and tasteless…yet still marketed as the acceptable norm.
And I don’t know if Banksy has a 9-5, but he’s the only well-known visual artist I could think of in this day and that is disheartening.
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I approve this list! Thank you for this! Right on point.
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Of course! Thanks for tuning in!
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I’m guilty of #10 but I think a lot of people are guilty of it not just creatives. Unfortunately what I’m seeing now is that it’s not just having money that we base our value on, it’s also having a certain amount of money. I’ve listened to people talk as if they were to become anything less than a millionaire then they feel their life has been a waste. They can’t settle for anything less than being rich.
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True. It’s unfortunate that we’ve been indoctrinated to follow the European way of valuing things and money over what truly makes us rich: able bodies, high morals, humility, good times with loved ones, beaches and gardens and unobstructed sunsets. Think of all the people killing themselves just to keep making that paycheck. It really is a detrimental cycle.
Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your thoughts.
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I am not black. I am, however, black Irish.
Well, I will not say that I am broke because of any item in the above list.
I will say that nothing in the above list describes my situation.
I will say that I am rich, in a poor way, in a creative way, in a human way, in a modern get out of my face if you are an a$p way.
Kelley, you post many interesting ideas. I enjoy weighing in now and again.
Let me know f I am ever not welcome.
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I like that: you’re rich in a poor way.. which I think is the true definition of rich.
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I agree with you. If money is the true measure, then 99% of the people on earth are out of luck!
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For what I do and am about, at times I get spiritually broke when I step outside and see the condition of our people. It’s really disheartening. Especially here in southeast D.C.
On my other creative ventures, I haven’t put too many of them out there. Honestly, I think that my hunger/motivation has went down. Or as you said in an earlier comment, I am too caught up in this money game. But in today’s world you are damned if you do, damned if you don’t go after money.
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I understand. The world has made it very difficult for those without money. And we have no sense of community, so we have to step outside to get fresh groceries, a babysitter, jobs, etc. This is all seen as the norm instead of the backwards way it is.
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I was guilty of #6 until I just let go.
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Letting go is ofttimes harder than hanging on, depending.. but once done, it frees up that energy you may need to keep for yourself.
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