“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others”.
Vincent Van Gogh. His name is well-known, and most people have at least seen a picture of one of his works online. They most likely even know about the ear incident and the yellow paint. Putting that aside, Van Gogh’s greatness lay in his ability to be a true artist. He allowed the spectator to see the world as he viewed it through his paintings.
Sadly, he had no commercial acumen. He wasn’t very good at it. It has been stated that he only sold one artwork during his lifetime. That’s unfortunate, but the reality is that we all know someone like that or are that person ourselves. Gifted but lacked the self-assurance to market our work and escape the daily grind of Kraft Dinner (or ramen, if you’re Canadian).
In case it cheers you up, I was in the same circumstance. I want to write professionally because I enjoy it. I should be out there thumping the keys until I am paid in cash. I was working every other job you could imagine in its place. I was evading my actual vocation.
That’s how I watched Chris Do educate a group on how to scale from zero during a Tuesday afternoon Zoom meeting. More than seven hundred people, all of whom either owned their businesses or aspired to create one, startled me. The guidance imparted over an hour was practical and immediately applicable.
What’s the lesson learned? Creatives need to start thinking like company owners because most don’t.
Strategies for Growing Your Creative Company
Some writers, designers, painters, and creatives have all managed to make a sizable salary from their jobs. Take a look at Jeff Koons and Yayoi Kusama, two artists who have collaborated with major labels like Louis Vuitton and sold millions of dollars worth of artwork. They displayed their artwork without fear and were not shy about striking up straight-up suits and tie agreements.
I wasn’t sure what to anticipate and was anxious when I first met Chris Do. He exudes mystery when he is on screen. He doesn’t hesitate to tell you how it is, even though there are times when he comes across as cold or harsh. At other times, he makes people laugh by cracking jokes. My main concern was why I spent so much time instructing others. It’s pretty easy to make money.
Chris is a teacher, first and foremost. Suppose it doesn’t strengthen their sense of purpose. In that case, no one spends hours a day providing personalized time and attention to people who live halfway across the globe. We need Chriss, whether we want to accept it or not. Van Gogh required someone like Chris, who understands how to transition an artist into a company owner without sacrificing the artist’s creative spirit.
Chris taught me the following 11 facts about scaling from zero:
- Please list all the services you could provide, regardless of their feasibility.
- Based on three criteria—personal fulfillment, value to market, and profitability—rank each service on a scale of 1 to 10.
- Add up all the columns to get a maximum score of thirty. Which service has the best rating?
- Consider who your ideal client is. How do they go about things? What is required of them? What are their desires?
- Please make an offer so compelling that they won’t be able to refuse it. (In the vein of The Godfather)
- Finish the market analysis. Is anyone else acting in the same manner? What is the cost of them? What makes you unique?
- Obtain some expertise. Acquire some testimonials from others. In return for a case study, offer to perform a task for free.
- Begin offering people your services in exchange for money.
- As you go, gather quotes from clients.
- Keep moving up the price scale.
- Give more than you promised.
That provides a brief overview of how to begin earning money from your skills, but the method is effective. When handing someone their dough, most want to feel like they’re making the proper choice. It’s your responsibility to allay their fears and provide an incredible product.
Selling money will likely make you far happier than working in a soul-crushing call center unless it’s your true love. If so, you might be the right person.
Joking aside, I started to perceive business as a kind of art. Chris stated, “Pricing is a little bit science and a little bit art,” before grabbing a figurine of Batman and making his best Batman impression on everyone. It could appear that everyone is living the life of their dreams, earning money online, and enjoying life on the beach in this contemporary digital world. When you observe other creatives, you might be curious about how they make ends meet. Why are you down by the river in a van, starving artist? And why does Chris Farley accompany you there?
All I know is that The Futur’s creator is no stranger to transforming art into commerce and commerce into art. He undoubtedly aids the doers as much as the dreamers. Allow this to be the mental adjustment that will enable you to begin, move forward, and develop an addiction to success.
