How Creatives Can Build Successful Businesses

Building a business from a creative pursuit is the dream of many talented artisans. Creative people are brilliant when pursuing their talents but unfortunately there's no guarantee that a creative person will turn out to be a competent businessperson.

Creative people have ideas and imagination as vast as the sky - yet they may struggle to operate in a linear fashion that's more conducive to traditional business. How can they preserve that precious creativity that is their essence - their unique spark with which they wish to light up the world while monetizing their talents?

When left to their own devices, creative types generally eschew many of the habits that successful business owners employ. Creative minds face a number of specific obstacles when building or running a business.

• Consistency - Creatives often live very much in the moment; sometimes the muse inspires, sometimes it's dry, making their output inconsistent. The thought of producing on a regular schedule may be distasteful - or downright impossible.
• Scheduling - The concept of working a regular 9-5 schedule may be off-putting to a creative person who may find their inspiration in a variety of places and at less-traditional times of day.
• Balancing responsibilities/prioritizing - A creative mindset can be rapid-fire with ideas flowing one into the other non-stop. Conversely, it can be deeply focused on one thing to the exclusion of all else. The result is that they may not naturally put their energy toward the next logical action.
• Sensitivity - Since the product they make comes literally from within them, it's common for creatives to become easily insulted when the reception to what they've made is less than positive. They may lack the "professional distance" necessary to withstand the "slings and arrows" of the competitive business landscape.
• Low self-esteem/self-doubt - Even though the products of their creativity are near and dear to them, they are often plagued with doubt that what they've made stacks up to that created by "real" artists, bakers, writers, film editors, wedding planners..., thus sabotaging their confidence. This tendency leads them to a mindset of Limiting Beliefs or, failing to mentally project their creative endeavors into high stratospheres of success.
• Undervaluing their worth - Because a person's creativity comes easily to them, they're often unaware of its true value in the marketplace. Closely related is a sense of Imposter Syndrome, leading them to believe that they really aren't the "big deal" that others make them out to be.
• Isolation - It's common for creatives to work alone, resulting in a very small orbit of influence. When one's world is relatively small, it's difficult to conceive of the big picture to which one's creativity contributes.

To help creatives overcome their obstacles to building a successful business, it's important for them to focus on these things:

Focusing on the big picture - A creative will typically become overwhelmed at a long list of to-dos and detailed blueprints to success. Rather, they're better served focusing on the big, overarching scope of what they create, why and for whom. This will help them avoid being crushed by the weight and minutia of what needs to be done and helps them stay in the creative realm where they excel.

Planning - Creatives do need a plan to accomplish that big picture, however, so they do require a manageable and forgiving system in place to help them stay organized and on track, one manageable step after another.

Talking to people - It's crucial that they combat the urge to isolate. Socializing and finding community can help creatives broaden their horizons and increase their confidence in both their talent and their ability to monetize it. Ultimately, it will lead them toward greater confidence in navigating their business plan and the marketplace.

Outsourcing - Recognizing that no business owner can do it all is important for every business; creatives may have more talent-equity than business aptitude and there's no shame in that. Hiring others to do the things they cannot or that take them out of their zone of genius is important for running a successful creative-based business that has a lot to offer and that does not burn out the creative running it.

Building creativity into the recipe for success - Finally, the model for creating and building a creative business need not be the same as a traditional business. After all, the essence of being creative is seeing things differently. Make room for the unique talents a creative mindset can bring to running a business. Rather than a hindrance, some creatively-tinged business practices might propel a creative business to be even more successful.

While it may not take as direct a route to success as a traditional business, a creative business is a rewarding way to make a living utilizing the talents of those who march to the beat of the artistic drum. By understanding how creatives think and modifying practices to accommodate for their different proclivities, creative people can build thriving businesses

Are you a creative person who has overcome the natural tendencies of artistic people to succeed in business?