Demystifying Creative Work
The world of marketing is full of creative professionals – especially designers, writers, and artists. And when we talk about creative work, it is easy to conjure up images of starving artists working in the middle of the night in a New York loft. But for the most part, creative work looks nothing like that. I’m sure some people work that way, but creative work in a marketing setting is a totally different world.
Don’t let popular portrayals of ‘artists’ make you think that it requires holing up a studio and not showering for a month. Today we’ll debunk four common myths about creative work that will hold back your creative productivity.
Myth 1: Creativity Comes Naturally
When we struggle to be creative, it is tempting to say that we are just not the creative type. But here’s the truth: creativity is a cultivated practice, not a magic ability granted at birth. Of course, some people have natural creative talents – but every successful artist in the world spent a lot of time sharpening that talent. Saying that you’re not a creative person is just a cop out when the work gets hard!
Myth 2: Creative Work is Private
Too many people think that creative work is only intended for the artists – and if you’re producing work for public consumption you have sold out. This is absolutely untrue. Creative work should be made for an audience. That doesn’t mean you need to publish every shred of design you create, but it does mean that your goal should be to go public. Art created for no to enjoy is the simply onanistic – true artists are brave enough to share their work.
Myth 3: Creative Work is Entirely Subjective
This myth is used to insulate ourselves from constructive criticism. Because there was a creative process involved, we try to shelter ourselves from hurt by saying that there are no objective standards. But to hone and perfect our craft, we must be willing to accept criticism and use it to grow. I’m not saying to listen to every critic out there – but we also shouldn’t dismiss them either.
Myth 4: Profits are Bad
Here’s a little-known fact: even artists need to eat and pay rent. Here’s another: to eat and pay rent you have to make money. There’s no shame in using your creative talents to make money. Michelangelo did it. Mozart did it. And we can do it too. There still are ways to sell out, but using your talents to put food on your table is not one of them. If you’ve put in the hard work to become an artist, you are worthy of pay. It’s as simple as that.
Get to Work
Creative work doesn’t have to be a mystery, nor is it reserved for a select few chosen ones. You can write or create or design – it will just take hard work and dedication. If you want to produce creative work, you can’t sit around and wait for magic inspiration. The only way is to buckle down and practice until you are good.
Of course, it takes time to hone your craft. And if you need help with a few creative tasks while you’re practicing, Fusion Group USA can help to fill in the gaps. We offer graphic design services, web design and development, and copy writing for all your business needs. From monthly retainers to one-time services, we have the experts that are ready to lend a helping hand. Contact us today to get started!
