5 Lessons for Artists that Entrepreneurs Need to Hear Too from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
If you’re like me and adult coloring books are your version of being artistic, you might be wondering why you should read the book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. The truth is, I was skeptical too, but I got so many recommendations to read Big Magic, that I thought I should give it a shot.
And while I didn’t walk away compelled to pull out my middle school flute or start watercolor classes, I did realize that entrepreneurship and being a creative have very similar demands. Elizabeth Gilbert’s advice in Big Magic has a universality to it, and much of her wisdom will apply directly to you as an entrepreneur.
5 Lessons for Artists that Entrepreneurs Need to Hear Too
1. Remember that no one is quite like you
The myth of the "great idea" is one that permeates entrepreneurship. People often believe they must think of something completely new to succeed. But the truth is most businesses set themselves apart, not with their product or service, but with how they operate.
You are unique, and your uniqueness will come through in your marketing, sales, relationship building, and people management. Even if you're selling a product that thousands of other people sell, no one will do it quite like you. And that means there’s space for you to succeed.
2. Put your work out in the world
One of the scariest parts of entrepreneurship, especially in the beginning, is being willing to put yourself out there. Whether you're launching your website, putting out a new product, or posting that first social media video, you have to be willing to share your work with the world.
Nothing will ever be perfect. And it's nearly impossible to improve without feedback. So, share what you've created, learn from the response, improve, and then share again.
3. Pursue curiosity over passion
Passion is overemphasized in entrepreneurship. While passion has its place, too much passion can make you single minded, stubborn, and unwilling to see new opportunities. Over commitment to your passion is like running with your head down. You'll work and work, and you won’t notice that you're actually stuck on a hamster wheel going nowhere.
Curiosity is far more powerful tool for an entrepreneur. Curiosity means that you’re eager to learn. It means that you’re open to new pursuits and new ideas. Curiosity creates a willingness to explore new paths, and that will allow you to find your way through the complicated maze to success.
4. Know that your work is both essential and expendable
To be a successful entrepreneur you must honor the importance of your work, but also know that the world will keep turning if you stop.
Entrepreneurship is riddled with uncertainty, and for most of us that uncertainty creates a lot of stress. To help manage that stress, remember that you'll be ok if this venture doesn't work out.
Move forward with commitment and tenacity, but know that whatever happens, your worth and value aren't tied to the success of your business. Remind yourself that you’re always learning, growing, and improving. If this particular path doesn't work out, your resilience will allow you to find one that will.
5. Work through the hard parts
Even when you love what you do, nothing is great all the time. There will be days (or weeks) when nothing seems to be going right. And no matter how much you delegate, there will always be some dreaded tasks you must do.
Pursuing what you love, doesn’t mean loving it every day. It means finding motivation from the parts you love to get through the parts you loathe. Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster of ups and downs, and you can't get to the big wins, if you aren't willing to work through the rough times.
Big Magic: Small Business Book Review
While this book was written for artists rather than entrepreneurs, much like artists, we entrepreneurs are trying to create something new and share it with the world. And like artists, we are pursuing entrepreneurship because it’s a calling. We need to forge our path and build something we love.
I give Big Magic a 4/5 stars for small business owners. It’s an enjoyable read and provides wisdom essential for anyone who creates—be that art or a business.
