The one thing humans fear the most, is the uncertainty of the future. We fear for our quality of life, our job stability and overall self satisfaction. To adapt for the future and in order to prosper, we all need to have a plan – a course of action. People have separate needs and desires, which is why it’s important to make the right decisions that will benefit you the most. In this blog post, I will be showing some examples of people who have struggled in the creative industry and providing techniques that will greatly assist you on the path to figuring out your professional identity.
Technical Skill and talent aren’t the only things needed to create your professional identity. It takes charisma, dedication and hard work. Because of this variable, a lot of talented artists never get themselves off the ground. Someone like Connie Converse is a good example. Connie Converse was a musician around the 1950’s (Youngs, 2014). Her music was very strange and abstract for the time, singing about topics such as promiscuity, loneliness and sadness (Youngs, 2014). Most of the songs being produced at the time were quite traditional and political, whereas Connie Converse’s music went against the grain. This variable, in combination with poor marketing meant that she never gained the success and recognition she desired at the time. Strangely enough, it is now the year 2016 and people are still only now discovering her. Although her whereabouts are unknown, Connie Converse’s music remains stuck in time, providing a very personal outlook into her life and the struggles of her time.
According to David Parrish (Creative Industry Professional), there are only 5 simple steps in order to achieve success within the creative industry.
- Figure out what you define as success. Every human is different, and we all have different standards, aspirations and goals (Parrish, n.d.).
- Understand your strengths. This way you can work on them in order to improve and hone your skills, whilst avoiding your weaknesses. This will ensure faster progression and an overall improved level of productivity (Parrish, n.d.).
- Choose customers that fit your objective. This is just an easier and more effective way to market yourself. By finding like minded customers, there is a greater chance that those customers will be pleased with the finished product (Parrish, n.d.).
- Manage intellectual property. Copyright and design rights are put in place for a reason. Ensure that you’re licensing your products, this way you can increase your total revenue generated whilst protecting your creative rights (Parrish, n.d.).
- Determine your business plan. Determine how you would like to grow as business, keeping in mind all the previously mentioned variables (Parrish, n.d.).
When it comes to figuring out your professional identity, you’re in control. Everyone’s path to what they define as success, will be different. But it is important that whatever path you choose, you are equipped with the skills and abilities required to achieve your goals and aspirations.
Bibliography
Youngs, I. (2014). Connie Converse: The mystery of the original singer-songwriter – BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 1 December 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29258982
Parrish, D. How to achieve Business Success in the Creative Sector. davidparrish. Retrieved 2 December 2016, from http://www.davidparrish.com/how-to-succeed-in-creative-business/
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