Listen, you don’t need me to sugarcoat a thing. You know being a creative has its “Bang Head Here” moments. You also know that being an entrepreneur not only means taking risks, but it’s in the damn definition.
When I first became a creative entrepreneur I was surrounded by those who patted my hand and distracted me with flowers instead of being straight with me. I fumbled around, spent an enormous amount of money, and fell into too many traps because—at the time—I didn’t have what it takes.
Now the second time around I’m doing things differently. I’ve prepped and planned, and at the end realized that maybe—just maybe—I can do it this time. I don’t regret round one of creative entrepreneurdom. I don’t even look at it as a fail (most of the time). I look at it as Detecting BS 101. So join me. Tuition is free, instead of desks we have divans, and the cafeteria is always in happy hour. There’s just one quiz. But don’t worry, it’s only five questions.
- Are you Mikey or Chunk?
Being an entrepreneur requires the ability to juggle and wear several hats while looking stunning in said hats. Mikey from Goonies is the leader of the pack because he has the big ideas, pushes on when the risks are great, and rallies his troops to get to the treasure. Chunk on the other hand is better when told what to do (the Truffle Shuffle anyone?). So if you’re more of a Mikey (and never say die) then press on; you’re a leader.
- Are you ready to commit or are you more into playing the field?
You’re a creative. It’s a given that you have great ideas. However, if you’re easily distracted and can’t focus on the project in front of you, then you may want to keep this in hobby arena. Because it’s the creative in us that has the ideas, but it’s the entrepreneur that will commit to getting it done. The creative side is the sexy one at the bar who’s a great time after two Moscow Mules. But that will not a marriage—or career—make. The entrepreneur side is waiting at home with your favorite bottle of red decanting, slippers readers, and a hot out of the over pizza cookie (because pizza cookies).
- Are you only interested in putting on a show or being authentic as heck?
Let’s be honest. Facebook doesn’t always show the dirty side of things. The amount of new baby photos, balloons, happy go luck selfies, and girls’ nights aren’t hard to find. It’s easy to get swept up in the digital world by putting on a one woman show. However, do you want to come off as perfect and untouchable? Nope. You want your digital presence to be reachable, human, and work for you and your audience.
- Are you your own Protagonist or Antagonist?
As a creative entrepreneur, you will be either your own hero or your own worst enemy. Being unsure comes with the territory, but it’s how we deal with those uncertainties that will define us in our career. Having doubts about what you are doing will. Never. Go. Away. This is such a common topic that many have written about their struggles and triumphs over it, like here, or here, and even here. What you need to ask yourself is this: are you willing to look your doubts in the face and push through, or let them defeat you to wallow on your couch with a third pizza cookie and a bottle of Cupcake Pinot Grigio? Though the latter sounds like more fun, the former is more satisfying with its delicious (and elusive) strong self worth.
- Are you prepared to be bendy or rigid?
Though the benefits of doing yoga as an entrepreneur are plush and many, this is not what I’m talking about here. If you are a Type A like me, you have a hard time dealing with this one, because being a creative entrepreneur requires you to be flexible. It requires you to have a Plan B, and the Plan B’s Plan B. Or more accurately, the ability to adjust when Plan A blows up in your face and Plan B was out to brunch getting mimosas. Being an entrepreneur means making goals, but not being tied down to the plans that need to get you there. In other words, start stretching, because you need to love being flexible.
See? That wasn’t so bad of a quiz. You’ve graduated, congrats! I’ll meet you in the kitchen in five minutes when the pizza cookie’s ready.