I’ve worked with a lot of creative people throughout the years, and I’ve also listened to interviews with probably hundreds of people that work in film, acting, and the arts. Almost every single person cited one thing that they thought could be the biggest reason that artists and creative types get frustrated and burn out–something that many of them had suffered from themselves at some point in their lives.
Do you know what that one thing is?
The never-ending feeling that they need to please someone.
Have you felt it before? Probably. I know that I have. I don’t know a single person who hasn’t felt this at some point in their life, but it seems like creative people especially feel like they have something to prove.
Have any of these thoughts crossed your mind?
I can’t be successful if I’m not working in Hollywood.
If I don’t get this next gig then I’m a failure.
If I don’t make xxx amount of money from doing this, then what’s the point?
I’m embarrassed to tell my friends and family what I really want to do because they think it’s a dumb idea.