3 Mistakes Amateur Creatives/Business Owners Make in the Beginning

3 Mistakes Amateur Creatives/Business Owners Make In The Beginning

BY D.L SAMUELS

INTRODUCTION

So, after battling the thought for many days, sometimes even months, you finally made the conscious decision of entering a new and exciting chapter of your life. You have decided to ultimately begin following a “non-traditional” path. A path that your colleagues, parents, and even friends, would most likely express doubt and hesitation about. Statements of “there’s no money in it”, the infamous “sometimes you have to do what you don’t want to do in-order to do what you want to do at some point in the future”, and let us not forget the “maybe work for someone for XX years first and when you’re much MUCH older, then you can start your own business” are commonly heard.

Just so you know, this path that you’re on has the potential to be an extremely profitable one, and is also one of the most crucial aspects of how our society is able to run, especially if you’re like me, a creative. You see, without creatives harnessing any number of skills and talents relating to any kind of art, many of your favorite things, like video games, sports, movies, and television programming would be lacklustre, boring, and providing no impact.

While I wholeheartedly believe that creatives are essentially the crux of marketing, branding, impact, and ultimately profits for businesses, large and small, we often do not receive the appreciation (or payments) that we deserve. It’s hard work to consistently produce quality, and as much as we may love what we do, it can be disheartening when unpaid invoices pile up for already completed projects, and polite inquiring emails go unanswered. Especially when you’re new to exchanging your work for money, it can be difficult to really get a foothold in how to operate your talent like a business.

There are a number of roadblocks, unexpected obstacles, and confusingly new things that you need to keep in mind when you’re dipping your toes into turning your art into a business. Here are five common mistakes that, I believe, amatuer creatives/business owners make right out the gate. This new chapter of your life won’t be easy, however, it can be fruitful and more than worth its while when you can anticipate and place solutions in place for the potential obstacles that you may encounter along your path. Luckily, you have me to help you make that road just a bit smoother than if you were to navigate it alone.

01. NOT CHARGING THE RIGHT RATE FOR THEIR WORK

(You are charging too much or you are charging too little)

Not charging the right about can either be too high or too low. Before you set a price for your product/service, you may need to do a bit of research to figure out your standing as a Creative, as well as the industry-standard cost of your service/product in your local, and even global market. Always be sure to consider the level of quality that you are producing in your work. In addition, tools and supplies need to be accounted for (paint, pencils, software, etc.), as well as the amount of time that you have to spend on each project.

One main reminder I have for this note is: be confident in what you are worth. Many creatives who are just starting out selling their work, tend to underestimate the worth and impact of their product/service. This, coupled with fear, doubt, and anxiety, may result in underwhelming price points that leave you struggling more than helping you to elevate your business further.

02. ALLOWING DOUBT & FEAR TO OVER- WHELM YOUR MIND

Nothing stifles creativity more than doubt. It is the silent killer that doesn’t make a sound as it’s ripping your self-esteem and feelings of capability to shreds. Doubt often does not appear out of nowhere. Sometimes it is a result of long held beliefs about yourself and your place in the world. It also may come as a result of comparison. When you compare yourself, product, and/or services to someone you may believe is doing way better than you, (which may not even be the case), you are likely setting yourself up for some feelings of inferiority and mediocrity. There is no one way to quell self-doubt. Motivations differ for each individual, however, my main suggestion would be to truly define what your purpose behind doing the work you do is. Keep focused on your “Why”, no matter how doubtful you may feel about seeing your visions materialized.

03. THINKING YOU ARE NOT FULLY EQUIPPED FOR WORLD DOMINATION

Let me tell you — I know all too well how it may feel to know about all the great tools that exist in the world to help you create more amazing work, yet feeling stuck because you can’t find a way to get your hands on them.

I’m here to tell you that, even though you can aspire and work towards upgrading your equipment in the future, it is important to have a sincere appreciation for what you do have now. Does your camera still allow you to take great images, that you can then make even greater with some skillful editing? Are you still able to access all the necessary software, even though your laptop may be running a tad bit slow, and is older than your high-school yearbook?

Is your arsenal of art supplies still being your tried and true, despite the fact that it could definitely use a bit of a refresher? I get it. I’m still using what I often refer to as my “entry-level” Nikon D3200, that I purchased about four years ago. Sometimes, I do get a bit down about all that I could do with a brand-spanking-new, full-frame camera. But then I have to remind myself, or be reminded by my wife, as is often the case, that while I cannot afford to make my dream upgrade right now, I have still been able to learn new skills, and improve the quality of my photography and cinematography.