As an independent, crazy, creative genius, only you can motivate yourself to get up in the morning and create something that matters. Then, at the end of the day, it’s only you who truly knows what creative angst you’ve been through that day, what “inner” battles you’ve won or lost, who or what has challenged your efforts, and whether or not you surrendered to resistance and procrastination.
At the end of the day, you rarely get an “atta boy” or a “you go girl” because when your muse has given everything she’s got, it’s really only you who can acknowledge yourself for not giving up and yielding to the pettiness of others or the pressures of money (whether you have too much or too little).
Like it or not, if you’re living the life of an independent artist or entrepreneur, you stand alone at the helm, puffed-up with as much confidence as you can muster. Oh sure, you may have a staff of assistants, band mates, collaborators, partners, a slew of advisors, a career consultant and a great coach, however the truth is, you’re the architect of your enterprise, the CEO of your world, and the captain of your ship. And your personal support team could be terminated at the snap of your finger, because you alone make the big risky choices and uncertain (scary) decisions in your life and career. You think your agent or manager does this? Think again.
Important because this independent, entrepreneurial life you’ve chosen is truly all about self-motivation, self-dependence, self-discipline, self-confidence, and self-validation. And if you’re like me, you wouldn’t want it any other way.