We’ve all been there.

There’s a new software, art medium, mentor, workshop or even just advertisement opportunity that you come across and you can feel your very soul being drawn towards it. You know for a fact it would help you.

Then you see the price tag and that’s when your heart sinks. Can you really afford to spend your hard earned money on yourself, especially if you’re not making a return yet?…

THE ANSWER IS YES.

Here’s the thing…

SOCIETY HAS IMPLEMENTED THE NOTION THAT THE ARTS ARE A LUXURY COMMODITY.

The good news is there are artists in the world disproving this notion daily with their success and visual proof that their presence matters.

The bad news is, even ARTISTS THEMSELVES fall victim to this mentality. Because of this notion, more and more artists of all walks of life find themselves hesitating to acquire what they need in their craft.

The fact of the matter is, it is a rare few who become successful or even sustainable in their craft without investing in themselves. You absolutely have to in order to grow and gain bigger opportunities.

BUT THE BILLS, AND GROCERIES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE!

Ahhh, but what about success, achievement and MORE MONEY COMING IN!

You’ve heard the old saying, “It takes money to make money.” It’s a harsh truth. In today’s work force we have Millennials dealing with debt generations before them acquired and more debt just seems like a really, really, bad idea. But let’s get one thing clear, there is a difference between DEBT & INVESTMENT.

A debt is something you have to pay back out of pocket over time. An investment is something that will eventually pay for itself and then some. Here’s a great example:

When I sought out a professional editor for my next full length poetry book, I had a budget in mind. I knew since I would be self publishing this book as opposed to going through a publisher like I had done, I had to get someone who knew the business to go over my poems. I also knew I couldn’t afford to spend too much money.

When I found the perfect person to edit my book, I requested a quote and waited with anticipation. What I got back was a quote stating it would be $300 to edit the book with feedback.

Believe it or not, this was a very decent and fair price. It still didn’t change the fact that I didn’t budget $300 for the editing of this book…

At first, I was worried. Could I afford this? Should I charge this to my credit card? At the end of the day, the answer was clear to me. The editor’s quote was detailed, professional and offered a much needed sense of trust when handling something as personal as a book of my poetry. This person knew what she was doing.

I sat down and did the math to find out if I sold at least 33 books, the poetry would pay for the editing charge. To me, it was a no-brainier. Sell at least 33 books? Easy.

BUT I AM NOT SURE I CAN SELL ENOUGH TO MAKE THE MONEY BACK…

Oh but my beautiful creative, you can and you will!

If the thing you are investing in is truly an investment, be it art supplies, a new planner to keep you organized, poetry lessons, art lessons, workshops, no matter what it is, if it feeds your growth you WILL make the money back and more.

Those new art supplies can allow you do to a new series that will ignite excitement in your followers and refresh your love of art making. You won’t be able to resist putting your work out there and show the world your new creations! The new lessons you take will equip you with knowledge on how to be successful ensuring you make more money while also boosting your confidence!

That new planner (I am a FOOL for NEW PLANNERS!) will make sure you don’t miss opportunities, double book yourself causing you to lose trust with your clients and keep you calm for those busy months ahead.

WHAT DO I TELL MY FAMILY OR FRIENDS?

Sometimes in the creative field we have to deal with people who don’t understand our craft or the success it can bring. Explaining to your friends and family why you just spent $100 on new paint brushes but can’t go to the concert they arranged can be tough.

Remember you don’t owe anyone an explanation, but if you feel compelled to do so, tell them the same thing you told yourself when you made the investment, “I spent x amount of money on my craft so I can gain new opportunities.”

If they still want to give you a hard time, chances are you will just be beating your head against the wall trying to explain. Be careful with who you share your moves with, not everyone can see your outcome. It is important to have a support group of people in your field when situations like these arise.

Don’t worry about what other’s think so much, in the end, the work you put forth will speak for itself.

I WANT TO INVEST IN MYSELF, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START

There is a world full of opportunities out there for creatives. You can find anything from mentors to marketing services.

What you chose to invest in ultimately depends on where you are with your work. Maybe you just need some new materials to jump start a new project, maybe you need a mentor to help you figure out a project idea.

The best place to start is making a list of your goals to find what you want to see happen with your work. From there you can pinpoint what you need in order to make those goals a reality. Instead of comparing yourself to other artists, write down what other people are doing that you would like to do.

There’s someone out there that can make it happen. I personally offer several coaching services in art and poetry if you are a creative looking to boost your growth and success.