What of the poets and artists?

A question recently came up about passion and how it relates to success. It was a very good question and deserves attention.

What of the poets and artists?

They are definitely following their passions, but where is their wealth? If following your passion is supposedly a direct road to wealth, why do we hear so much about artists, writers, and the like who suffer for their art? This is a very good question, indeed. At least it is for the artists, writers, musicians, poets, and writers.


One of the forces that feeds artists, poets, writers, and the like is the force of trying to reconcile a life of suffering. Our culture has maintained a certain perspective of artists, poets, and writers for far too long. What do you want to become when you grow up? We ask a child, who responds by saying I want to become an artist, or a writer. What is the typical response? “Well that’s fine, but what are you going to do to support yourself?”


It seems to be a given that following these passions does not lead to a successful life. You still need to do something to bring in the money so you can enjoy your “craft.” Ouch! This can hurt. Because it is usually these people who sense their purpose more so than those who lead mundane but comfortably mediocre lives.


This suffering becomes their underlying focus, even as they are creating the most beautiful works. This is what the artist must understand to move beyond the suffering. Allow it to drive your art, but then you must shift gears so to speak, to think as a goal seeker. Creating art in any form feeds your soul, but our created world requires something different to feed your physical existence.


It is quite common that the best artists make poor business decisions. This may be true, in general, but there is absolutely no reason that it needs to be this way. What is usually the case is that people who are so driven to create profound works of art, literature, music, live their whole life through the lens of what drives them. They feel separated from the society in which they live.


They don’t understand that their gift allows them to see a world that most do not, but through the beautiful works they create. However, for society to see these beautiful works there is a need for a structure to be put in place. This structure is one of sales, marketing, advertising, and such.


Art consumes a great deal of focus. It is for this very reason that it stands out so much from the ordinary in life. But standing out is not sufficient to create a flow of what is necessary to thrive in our society. Money is required to eat, have a place to live, and transportation. Money is a reality that doesn’t sit well with many of the artistic persuasion because of our programming.


If you are serious about creating your art and bringing it to the world, it is to your benefit to look into the business end of it as well. If this seems to take away from your connection of self, you have a choice, you may seek assistance from someone whose calling is to promote and take care of the business end of things, or do nothing and realize that nothing will change.


As for seeking assistance as in an agent, you may find one dead end after another. This is common among writers, musicians, artists, and entertainers for the obvious reason that there are so many of them. Those who have the business acumen can afford to reject many and focus on those they feel worthy of their support.


If this sounds depressing, be different. Go out and learn what you need to do as an agent and take care of yourself until you begin seeing success. If success comes to you in this way, you will soon enough be able to once again focus only on you art.


Life is about growth. If you truly want to honor your art, you will find the way to make it happen on a larger scale, even when that means stepping out of your comfort zone to learn something new. Be bold, be different. Go out and make something happen for your art.



Jeffrey Brandt

Author of Close Your Eyes to Find Your Way: A Guide to Discovering Your Higher Self.






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