Remaining an Artist (Despite your 9-5)
In my career field (marketing/advertising/branding) it’s common for people to come from artistic backgrounds. Web designers were once painters, brand planners were novelists, PR pros were theater kids. At some point, whether it was a deliberate decision or something we backed into, we traded those artistic ambitions for a more realistic, safer, and perfectly reasonable job in advertising.
“It’s okay,” we told ourselves, “it’s a very creative profession.”
And it’s true. Compared to nearly everything else on the career menu of a fresh college grad, marketing is certainly an exciting, creative option. Colorful offices. Creative brainstorms. Fridge stocked full of beer. Jeans. What’s not to love?
But I wonder if, for many, it’s enough. I wonder if those artistic instincts are truly being fulfilled. After all, it’s one thing to create a website for a large financial company, and quite another to write and perform a song that reveals something about yourself, connects you with people who understand your perspective, and provides a deep emotional catharsis.
Both of these tasks are creative. But only one of them is art.
And I think many of us have found, at some point in our career, that mere creativity isn’t enough. What we’re realizing is that we need to connect with the same spirit which got us here in the first place. We need art.
Listen to Your Passion
Having a career is important. But so is having passion. It’s best when these two things are one and the same. But when they’re not, don’t let your passions wither and die in the name of some job.
That word just sounds dirty: job.
Passion is your friend; listen to it. It’s the force that points you toward the people and opportunities that will ultimately fulfill you. It’s the gravitational force that pulls you toward love and your true place in the world.
There are many way to reconnect with your passion. A few:
If your dreams are different that your 9-5 reality, that shouldn’t stop you from investing in what you love. There are plenty of hours in the day to follow your dreams, as long as you don’t let your day job drain all your energy (for the love of God don’t let this happen).
I recently started working with a spiritualist author in Germany whose books needed an editor. I’m getting up at 6:00AM every morning to spend an hour editing before going to work. I love it. It helps get my mind and energy flowing and prepares me for the day. And while editing isn’t necessarily my passion, I feel like I’m going through the motions of writing a book, and training my mind to eventually write books of my own. In this sense, It’s a step toward my dreams.
Whether your after-hours work is a stepping stone to a new career or just a hobby, it will re-connect you with a younger version of yourself: someone who wasn’t afraid to dream big. This younger-self will renew, energize, and delight you.
Have you tried pouring your artistic passion in your current career? I mean really looking at it differently and turning it into an artform? One of my best friends is a high school teacher in Portland. Shawn does more than teach. He inspires. He doesn’t look at his career as a job. he looks at it as a calling. He is therefore fulfilled by the same job that millions of teachers perform with apathy.
What can you do to transform your 9-5 from a chore into an artform? I’m guessing there is plenty. Approach it differently and you’ll get different results. Art isn’t limited to a notebook or a canvas. Art happens wherever you creatively apply your passion to make a difference.
If your inner-artist and passions are ignored for too long, you will become numb to their being (they won’t die, they can never die, but you’ll be living a harsh fantasy, unable to recognize them). If you find this happening, and you’ve tried everything to reverse it, it’s time for change. It’s easy to forget that life is full of options. There are plenty of jobs that foster an artistic environment and encourage their employees to express their vision.
Do you want a job like this? Then you’ve got to be brave an willing to take a chance. The right job for your inner-artist could be right around the corner. It’s like that beautiful girl at your high school dance. She’s waiting for you to ask her to dance, and she’s wondering what the hell is taking you so long. But you need to make the first move.
Surround Yourself with Things you Love
The very least you can do is remain a consumer of the art you love, and surround yourself with things that reflect your passion, stuff that reminds you of who you are and what you believe in.
Think of a time in your life when you felt happy or inspired. What music were you listening to at this time? What books were you reading? What were the philosophies that fueled your passion as you left your parent’s home for the first time to pursue your dreams? Reintroduce these things into your life. They matter, and could thaw the ice of apathy that’s built up over the years and spark a creative renaissance.
Most of us need to work in order to live. But the choice isn’t job vs. art. You can, and should, remain an artist despite your 9-5.
• Do you listen to your passion?
• Is your artistic calling being fulfilled?
• Your dreams represent your true self. Do you remember who you truly are?
• What can you do on a daily basis to keep your dreams alive?
James McCrae is a creative strategist, culture addict and writer broadcasting from Minneapolis. 
One Comment
Interesting article to encourage and motivate young adults to go forward. Overall good article. Keep up the good work!