My friend calls it the "Everything Sucks" club.
The flip side to this epic rise in the ability to communicate and spread a message is that it becomes incredibly easy to tear things down or find flaws with any person's business/life/artistic strategy.
I see this with some of my clients. Sometimes I'll start by asking them to identify a few artists or arts organizations they admire.
They react like it's a trick question.
The idea that we can appreciate a strong arts organization (particulary one that generates a lot of revenue) or admire the arc of an artist's career (particularly if that artists makes money) is beyond our ability to comprehend.
Let's remember that while critique can be helpful, constant negativity can be one of the most dangerous forms of self sabotage ever invented.
If all success is flawed, then why even try for success?
If making it "to the top" of a particular field is going to bring you nothing but haters, then maybe it makes more sense to stay below the radar.
These are limiting thoughts that we see all the time in the arts.
Here's the thing . . . there's nothing wrong with avoiding the mainstream spotlight and having a small but loyal following.
That's a fine way to go about your work.
But there's nothing wrong with being big either. Nothing wrong with packed houses. Nothing wrong with paying people, including yourself, a lot of money.
Don't let the haters pull you off a path just because it isn't the one they would choose.
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