05- How Creatives Succeed Without Industry Approval with Cartoonist, Author Hugh MacLeod [Podcast]

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Show Summary

In this session of the Make Creativity Pay Podcast, I talk to cartoonist and author Hugh MacLeod of GapingVoid A blogging_underwear rt about seeking industry approval, balancing creativity while keeping a business focus, and the importance of having a mission.

Besides being an extremely successful artist, Hugh is also the author of three fantastic bestselling books for creatives, “Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity”, “Evil Plans: Having Fun on the Road to World Domination”, and “Freedom Is Blogging In Your Underwear”.

He’s got a lot of great, humorous insights into making a living for artists, writers, musicians, and crafters of all kinds.

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Show Notes

In this episode you’ll learn:

What are artists’ biggest fears around calling themselves entrepreneurs?
Why the romantic view of being an artist is dangerous – and tiresome.
Why Hugh says artists don’t realize how much the internet has changed their careers.
Why “It’s much more fun to paddle your own canoe than to be invited onto somebody else’s yacht.”
How Hugh’s parents inspired him and the “Ah-ha!” moment that guided how he built his entire career.

[2:10] Is every artist really an entrepreneur?

[2:27] Why artists aren’t subject to different rules than the rest of the world.

[4:14] Artists’ greatest fears about becoming true entrepreneurs.

[6:39] Why the romantic view of being an artist is dangerous – and tiresome.

[8:25] The birth of Hugh’s successful business model: finding 10,000 people to buy something from him every year.

[10:15] Why the best way to get industry approval is not to need it.

[12:17] How the internet allows you to take responsibility and why that’s important.

[14:17] Why “It’s much more fun to paddle your own canoe than to be invited onto somebody else’s yacht.”

[15:35] The advantages of having sovereignty over your work, and people valuing you for you.

[17:05] Life’s meaning when you no longer have sex, drugs, and rock & roll

[19:00] Why Hugh was terrified of working in a corporation for a living.

[20:42] Hugh talks about how and why he wants to make a contribution.

[21:18] Why galleries don’t bring out peoples’ best selves, and what does.

[22:45] When Hugh’s parents converted his bedroom to a daytime office and cashed in their savings to become entrepreneurs – and how that continues to inspire him today.