a letter to the creatives who choose PEACE over PROFIT ✿
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 มิ.ย. 2024
- This is genuinely one of my favorite topics to talk about. In the creative/online entrepreneurship world, we often see the relentless pursuit of MORE wherein people are always jumping to the next big revenue goal. I'm trying to be very intentional about NOT falling into that trap, and instead focusing on the idea of "enough" as I grow my business from the ground up. I don't need an opulent life to be happy. Give me my paints (and time to use them) and I'll be happy.
Here's the article I mentioned in the video: wanderingaimfully.com/enough/
^I genuinely love the message that Jason and Caroline Zook from Wandering Aimfully focus on, which is the intentional pursuit of "enough" and figuring out ways to build a calm business. If that seems up your alley, I 100000% recommend listening to their podcast, "Growing Steady."
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0:00 : do I need $1,000,000?
0:22 : are your goals your own?
7:43 : defining "enough"
13:25 : I have a lot of thoughts!
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Recording setup:
- Camera: Sony ZV E-10
- Lenses: Sony ZV E-10 kit lens; Sigma 30mm f/1.4
- Microphone: Blue Yeti
Music from Epidemic Sound
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Here are some fun words:
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I'm genuinely curious to hear what you all think about this topic. Have you thought about your own "enough" number? What does your dream life look like, and what might it take to get there?
I believe in peace first and I also believe I can have both- peace and financial wealth. My
Journey is just taking a little longer than it could because I refuse to burn myself out to get there.
I am in my 50s, and creating a new career for myself. Inadvertently, I have made the conscious decision to pursue this with intent without stressing myself into grandiose numbers. I want enough to live in peace. I have my number and if more comes my way- welcome! It’s time to shine on my own terms and I am reaching one little goal at a time. Love this message, love the confirmation! Thank you so much! You have no idea how amazing it is to see young people make these realizations early enough!
Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment! I am SO with you - living in peace is my primary goal, and I really don’t think I need millions of dollars to do that. I think it’s so wonderful that you’re creating a new career for yourself and I am sending you all of the encouragement in the world 🫶🏼
im 40 something ang fell inlove in make patterns lately since a month a go. and i realized its never too late to learn no matter what age❤
I sure wish I discovered this mindset earlier on. In my early 40’s and just starting my art journey as a single mom. This video brings me some peace of mind. I want so many things, but what is truly important and attainable without plunging myself unto a road to burnout or chasing unicorns only to end up unsatisfied and exhausted…
oooof wow. this just helped me really pump the breaks and think about where my priorities are! "Are those dreams really my dreams" was so good at drawing up poignant energy!
its so tempting to reach for the sky, but that enough number is really where joy is.
I’m so happy to hear that this resonated with you 🫶🏼 honestly, that quote you pulled out really sticks with me, too, and it’s something I think about a lot. It’s so important to do a little dreams audit every now and then just to be sure that we haven’t accidentally adopted dreams from someone else, ya know?
And YES to the joy of the enough number! What’s the point of chasing money if you aren’t enjoying your life?
Love this video and this is a topic I’ve been thinking a lot about recently. Everyone is different in terms of the life they desire, energy levels, what is available to them, the time they have etc… it’s hard not to feel the pressure to reach these big monetary goals when it seems like that’s what everyone on the internet is doing these days!! For me personally, I’m limiting the amount of hustle culture business content I look at… and it’s a breathe of fresh air to watch a video like this one 😊🌸
I’m so happy to hear that this video resonated with you! It takes so much careful thought and intention to separate our own dreams from the dreams it seems like we’re “supposed” to have based on what we’re seeing and hearing online. At the end of the day, it’s no use comparing ourselves to others because we really each are on our own paths!
Absolutely criminal that this doesn’t have more views
I love the idea of the enough number... I wish I had heard that years ago. luckily I was able to figure out for myself that "more" was not what I needed it. I have a life I enjoy where I work part-time make enough to cover my spending and live comfortably, live in the country where I can grow much of my own food and focus on art. What it took to get me where I am was 2 (yes 2) major car accidents 9mths apart with one landing me in the hospital for over a month plus rehab to regain mobility. I realized life is too short for me to constantly fight for more when I already have everything I wanted and more.
Wow, I’m so sorry to hear that you went through two major accidents, and within such a short amount of time. I have loved ones who have gone through something similar, so I’m familiar with how life-changing those moments can be. Ugh, truly so scary. I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone. I’m so glad to hear that you made it out to the other side, and it sounds like you’re really leaning into a life that is just right for you! The idea of living in the country and working part time with enough time to make artwork and grow your own food sounds wonderful. It seems like you are living a grounded lifestyle and not focusing on “more” and I’m so happy to hear that! 🫶🏼
The intro to this video was *chef's kiss*💋 I am also a very ambitious person, I think I just get paralyzed at certain steps until I can break through some how. It sometimes make me feel like I'm not doing my best because I can't act as fast as the hustle culture makes it appear. I appreciate those people showing the way, like you said. I have to remember, are those actually genuine? I don't know. As someone who is older than you, this idea of more does feel exhausting. I also get this dopamine rush when I work towards goals and finish them. But when I don't get that dopamine as much, things get hard. I like this idea of the "enough" number. It reminds me of the art business classes I'm taking. She describes it as a "survive" and "thrive" numbers instead on the two levels you talked about. This concept hits more with me than the constant hustle and the anxiety it can bring me. Thanks for being willing to talk about this. :)
Hah, I’m so glad you enjoyed the intro! It was one of those ideas that popped into my head and I was like… I cannot sleep until I make this happen 😂
You’re totally not alone in feeling paralyzed. I think it’s actually super common! And something I always try to keep in mind when I start falling into comparison traps when I’m consuming content from the people who hustle and grind really hard is that 1) my life is different from their life, and we’re each experiencing our own unique circumstances, and 2) we only know what they show us, so who knows what else is going on behind the scenes. All that to say, it’s not a race because we really each are on our own paths! Also, I love the “survive” and “thrive” terminology! Which course is that from?
@@pepostudios it’s from Vanessa Stoilova’s Art Business with Ness courses. I believe it’s her second business bootcamp. I’m currently taking that and the third one.
@@meganj1411 sounds like a great one!!
I hear ya on the hustle and anxiety. I’m no longer in my 20’s or 30’s where I seemed to have way more energy than today. Tons of Money doesn’t equal happiness, but living comfortable does.
This is so relevant to what’s been on my mind today and feeling misunderstood by a mentor who is 💯 grind and hustle culture and doesn’t get that ease is my priority but that doesn’t mean I’m not motivated to create, build and profit. Just finding my own pathway there.
I love that you’re staying true to your priorities! Life is about a lot more than money and “the grind” if you ask me. Keep doing your thing, and I’m sure you’ll keep attracting the people who get it! I think your dedication to a peaceful life really is your special sauce!
I'm so glad I found this video in the first few years of adulthood. I will probably carry this message for the rest of my life 💕
🥹🫶🏼 wow, this comment is so special!! I’m so so glad to hear you say that. The “enough” mindset has seriously changed the way I see the world. There’s something so freeing about incorporating peace and comfort into our lives instead of just chasing the idea of more.
I wish I had found this mindset a few decades ago, but it’s never too late. I’m in my early 40’s and certainly had different ideas in mind where I wanted to be financially by now. But…a toxic marriage and a rough mental health journey made those goals so out of reach, until now…even though I am raising kids on my own and had to start over…I simply cannot and will not do the crazy hustle and grind. I’m not where I want to be financially yet, but putting in my best effort and sticking to what I can handle.
Beautifully said..can’t believe how much you understand about yourself already at your age. Good for you. It took me 5 decades to get to know myself. Keep up these wonderful videos…inspiring for sure. Thank you. I am feeling the same passion for art and new passion for surface pattern design and appreciate you sharing your journey.
Wow, thank you so much for sharing such kind words!! I feel lucky to have been able to learn from so many people who have walked this road ahead of me. I'm sending you all the best for your surface pattern design journey! I can't wait to see both of our beautiful art out there in the world!
Brilliant video, great topic, beautiful painting ❤ . I have a lot to say about the ‘enough’ - I definitely have lived my life through that concept, and to be honest from my perspective it’s actually always seemed ‘a lot’. Hard to put all I want to say it in a short comment here. I am much older than you and looking back sometimes I wonder how I managed to have achieved what I have without being too ambitious or earning a lot of money. I have even left my regular job to try and start a creative career recently … I hope it’ll be enough to see me till retirement 😂!! All the best Sarah! 😊
Thank you for your kind words, as always!! I also have so much to say about this topic, so I feel ya 😅 I think it’s wonderful that you’ve been living your life through the concept of “enough” and I’m so excited to hear that you’re pursuing a creative career! That’s so amazing! And a great opportunity to keep refining your version of “enough” in your life 🫶🏼
This message is so good! And also squirrels running around in the background 🥹❤️
It was so funny when I was editing this video because I had no idea that when I was sitting in front of that big tree there was a squirrel literally right by my head hahahha when I saw it while I was editing I was like 🫢 lol they’re very friendly at the Boston Public Garden
@@pepostudios 😅❤️
Such a great video Sarah! I agree that there's importance in periodically examining the pursuits of what I am going after and at what cost. Thanks!
Yes, it’s so important! Glad you enjoyed 🫶🏼
Aw, what a lovely refreshing, spring video! I loved the footage, your painting and the message was much needed reminder for me. An enough mindset is so freeing!
Yay, I’m so glad you enjoyed! Freeing is the perfect word for it. I agree 10000000%!!
I relate to this so much ' - ' ) ❤ Sometimes when I rewatch shows like Gilmore Girls, I'm constantly reminded how "enough" is also community in my own town. Art reach online almost leaves my mind because I want to make art that can be shared with my community in person. But also the beauty of online reach is that I can find someone like you! anyways. ty for the video! loved it 🥰
I still haven’t watched Gilmore Girls but I hear that I should!! But 100%, that’s such a good point about your local community. Tbh it’s something I’ve struggled with living in a city! But I really do think it’s one of those things that makes life wonderful when you do have a close community. Cheers to “enough”!
I love this! I've come across this exact finding for myself just this year. Never really planned to make huge money but I've stumbled into "wanting" to start a huge business because it was the dream of people around me. I really had to focus back on what I wanted to be happy and it took a huge load off my shoulder that I didn't even really know was there. The enough number is an absolutely great concept, gonna read more into that! Thank you for sharing your story 🥰
I’m so happy to hear that this resonated with you!! It’s so so easy to start adopting other people’s dreams, and it definitely takes a lot of intention to focus back on figuring out what actually matters to each of us.
I looovveee the enough number. If you’re into podcasts, Jason and Caroline who introduced me to this idea recently recorded one about this concept (their podcast is my fav haha): open.spotify.com/episode/5YPWv79d5T6VZNf9fHTNvN?si=7mCROnGTSeiWBvI5a7HKGQ
This is so good, such an important topic ☺☺
Definitely an important one, and one of my favorites to talk about!
wow, this one really spoke to me!!!! ♥
I’m so glad to hear it!! It’s such an important topic (and one that I love to talk about 😆)
Shara, this letter is so beautiful and fill of deep and thought provoking topics. Thank you so much for writing it and sharing it. IT captures something I profoundly believe in...not just in regards to money, but goals, achievements and the general pursuit of happiness or contentment. Both my husband and I definitely have a enough number, but honestly I've never had a desired number. Money hasn't really been something I had enough of to save a lot. However, regardless of it...I can genuinely say I'm happy and content with my life. Thank you for sharing the article, I'm definitely going to have a look at it. Keep well and keep drawing. Kind Regards, Irene
Hi Irene, thank you for sharing your kind words! It’s definitely a big topic, and I have so much to say about it. I’m so glad that it resonated with you, and that you’re happy and content with your life 🫶🏼
😊
I’m similar on this. I don’t want to be rolling in money. I just want enough to be comfortable and to take great care of the people and animals in my life.
I love that you include animals! I have three cats and my partner works in vet med, so I can relate entirely. They’re such a special part of life!
@@pepostudios They are indeed so special! I love my critters. We currently have a dog and two cats.
Excellent and deep video content. I don’t know my enough number; definitely something to think about… I have a similar dream/vision as yours but took me much longer to realize it 😂 kudos to you learning it at such a young age !! And beautiful painting ❤
For sure something to think about! I’ve found it to be such a helpful framework. Also, I didn’t mention it in the video at the risk of rambling, but something I love about Jason and Caroline (who introduced me to the concept) is that they’ve been honest about how their enough number has changed over time, and that’s okay, too! Also, I’m so glad you enjoyed the painting! It was a fun one!
Great content! thanks, Sarah!
Thanks for being here!!
I love this - I'm in a very similar situation. I have a job that pays ok, but doesn't fill me with joy, and want to create more and have more freedom, but I don't really care about financial goals beyond 'can survive and enjoy some little treats'. I think it goes along with wanting to do things more ethically and less wastefully - I don't want to make millions selling stuff that will go into landfill.
Yeeesssss I’m SO with you on that. I’m an environmental consultant by day and my job is literally to take a close, hard look at all of the ways humans have messed up this planet (🥲), so I’m definitely prioritizing NOT contributing to that as much as possible in my own business. And, if that means less money in my pocket, I’m SO okay with that.
I have thought about my enough number and it does bring loads of peace, personally
That makes me so happy to hear. We really don’t always need to strive for more. Life is so much better when we’re happy with enough!
This was so insightful And it was very peaceful to watch your video. I am a working performing artist and I wrestle with this idea all the time. What does it look like to control my own time? And how do I earn enough to sustain myself with just my art or with part time work that I can live with? I think for me the enough answer is around $2200. Enough for rent and living expenses. And that is actually how I try to model my life. So that I have these foundational understandings informing my daily choices. I don't want to be a millionaire either. I just want to be comfortable.
Thank you for leaving this comment, Malcom! I think it’s soooo wonderful that you’re a performing artist. I feel like the arts are truly the most human form of self expression, and they hold such immense value. It’s also so so great that you’ve figured out your own enough number. I am totally with you - being comfortable (and fulfilled and joyful) is really my main priority in life. I’m sending you all my encouragement for your career! I believe in you! You’re making the world a more beautiful place!
I just want to say “yessssss!!!” Say it louder for those in the back! 😊 It’s so validating to hear someone say this.
Have you read the book Quiet by Susan Cain? As an introvert I felt so seen when reading it. Our culture is loud. I feel like “enough” is the quiet happy life. The fulfilling life the hustle culture has overlooked and disregarded… it’s less is more, it’s simplicity, it’s beautifully relational, a creative rich life.
I have not read that, but I’m definitely adding it to my list! It sounds like one that would be right up my alley!! Thanks for the recommendation 🙌🏼
Love this video so much! Such a thoughtful exploration of why we do what we do and what our goals are. I'm a voice actor but I understand the pressure to be and do "more! more! more!" I love all your videos that are documenting your amazing journey into surface pattern design. Your paintings are beautiful. And your video expertise is getting better and better all the time. You are such an inspiration!
I wanted to ask too... How do you film the videos of you at a distance? (Sitting in the grass, walking to the park bench, etc.) And the video of you painting (the sort of "over-the-shoulder" shot). Do you set up your phone on a tripod in the grass and hit record or use a remote shutter device? Or do you have someone else helping you in the distance shots? They're just wonderful!! :-) But curious how you created this amazing video for example. Again, your paintings are just wonderful!
Thank you for your kind words!! I’m really glad to hear that it struck a chord with you. And you flatter me with your compliments!!
I’m so glad to hear you say that you think my video skills are improving because it’s something I’m trying to be very intentional about working on every week! I’m having a lot of fun figuring everything out. In response to your question about how I film the shots at a distance, yes, I just put my camera on a tripod and then walked into the frame! Tbh this entire video was an exercise in getting more comfortable being perceived in public haha and I was constantly awkwardly looking back at my camera to make sure that nobody was messing with it lol. I also tried to set it up in places where it wouldn’t be too visible (e.g., behind a light post). Let me know if that answers your question and if you have any others! 🙌🏼
@@pepostudios Thanks so much Sarah for your lovely reply! So sorry it took me so long to reply to you! And thank you too for the insights into your filming process. I have to say... you are so brave! I have a problem with "what other people think," which unfortunately can spill over into my art as well as my videotaping activities. But you're such an inspiration! And on another topic, it's just so wonderful how your YT channel is growing. You touch on such important topics and I love that you include mindset and the "process," as well as your painting videos. Brava girlfriend!
So I just have read a book about this all (it’s by Leander Greitemann - Unfollow your dreams (a German author). And I have to quote him here because it helped me so much in this struggle ,So: Stop setting goals and attaching your happiness in life to them. Determine how you take away the lightness if you mistakenly assume that you feel better when a certain event occurs.‘
But I have to add that we are so privileged to be able to ponder such problems.❤
@@chemical4u that’s a really beautiful quote! Thanks so much for sharing - definitely something that we should all keep in mind. I’m also so glad you brought up the idea of privilege, too. It’s something I was thinking about a lot as I edited this video. I have clothes on my back, a roof over my head, and food on my table every day, so it’s so important to acknowledge that being able to even say that I’m not actively chasing millions of dollars is such a massive privilege.
to sustainably be able to survive in my area takes about 2k/month, which doesn't take into account the inevitable emergency. it's just the costs of living, that full time hours at a grueling job paying minimum wage does pay, but leaves one exhausted and burnt out. to build up enough to generate intrest from investments to meet those same costs of living while freeing me from working those jobs to instead do my own creative ventures to contribute to the world, would take about 300k. provided a return of about 7%/year. which is not certain especially in the current economy. but those are roughly my numbers needed, but no sense of if they can be attained.
It’s so so important that you’re thinking about an emergency fund as you figure out your own enough number! Also, I hear ya with the investment income. But, while I’m also working on building up my investment portfolio (I love personal finance haha), I also think it’s important to differentiate between creative ventures as a hobby vs. creative ventures as a source of income. Even though I’m not trying to build a multi-seven-figure business, I AM working towards actually making “real” money with my creative work. So, the way I see it, I don’t necessarily need to wait until my investment income reaches a certain point in order to lean into my creative work full time, you know? But, it all depends on each of our individual goals! If your dream life does not involve you leaning on your creative work to support yourself financially, rock on! Totally great and super valid to source your income from elsewhere.
@@pepostudios interesting thoughts. I do think my reflex is to resort to investment options in part because if I don't use then, it bumps the threshold of livable net worth over 1.3 million. And I don't forsee that being achieved through yearly art sales even if counted in decades of art creation. the calculations I make suggest it would take about 25 years at the median annual income of professional visual artists to make 1.3 million, and during that time costs of living will be around 900,000. so you'd only be able to save 400,000 over that 25 years. that's just if we're lucky. Plan to have a successful art career that lasts 25 years or can expect no emergencies or you start before 30 years old.
@@pepostudios I'd like to succeed at my creative endeavors as my sole career and would gladly never stop even for old age, Neurodivergents such as myself are much much more prone to unemployment or underemployment due to difficulty getting hired, so self employment would be huge for a lot of us. but I've known artists and crafts people my whole life and most do not rely on it as their only job, so I guess I've resorted to anticipating it's likely to be only part of what I have to do to survive.
Thank you so much for creating this video ❤ this is what I needed! I have been scared to start my business.. For a while, it has felt like for it to be worth it, I would have to make a ton of money, and that scared me away from starting.
But I was thrown off this mindset because I realized I was getting sucked into the hustle culture. Honestly, my husband makes enough to keep us going while I stay at home and homeschool my girls. It's rough and we go without a lot! So i want a business so we can save for our first home and have a good down payment, and maybe afford a trip once in a while.
Your video helped me put into perspective that even if I made $2000 a month, that would make our life different. We'd be able to save for a down payment for our first home, and maybe be able to go on a road trip once in a while.
My high goal is if I made $8000 a month we would be well off.
I too, get caught up in the wanting a mansion or a big home, dream. But I already have a hard enough time cleaning my apartment and keeping up with it all? Imagine a big home.. you'd need to hire a good housekeeping team. 😅 not cheap right there, and then you have to work more to pay for housekeepers and the upkeep of the home. Again thank you for sharing this video ❤ and sorry this was such a long comment!
No need to apologize - I loved reading every word!! But you’re so right. $2000 would be huge, right?! And, of course, you can’t hit that $8000 mark without first hitting that $2000 mark (and $200, and $20). And it won’t be possible to hit any of those milestones if you don’t start! You’ve probably heard this before, but something I keep in mind all the time is the “do it scared” mindset. I think a lot of us are waiting until we feel ready to do something that we’re scared of, but the truth is that we’ll hardly ever feel ready for these things. Instead, the people who find the most success are the people who just do it anyway, even though they’re scared. All that to say, I’m cheering you on! You can do this!
Also, I lol’ed when I read your comment about cleaning the mansion because I literally think about the same thing all the time 😂. My tiny 2bd apartment is enough to keep my hands full hahaha.
@@pepostudios yes! do it scared, I have heard it so many times! Yes I need to start and be happy with every milestone of growth!! Thank you so much for your advice and your encouragement and for replying to my comment!
@@cyramclennan2580 I believe in you!!
I'm always fascinated by that magic number of $10k/month. It seems like so many people try to insist that you can make that amount if you do what they do. Then it's funny how often those people have nothing to show for themselves except classes or ebooks you can buy about how to make $10k/month. No actual art or anything else to speak of.
Of course there are successful artists out there, but to make six to seven figures means doing a lot of work. It's not a get rich quick scheme but rather full time jobs of being salespeople, accountants, social media managers, video editors, market analysts, and on and on - and somehow in all that finding the time to make their art as well. Which I think goes to your point about what life and goals are we really looking for. For me, I'd just like to make enough to supplement my current income to reach that "enough" number. I don't want to make millions because I don't want the work that making that money requires. That trade off isn't worth it for me, but it might be for others and that's fine too.
I’m totally with you! It’s definitely not a “one size fits all” kind of situation, and I genuinely have nothing against the people who DO decide to pursue the millions of dollars out there in the world, even though it’s not my cup of tea. Like I said in the video, I’ve learned so much from those people and I’m truly so glad that they exist!
But, yeah, I definitely know what you mean re: the people who seem to have a somewhat misleading approach to selling the dream. I think people are catching on and are tired with feeling like they were caught in a bait and switch, so I’ll be curious to see if/how that approach changes in the future. I’m still in the eaaarrllly stages of my art journey, so I’m very eager to figure out how I can actually make money with my art (and I’m on a mission to be as transparent about it as possible once I actually get the ball rolling haha).
@@pepostudios agreed, there's definitely lots to learn even if the goals aren't the same. It's unfortunate that it's not exactly clickbaity for someone to say it took them at least two years of hard work to make even something like a profit compared to "10K A MONTH! GET RICH NOW!!!!!" type videos. So I appreciate that you're trying to be transparent about your goals and process. I'd much rather hear about the realistic journey than the get rich quick fantasy.
nice
Thanks!