(I wrote this for another website I run, FirstStep.co.za but since this is the first piece of writing I’ve actually been paid for I thought I would post it here on my personal space)
Getting into the creative game:
Your parents might want you to become a Doctor, Lawyer or Accountant but if the thought makes you want to jump off a bridge, you might need to look elsewhere for a career.
Do you find yourself more interested in the creative side of your brain? Do you want a creative career as a writer, photographer, designer, animator or perhaps a filmmaker? If you ticked yes to any of those options you’ll need to study elsewhere than a traditional university.
Before you start do not use an excuse that you are not creative enough. Psychologists have discovered that no person is born highly creative and that it is a skill that needs to be developed. What this means is that people who say they can’t paint are actually just not developed in that art. In the same way that athletes spend hours refining their abilities you will need to work on refining your creative skills. These same psychologists agree that the other major trick to becoming a better creative is to be surrounded by other creatives, preferably practicing professionals. The interesting thing about creativity is that it breeds creativity and those with experience will always give you excellent guidance and direction.
Everyone knows that to become an Accountant you turn off your personality, go to University for a few years and then suddenly you can add “Chartered Accountant” to the end of your surname. For creative’s though it’s still critical to practice your skills in a tertiary environment but an academic University is often not the way to go. We cannot stress the need for a few years at a specialised institute, as practical experience is often the defining factor in what makes a good creative. The best of these creative institutes is CityVarsity , which offers a wide range of career paths in areas such as Film (behind and in front of the camera), Journalism and Visual Arts, amongst others.
There are also many myths about the kind of people who make a living from being creative. Some imagine a person sitting in a dark basement, working away, with no social skills and more than a hint of insanity. Others see the life of a creative as very glamourised as the media gives us the idea that creative people live in a world of sex, drugs and endless parties. You might have the misconception that endless parties will be your lifestyle but there is no substitute for hard work and determination; the two tend to breed success.
Another common question is what kind of personality will actually succeed in such a tough environment and what kind of skills are required? The personality type is a simple answer: the kind of person who has drive, determination and has a thick skin – who deals with disappointment by getting back up and working even harder. Creativity isn’t the only skill you’ll need; analytical and problem solving abilities are fundamental. You will find yourself in tough situations that can only be solved by thinking out of the box and seeing the solution no one else is able to.
A major issue once you qualify is how you want to work. The options are either freelance or working for a company. The benefits of freelancing are that you can potentially earn more money and you can work wherever and whenever you want. The downside is this freedom can lead to many long and late hours. You’ll also have to worry about finding clients and marketing yourself in a competitive environment. When working for a company you’ll enjoy more job security but will generally make less money for the same amount of work. It’s probably best to work for a company and get an impressive portfolio in a safer environment before putting yourself out there.
The final myth to debunk is that creatives’ live in communes their entire life while “suffering” for their art. Every semi-famous writer, actor, artist and musician who has ever made some money off his or her art will disagree with that statement. While being the best requires hard work and determination the payoff is worth the sweat.
All in all, being a creative might seem very glamorous but at the end of the day hard work and determination is critical for success. We would hate to give you the impression that fame and fortune awaits you but you’ll certainly be able to compete with the Accountants in terms of lifestyle. Added to the fact that you’ll easily have more job satisfaction a life in the world of creative’s sounds pretty appealing.
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