How Do I Overcome Comparison?

Anonymous asks, “Should I stay in my stable but stagnant job to pursue my art dreams?”

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, there are a few things to consider before quitting your job. First, it’s a good idea to get your art business up and running and find your audience before cutting off your stable income. If your job is toxic and you can’t stand working there any longer, consider replacing it with another decent job while you build your business on the side. This buys you time to discover what kind of work you like to make, what sells, and where your clientele is without financial pressure. As your art business grows, you can transition into full-time entrepreneurship. (Keep in mind that you’ll not only be responsible for making art, but for marketing, social media, production, and more. Being a full-time artist requires business savvy as well!)

As a business owner, you’ll be responsible for your own productivity. You won’t have a manager demanding you complete your projects on time. This might sound freeing, but in reality, mustering up the willpower to stay productive with no accountability takes practice and discipline. Learn to master your extra time now, while still employed, so you’ll be prepared to do so full-time in the future. You’ll likely discover that imposing some level of structure upon your day gives you greater peace of mind and a sense of accomplishment when you fall into bed at night.

If you start your business while still employed, consider what kinds of products you can take to market quickly and relatively easily. Self-publishing a graphic novel, for example, is time-consuming and requires a large fanbase in order to succeed. Smaller merch, like pins, are easy to take to market and can be sold on a variety of platforms, from Etsy to Instagram to local markets. These generic items will help you attract an audience and give you momentum to roll out more specific projects down the line.

Overcoming Comparison

Do you catch yourself feeling depressed by all the talented artists you see on Instagram? You’re not alone. It’s normal to compare your worst work to other people’s best and to feel like you’ll never measure up. But just because it’s normal doesn’t mean it’s productive. How can you break out of this cycle?

Looking at other artists’ work is a great way to get inspiration and learn new ways to solve problems. However, if you find yourself feeling jealous of or depressed by another person’s success, it might be time to stop your scroll and go make some art.

Consider this: the only reason you’re jealous of someone else’s recognition is because the work you’re creating isn’t enjoyable enough in and of itself.

You want accolades because the act of creating isn’t cutting it.

If you were making your dream project, something you couldn’t wait to start on every morning, would you care how many likes it got? The extra attention might feel nice, but the joy of creating would provide true satisfaction, regardless of how many others appreciated it.

So the next time you feel a twinge of jealousy, audit your projects. Are you making time to create the art that feeds your soul? If not, prioritize that. The next time you’re confronted by another’s success, you’ll be fulfilled and cheering right behind them.