In my work as a coach and as life & business coach partner to the British Library’s Business & IP Centre I meet many creatives, artists and all sorts of people following the passion. But for some reasons many creative people in particular really do struggle in their careers and in their business. So I was delighted when Fran Taylor at the British Library asked me to share tips for creatives on her blog for creatives.
Read the interview with me below or here on Fran’s Inspired By Creative Indusries blog.Inspired By is well worth bookmarking if you’re a creative. The interview focused on artists, designers but my applies to anyone who is a creative, artist, healer, therapist – or anyone following a career from the heart.
Life coach Rasheed Ogunlaru’s tips on creativity and business
Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, speaker and business coach and author of Soul Trader – Putting the Heart Back into Your Business published this month by Kogan Page. He also regularly runs workshops at the British Library Business & IP Centre.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and how you work with creative people?
Well I’m a life coach, speaker and business coach. In a nutshell I help people to identify, clarify and move ahead in their lives, careers and relationships. So I work with people on their life, business and career goals, their confidence, their life balance, action-planning, focus, motivation, time management, people skills – and their self acceptance so that they can live happier lives and enjoy more successful and fulfilling careers. But my first career was in the media and then I was a singer-songwriter – and it was this that led me to re-train as a coach initially to help singers and creatives to move head in their lives, careers, relationships. So I understand the ups, downs and challenges faced by creatives – and I enjoy working with them in a creative way to clarify and pursue their dreams and be their authentic selves in all they do.
Do you have any advice for designers or makers looking to commercialise their work, who are not sure where to start?
Sure, the first thing is to stop, step back and ask yourself what’s really important to you personally and professionally. Write this down. What specifically do you want to create? What do you want to achieve from your work: financially, commercially, vocationally. Be honest and let your heart write the list. The more specific the better. That’s step one. The next step is to really study your field, master your craft, seek out good people in and around your industry. Many creative people are masters of creating but they don’t take the time and attention to learn about your business side. But your art is your business – so take the time to learn about your field, how it works, the different avenues to promote and sell what you do.
From here I’d advise that you develop a rich network of people who can help you and you can help. The chances are you may need admin, financial marketing, website, legal and other advice. Attend industry events, join industry groups for your field. many of them have professional development events, conferences and exhibitions and many provide legal, marketing and other support.
Make use of the support and seek out other like minded artist – but also network with and connect with those others in and around your industry: web designers, suppliers, lawyers, agents. Take a genuine interest in them, make genuine connections. Understand the world from their point of view not just yours. Over time you’ll develop a rich network of people who can help you in all areas. Keep friends and family in sight too.
A lot of designers working for themselves have told me that they are surprised by how little time they have to be creative, and how much time it takes to run the business side of things. Is this something you’ve come across as well?
Yes to an extent this is true. The business and admin side of things do take time. But my advice to any creative is this: see your whole career and business as a creative exploit. Remember that business is itself the result of creativity. Huge numbers of creatives never realise this. Be creative about how you approach it. There is no one way. One of the things I’m desperate to get to get across to creatives, including in my new book Soul Trader, is to use your very creativity, people skills and passions to build your business. Do not look at business that is something thats over here and making clothes, jewellery, art, or music as something over there. See them as one.
Lastly, do you think that people can learn to be more creative through practice, or is it something that you’re born good at? Are there any things people can do to be more creative?
Both. I think that many people have a natural creative flair. As many others have a natural flairs in other areas. But the thing about creativity is that we all tend to have it in different areas and only in some cases where it’s pronounced do we say ‘that person is creative’. Your whole life, relationships and career is a result of your creativity. And certainly I do think you can become more creative by identifying your passions and inspirations, spending time in nature and with the people, places and things that really captivate you. You can become creativity by allowing a little space in your life: one hour less TV or online. You can be creative by seeking out the books, music, art, poetry, film that speaks to you and being with it. You can become a little more creative by rearranging a room, buying something in a new colour, by walking a different way to work. You can be creative by listening to your heart and imagination when it is calling to you to let it be and breathe.
Recent Comments