Being Creative is the Easy Part

Be honest.

You assumed that creativity would set you apart. Maybe you still cling to that belief.

But it doesn’t. After all, Being Creative is the Easy Part.

It’s okay—you’re not alone. Whether you’re a designer, illustrator, videographer, director, or anything in between, this book will guide you to a happier and more successful career—not by telling you what you want to hear but by tackling the hard parts head-on. 

Published with love and care by

Artistry sabotages our careers

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Passion is an open door to poverty

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Personal style is overrated

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Clients are only unpredictable if we let them

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Creativity isn't magic

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Purposeless work is decoration

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There is no optimal pricing strategy

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Freedom is a double-edged sword

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Artistry sabotages our careers ✦ Passion is an open door to poverty ✦ Personal style is overrated ✦ Clients are only unpredictable if we let them ✦ Creativity isn't magic ✦ Purposeless work is decoration ✦ There is no optimal pricing strategy ✦ Freedom is a double-edged sword ✦

Overview & Contents

Introduction

  • A Craft Without a Ceiling

  • Motivation

  • Overview

  • Move the Needle

  • Half-court Shot Syndrome

  • Big Numbers, Small Numbers

  • About the Layout of the Book

"The Easy Part"

Part I: Creation

  • The Professional Creative

  • Consistency

  • We’re Not Artists

  • Purpose

  • Ego

  • Genre

  • Style

  • Superstars and Survivorship Bias

  • Trends

  • Talent

  • Fermentation

  • The Lizard Brain

"Closing The Void"

Part II: Clients

  • Blame and Trust

  • Control

  • The Service Trap

  • Levers of Influence

  • Lever 1: Authority

  • Lever 2: Liking

  • Lever 3: Commitment and Consistency

  • Opinions and Limbo

  • Lever 4: Social Proof

  • Let’s Play a Game

  • Honeymooning

  • Values

  • Imperative vs. Declarative

"The Tragedy of Passion, Cost, and Value"

Part III: Money

  • Cost, Price, and Profit

  • Value

  • Passion is an Open Door to Poverty

  • Anchoring

  • What Are We Selling?

  • Pricing Structure

"What's Left When it Runs Out?"

Part IV: Time

  • Willpower and Resistance

  • An Hour is Not an Hour

  • Pressure vs. Tension

  • Time Estimation

  • Time Tracking

  • Unknown Unknowns

"The Chains That Will Set Us Free"

Part V: Process

  • Efficiency vs. Innovation

  • Finales & Approval

  • Shipping

  • The Process

  • Scope Creep

  • Thrashing

"Who's In Charge?"

Part VI: Tools

  • Flow and Latency

  • Depth and Purity

  • Us

Free sample

Read the first few chapters of the book for free below (or open as PDF instead).

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