I’m in the middle of taking the leap and it is terrifying some of the time but I also find myself being more daring and creative because I have to be! Suddenly I’m taking big shots and reaching out to clients that feel unrealistic because what the hell, who knows! So that’s the good stress (I also don’t have anyone financially depending on me, making it easier to tolerate some financial uncertainty). Thanks for your posts, they’re always so well-structured and full of great information:)
Mid-leap and taking big shots at clients that feel unrealistic — THAT is the trust curve edging ahead of the fear. 'What the hell, who knows' is actually a completely valid business strategy. 😄 The daring and creative part is the leap working exactly as it should. Thanks for sharing this — it's good to hear from someone in the thick of it. 💙
I have the complication of my 'day job' actually also being freelance (in educational publishing).
Theoretically, that should work out fine, because it just means I take on illustration freelance work and balance out the income I need to make with publishing work and then gradually transition to the illustration work being the main thing. I don’t seem to be able to do it though, because I fall back on the familiar default publishing work and don't push hard enough with the illustration work.
I am confident I will.get there eventually, though. Just might takeover than I want!
The 'familiar default' trap is so real, and so sneaky. The publishing work is known, reliable, low friction. The illustration work requires you to put yourself out there with no guarantee. Of course the brain reaches for the easier one. The question I'd sit with: is there one tiny illustration action you could make non-negotiable each week, before the publishing work gets a look in? Not a big push, just a small protected slot that belongs only to illustration. Sometimes the transition happens one stubborn Tuesday morning at a time. 💙
Probably. A mindshift is required for that, but a necessary one, I think. Because I still think of any art biz stuff as 'my thing' and therefore like it goes lower down in priority below 'proper work' and family. I have got better at including art biz tasks on my to do lists. But the digital ones are tagged with 'art biz' and I frequently filter them out. And in my physical notebook they go off to the side, rather than get included in the main list.
OK... I am going to hit send on my email that's been sitting growing moss in Hub Spot. And then go do my 'other work', not 'proper work'.
YES!! The moss-covered HubSpot email just became the most important thing you did today. 🌿 And 'other work' instead of 'proper work' — that's the mindshift right there. You named it, which means you can catch yourself next time the filter kicks in. 💙
Another great topic! For me, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap. I have a secure permanent job that drains my soul. I tried switching to part-time, but on the days I’m not working I’m so stressed, exhausted, and mentally drained that I get very little done. So I can’t even take the steps I’d need to build a portfolio or stable clients… Thinking about quitting without a plan B.
“secure permanent job that drains my soul” I know EXACTLY what you mean. I won’t lie, I’m counting the days until I can finally say goodbye for good. This week particularly, I have lots of work on both front and I am tired and we have been dealing with the loss of our cat. But having a plan keeps me from being totally depressed. I don’t know your full situation, so I can’t comment on making your leap or not, but I do encourage you to make a plan and seek help!
I actually made lots of plans, none of which were executed, or they are in a way, but in a very very stretched timeline compared to the plan, like 10x. I want to give myself one more year to build a viable career in the arts, but that *urgency* problem you also mentioned before is tough: basically I’d like to ditch the draining job now. 😔💞 So so sorry for your cat!!
I’m in the middle of taking the leap and it is terrifying some of the time but I also find myself being more daring and creative because I have to be! Suddenly I’m taking big shots and reaching out to clients that feel unrealistic because what the hell, who knows! So that’s the good stress (I also don’t have anyone financially depending on me, making it easier to tolerate some financial uncertainty). Thanks for your posts, they’re always so well-structured and full of great information:)
Mid-leap and taking big shots at clients that feel unrealistic — THAT is the trust curve edging ahead of the fear. 'What the hell, who knows' is actually a completely valid business strategy. 😄 The daring and creative part is the leap working exactly as it should. Thanks for sharing this — it's good to hear from someone in the thick of it. 💙
I have the complication of my 'day job' actually also being freelance (in educational publishing).
Theoretically, that should work out fine, because it just means I take on illustration freelance work and balance out the income I need to make with publishing work and then gradually transition to the illustration work being the main thing. I don’t seem to be able to do it though, because I fall back on the familiar default publishing work and don't push hard enough with the illustration work.
I am confident I will.get there eventually, though. Just might takeover than I want!
The 'familiar default' trap is so real, and so sneaky. The publishing work is known, reliable, low friction. The illustration work requires you to put yourself out there with no guarantee. Of course the brain reaches for the easier one. The question I'd sit with: is there one tiny illustration action you could make non-negotiable each week, before the publishing work gets a look in? Not a big push, just a small protected slot that belongs only to illustration. Sometimes the transition happens one stubborn Tuesday morning at a time. 💙
Probably. A mindshift is required for that, but a necessary one, I think. Because I still think of any art biz stuff as 'my thing' and therefore like it goes lower down in priority below 'proper work' and family. I have got better at including art biz tasks on my to do lists. But the digital ones are tagged with 'art biz' and I frequently filter them out. And in my physical notebook they go off to the side, rather than get included in the main list.
OK... I am going to hit send on my email that's been sitting growing moss in Hub Spot. And then go do my 'other work', not 'proper work'.
YES!! The moss-covered HubSpot email just became the most important thing you did today. 🌿 And 'other work' instead of 'proper work' — that's the mindshift right there. You named it, which means you can catch yourself next time the filter kicks in. 💙
Another great topic! For me, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap. I have a secure permanent job that drains my soul. I tried switching to part-time, but on the days I’m not working I’m so stressed, exhausted, and mentally drained that I get very little done. So I can’t even take the steps I’d need to build a portfolio or stable clients… Thinking about quitting without a plan B.
“secure permanent job that drains my soul” I know EXACTLY what you mean. I won’t lie, I’m counting the days until I can finally say goodbye for good. This week particularly, I have lots of work on both front and I am tired and we have been dealing with the loss of our cat. But having a plan keeps me from being totally depressed. I don’t know your full situation, so I can’t comment on making your leap or not, but I do encourage you to make a plan and seek help!
I actually made lots of plans, none of which were executed, or they are in a way, but in a very very stretched timeline compared to the plan, like 10x. I want to give myself one more year to build a viable career in the arts, but that *urgency* problem you also mentioned before is tough: basically I’d like to ditch the draining job now. 😔💞 So so sorry for your cat!!