In his book What to do when it’s your turn Seth Godin basically says:
“Even when you make your art – the world owes you nothing.”
And I think he is right. As an artist I am not owed respect or applause or even recognition. Why would I?
Steven Pressfield, in The War of Art, writes:
“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”
Again, I believe the author is right. By the way: The War of Art ist a mindblowingly incredible book, you should buy and read it right now.
What those quotations leave us with, though, is this: If you are an artist, you have to give and give and give and never expect anything in return:
You owe the world. No one owes you.
That might sound daunting. At the same time, I think it is liberating.
Go out and rock. Now.
(And get those books, they are priceless.)
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