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Motivation for Creative People: How to Stay Creative While Gaining Money, Fame, and Reputation
"This is a How To manual at the highest level from a man who has lived the life and has watched and worked intimately with hundreds of others who've done the same. Indispensable reading for anyone in a creative field who is seeking to achieve not just a flash of brilliance but a lifelong career."
Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of The War of Art
"I love my work so much I would do it for free."
Many creative people have uttered these words in a moment of enthusiasm--they express the joy of creative work. But they also hint at some of the pitfalls that lie in wait for creatives . . .
In one sense, creative people have no problem with motivation. We fall in love with our creative work and pursue a career that allows us to do what we love every day.
Psychological research confirms what we know in our we are at our most creative when we are driven by intrinsic motivation --working for the sheer joy of it, regardless of rewards. Focusing on extrinsic motivation --such as money, fame, or other rewards--can kill your creativity.
If you don't feel excited by the task in front of you, it's impossible to do your best work, no matter what rewards it might bring. You may be determined not to sell out, but selling yourself short can be just as damaging. And when it comes to public recognition, comparisonitis and professional jealousy can consume far too much of your creative energy.
Working for love is all well and good, but if you're a creative professional you can't ignore the you need money to enjoy your life and to fund your projects. You may not need to be famous, but you do need a good reputation within your professional network. And if you're in a fame-driven industry you need a powerful public profile, whether or not you enjoy the limelight.
There's a precious balance at play--get it wrong, and you could seriously damage your creativity and even your career.
For the past twenty years creative coach Mark McGuinness has helped hundreds of creatives like you to overcome these challenges. A poet and creative entrepreneur, his last book, Facing Down Rejection and Criticism on the Road to Success, is an Amazon.com Creativity best seller .
In his latest book, Motivation for Creative People , Mark helps you rise to these challenges and create a fulfilling and rewarding creative career. All the solutions he shares have been tested with real people in real situations, including ways
* stay creative and in love with your work--even under pressure
* overcome Resistance to tackling your creative challenges
* reclaim your creative soul if you wander off your true path
* stop selling yourself short--and start reaping the rewards of your creativity
* attract the right kind of audience for your work
* cultivate an outstanding artistic reputation
* avoid destroying your creativity through attachment to money, fame, reputation, and other rewards
* surround yourself with people who support your creative ambitions
* avoid getting stuck in unhealthy comparisonitis or professional jealousy
* balance your inspiration, ambition, desires, and influences in the big picture of your creative career
Motivation for Creative People is the perfect guide to figuring out your different motivations and how they affect your creativity and career.
The book is packed with practical advice and inspiring stories from Mark's own experience, his transformative work with coaching clients, and famous creators and creations--including Stanley Kubrick, Dante, The Smiths, Shakespeare, kabuki drama, and Breaking Bad .
If you are serious about succeeding in your creative career--while staying true to your inspiration--read Motivation for Creative People.
Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of The War of Art
"I love my work so much I would do it for free."
Many creative people have uttered these words in a moment of enthusiasm--they express the joy of creative work. But they also hint at some of the pitfalls that lie in wait for creatives . . .
In one sense, creative people have no problem with motivation. We fall in love with our creative work and pursue a career that allows us to do what we love every day.
Psychological research confirms what we know in our we are at our most creative when we are driven by intrinsic motivation --working for the sheer joy of it, regardless of rewards. Focusing on extrinsic motivation --such as money, fame, or other rewards--can kill your creativity.
If you don't feel excited by the task in front of you, it's impossible to do your best work, no matter what rewards it might bring. You may be determined not to sell out, but selling yourself short can be just as damaging. And when it comes to public recognition, comparisonitis and professional jealousy can consume far too much of your creative energy.
Working for love is all well and good, but if you're a creative professional you can't ignore the you need money to enjoy your life and to fund your projects. You may not need to be famous, but you do need a good reputation within your professional network. And if you're in a fame-driven industry you need a powerful public profile, whether or not you enjoy the limelight.
There's a precious balance at play--get it wrong, and you could seriously damage your creativity and even your career.
For the past twenty years creative coach Mark McGuinness has helped hundreds of creatives like you to overcome these challenges. A poet and creative entrepreneur, his last book, Facing Down Rejection and Criticism on the Road to Success, is an Amazon.com Creativity best seller .
In his latest book, Motivation for Creative People , Mark helps you rise to these challenges and create a fulfilling and rewarding creative career. All the solutions he shares have been tested with real people in real situations, including ways
* stay creative and in love with your work--even under pressure
* overcome Resistance to tackling your creative challenges
* reclaim your creative soul if you wander off your true path
* stop selling yourself short--and start reaping the rewards of your creativity
* attract the right kind of audience for your work
* cultivate an outstanding artistic reputation
* avoid destroying your creativity through attachment to money, fame, reputation, and other rewards
* surround yourself with people who support your creative ambitions
* avoid getting stuck in unhealthy comparisonitis or professional jealousy
* balance your inspiration, ambition, desires, and influences in the big picture of your creative career
Motivation for Creative People is the perfect guide to figuring out your different motivations and how they affect your creativity and career.
The book is packed with practical advice and inspiring stories from Mark's own experience, his transformative work with coaching clients, and famous creators and creations--including Stanley Kubrick, Dante, The Smiths, Shakespeare, kabuki drama, and Breaking Bad .
If you are serious about succeeding in your creative career--while staying true to your inspiration--read Motivation for Creative People.
290 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2015
34 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 28, 2020
ОЧЕНЬ полезная книга для тех, кто хочет или уже занимается чем-либо творческим, написанная человеком, который уже прошёл этот путь и преодолел множество типичных трудностей.
понравилось количество вопросов, небольших заданий и советов, звучащих максимально адекватно и толково.
понравилось количество вопросов, небольших заданий и советов, звучащих максимально адекватно и толково.
March 20, 2017
The most important lesson this book offers is that motivation is not one thing, it's not even two things. It's a mix of personal and social, as well as intrinsic and extrinsic. McGuiness offers the model of a pinwheel; once it starts moving, the momentum of one vane (or motivating force) pushes the others and the pinwheel keeps spinning. Different forces will motivate you at diffdrent times, and whatever they are you don't have to feel bad about it - they all serve the purpose of getting your creative work done.
May 14, 2020
«Мотивация для творческих людей» – это не сборник вдохновляющих цитаточек в стиле «видишь цель – иди к ней», а настоящий учебник и кладезь информации про то, что же вообще такое мотивация, которые многие путают и с вдохновением, и с другими ничего не имеющими общего с ней понятиями. Какие виды мотивации бывают и что с этой всей информацией делать, чтоб твоя жизнь стала проще?
Не хочу заниматься пересказом, поэтому поделюсь моментами, которые зацепили:
– в желании заработать нет ничего плохого. Если ты хочешь, чтобы твой труд (любой – офисный, технический, писательский, даже блогерский) оплачивался – это нормально.
– в стремлении к славе или признанию других людей тоже нет ничего зазорного.
– зачастую люди, чья работа как-то связано с помощью другим людям, чувствуют себя счастливее.
– не нужно соглашаться на работу/проект, если они не соответствуют хотя бы нескольким видам мотивации для вас (подробнее в книге)
– какие есть сигналы тревоги, что пора «валить» с какой-то работы.
– сравнивать себя и свои результаты с другими людьми – нормально и полезно, но только если вы находитесь на одном уровне, иначе такое сравнение может быть губительным для вас
А ещё, благодаря книге, узнала немного больше о собственной внутренней мотивации чем-то заниматься и о том, почему бросала заниматься какими-то хобби в жизни.
В конце также описаны несколько «моделей жизни» для творческого человека, дабы и удовольствие получать, денюжку зарабатывать. Я нашла свою текущую модель и прониклась, насколько всё «совпало».
В книге приведены многие исследования, конкретные примеры из жизни конкретных людей.
В общем, рекомендую!
Не хочу заниматься пересказом, поэтому поделюсь моментами, которые зацепили:
– в желании заработать нет ничего плохого. Если ты хочешь, чтобы твой труд (любой – офисный, технический, писательский, даже блогерский) оплачивался – это нормально.
– в стремлении к славе или признанию других людей тоже нет ничего зазорного.
– зачастую люди, чья работа как-то связано с помощью другим людям, чувствуют себя счастливее.
– не нужно соглашаться на работу/проект, если они не соответствуют хотя бы нескольким видам мотивации для вас (подробнее в книге)
– какие есть сигналы тревоги, что пора «валить» с какой-то работы.
– сравнивать себя и свои результаты с другими людьми – нормально и полезно, но только если вы находитесь на одном уровне, иначе такое сравнение может быть губительным для вас
А ещё, благодаря книге, узнала немного больше о собственной внутренней мотивации чем-то заниматься и о том, почему бросала заниматься какими-то хобби в жизни.
В конце также описаны несколько «моделей жизни» для творческого человека, дабы и удовольствие получать, денюжку зарабатывать. Я нашла свою текущую модель и прониклась, насколько всё «совпало».
В книге приведены многие исследования, конкретные примеры из жизни конкретных людей.
В общем, рекомендую!
November 5, 2015
Mark's book is clear, concise, and consistent in its message in helping you understand and make use of the various forces that compel us to do anything in life. Whether you write, draw, build things, or sell sugar water, your energy is subject to both your inner world and the external world. And it does it without resorting to cheer-speak or mindless aphorisms.
The pragmatic style builds a detailed case, covering all aspects of motivation. Reading it brings comfort because there are examples of those who have gone before us and struggled, but ultimately broke through to success.
I did not do the exercises proposed, but bookmarked them and will go back to them this weekend when I have a few minutes set aside and my mind ready to work. The exercises make sense. I look forward to doing the work as I believe it will have a lasting effect on how I approach my creative work from now on.
The pin-wheel is a cutesy metaphor, and I like the idea that, once you have caught the wind from various sources of motivation, your wheel will turn, blending the colors into something special.
I received a review copy for free, however I will purchase at one copy for a family member and another for a friend, as I did with Resilience, Mark's other book. If you use your brain for anything more than keeping your eyes from falling back into your head, you will be pleased you've read this book.
The pragmatic style builds a detailed case, covering all aspects of motivation. Reading it brings comfort because there are examples of those who have gone before us and struggled, but ultimately broke through to success.
I did not do the exercises proposed, but bookmarked them and will go back to them this weekend when I have a few minutes set aside and my mind ready to work. The exercises make sense. I look forward to doing the work as I believe it will have a lasting effect on how I approach my creative work from now on.
The pin-wheel is a cutesy metaphor, and I like the idea that, once you have caught the wind from various sources of motivation, your wheel will turn, blending the colors into something special.
I received a review copy for free, however I will purchase at one copy for a family member and another for a friend, as I did with Resilience, Mark's other book. If you use your brain for anything more than keeping your eyes from falling back into your head, you will be pleased you've read this book.
August 27, 2017
I would definitely recommend this for anyone in, or aspiring to work in a creative field for a living. I can also see a lot of benefit for leaders, or teachers who need to motivate people. Not just creative people.
In a quick, but thoughtful read, Mark lays out a simple framework of motivation consisting of four elements – intrinsic, extrinsic, personal, and social. This is his four part "pinwheel". Then he details out each of the elements providing exercises and food for thought that readers can use to take a temperature of their lives and their ambitions. He closes strongly and outlines some models of how creatives make a living, and encourages the reader to understand where they are now and perhaps where they want to be.
In a quick, but thoughtful read, Mark lays out a simple framework of motivation consisting of four elements – intrinsic, extrinsic, personal, and social. This is his four part "pinwheel". Then he details out each of the elements providing exercises and food for thought that readers can use to take a temperature of their lives and their ambitions. He closes strongly and outlines some models of how creatives make a living, and encourages the reader to understand where they are now and perhaps where they want to be.
October 7, 2017
Mark has done a lot. He’s a poet, a writer and he runs courses in creative management. He’s been a psych, a hypnotherapist, and a drug counsellor and he’s done the boring office jobs, too. These days he also offers creative coaching.
https://lateralaction.com/
So he knows what he’s talking about from his own experience, and plus with the experiences of his clients, he’s got a whole lot of other pov’s from all kinds of creative areas.
He talks about: motivation, muses, habit, flow, fear - [Fear disguised as common sense: “I need to earn a living… I don’t have time…”(Kindle Location 1053).]
Challenges, money, fame, opportunity… it’s all here.
His theory is that if you know what inspires motivates and keeps you working well, then you won’t make choices and mistakes that will stall or damage your creative career.
For instance: ‘know your why’ is a statement I keep hearing all the time. It comes from Simon Sinek, I think. I did see one of his tedTalks on it once.
One of the case studies that Mark gives is CJ Lyons, the thriller author. She was a paediatric emergency surgeon. Part of the reason she became interested in crime was after an intern friend was murdered. Now she donates to a trust fund that pays education CSI expenses for police.
This is the quote from her website:
Isn’t that an interesting motivation? She literally helps to solve crimes and honours her friend.
Mark ended up where he is because he went blind in the last weeks of his three year undergraduate course at Oxford and had to defer. He needed an excellent mark to apply for a PhD. Stress over it sent him blind. His body desperately tried to stop him making what he know considers a mistake. Three sessions of hypnosis ‘cured’ him.
Motivation+habit and you’re on your way.
I wish…
Some great advice, a whole lot of things to think about, and more than a few pages of homework to do.
It’s worth checking out his website, as he offers a free course for creatives, and he’s recently started a podcast.
4 stars
https://lateralaction.com/
So he knows what he’s talking about from his own experience, and plus with the experiences of his clients, he’s got a whole lot of other pov’s from all kinds of creative areas.
He talks about: motivation, muses, habit, flow, fear - [Fear disguised as common sense: “I need to earn a living… I don’t have time…”(Kindle Location 1053).]
Challenges, money, fame, opportunity… it’s all here.
His theory is that if you know what inspires motivates and keeps you working well, then you won’t make choices and mistakes that will stall or damage your creative career.
Be prepared to walk away—you are better off looking for something else than saying “yes” to a nightmare project. (Kindle Locations 1709-1710).
For instance: ‘know your why’ is a statement I keep hearing all the time. It comes from Simon Sinek, I think. I did see one of his tedTalks on it once.
One of the case studies that Mark gives is CJ Lyons, the thriller author. She was a paediatric emergency surgeon. Part of the reason she became interested in crime was after an intern friend was murdered. Now she donates to a trust fund that pays education CSI expenses for police.
This is the quote from her website:
*When a book hits the top 20 at either Amazon or BN, I’ll donate $3,000 to charities such as: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Doctors without Borders, Reading is Fundamental, and the American Heart Association.
AND when we drive one of my titles to the USA Today or New York Times bestseller lists, I’ll double the donation!
Isn’t that an interesting motivation? She literally helps to solve crimes and honours her friend.
Mark ended up where he is because he went blind in the last weeks of his three year undergraduate course at Oxford and had to defer. He needed an excellent mark to apply for a PhD. Stress over it sent him blind. His body desperately tried to stop him making what he know considers a mistake. Three sessions of hypnosis ‘cured’ him.
My biggest “failure” turns out to be the key to my future career path, setting me on a road I would never otherwise have considered. (Kindle Locations 2319-2320).
Motivation+habit and you’re on your way.
With the habit locked in place, the voice that screams “It’s a stupid idea, you’ll never finish!” gets quieter. I rarely hear it anymore.(Kindle Location 3484).
I wish…
So if you want to have a genuinely fulfilling and rewarding creative career, you need all four motivations: work that is an authentic expression of your soul (personal), and so exciting you’d do it for free (intrinsic). Except you don’t have to do it for free—you are handsomely rewarded for it, and you are building the kind of reputation that opens doors to more opportunities (extrinsic). You are also surrounded by interesting, charming, kind, and fun people (social). Every day brings the promise of bigger discoveries, greater rewards, new people to meet, and new worlds to explore.
(Kindle Locations 3871-3875).
Some great advice, a whole lot of things to think about, and more than a few pages of homework to do.
It’s worth checking out his website, as he offers a free course for creatives, and he’s recently started a podcast.
4 stars
December 14, 2017
Fabulous book. In addition to presenting ways to overcome procrastination and resistance, McGuinness offers ways to figure out why we struggle. He looks at multiple motivational factors, and also considers the different types of business model creative professionals may use.
The book is exceptionally well-written in a comfortable style. I highlighted a ton of things in this book, and I know I’ll refer back to it often. Highly recommended for creative professionals who struggle with solving the puzzle—if I love my art so much, why do I delay doing it?
The book is exceptionally well-written in a comfortable style. I highlighted a ton of things in this book, and I know I’ll refer back to it often. Highly recommended for creative professionals who struggle with solving the puzzle—if I love my art so much, why do I delay doing it?
November 25, 2022
An excellent resource for all creative practitioners! Whether you're a part time creator, or full time, or even running your own empire, this book has a lot of offer. It outlines the different types of motivation, in simple terms, and helps us understand the link between motivation and our personal values. It also explains the importance of finding balance between the different types of motivation and our own peferences (i.e. working in solitude or being "out in the world") There is value in everything, so the balance is super important.
July 8, 2021
Лучше отдельно изучить маркетинг и менеджмент, чем вот так. Практической пользы мало. Но эмоциональное ценообразование понравилось. Такого ещё нигде не видел. Действительно, сложно определить цену за продукт интеллектуальной творческой деятельности. Не в часах же считать или себестоимости :)
Ах да, про мотивацию банально как-то. Неправильное название у книги, она про условия и варианты успеха в креативных индустриях.
Ах да, про мотивацию банально как-то. Неправильное название у книги, она про условия и варианты успеха в креативных индустриях.
November 29, 2018
Found this extremely useful and insightful. A must read for everyone pursuing a creative field as a hobby or career.
October 19, 2020
хорошая книга для всех людей, кто так или иначе связан с творчеством.
May 8, 2022
Видимо я уже довольно много такой литературы, так что ничего интересного в этой книге нет. Только истории из жизни самого автора...
August 19, 2020
полезная очень: описаны все проблемы, с которыми сталкивается творческий человек на своем пути к цели, при этом никаких советов, только теория, которую можно начать применять. и подбадривает, и даёт толчок к действиям. советую точно. в планах — перечитать.
November 29, 2015
I was one of those lucky few who got a free review copy of this book directly from Mark McGuinness. There were no strings attached and it was very clear that if I wanted to write a review, it was entirely up to me. Being a creative coach myself it would be almost impossible not to write a positive review of such a wonderful book.
In a nutshell: This is an absolute must-read for any creative mind.
It is a mind-blowing and eye-opening work. Not only does it challenge you to think things through from a very intimate perspective but it also challenges you to find your own creative answers to very specific and detailed topics. It forces you to question deep-held assumptions and discovering what your inner voice has to tell you.
In some strange and yet surprising way it was almost as if this book read me instead of me reading it.
Maybe it was the timing and how this book came into my hands, or maybe it was Mark's authentic writing but it resonated deeply with my creative self. It is a book about self-discovery as well as motivation and it described my situation so accurately that it was even a little scary (in a good way) because it forced me to stretch beyond my comfort zone. It was one of those incredible flow-inducing experiences hard to describe with words. A stream of deep insights and profound questions.
Thanks Mark for sharing this book with me, it came into my hands in perfect timing. Reading it has been an absolute pleasure and a wonderful journey of discoveries.
In a nutshell: This is an absolute must-read for any creative mind.
It is a mind-blowing and eye-opening work. Not only does it challenge you to think things through from a very intimate perspective but it also challenges you to find your own creative answers to very specific and detailed topics. It forces you to question deep-held assumptions and discovering what your inner voice has to tell you.
In some strange and yet surprising way it was almost as if this book read me instead of me reading it.
Maybe it was the timing and how this book came into my hands, or maybe it was Mark's authentic writing but it resonated deeply with my creative self. It is a book about self-discovery as well as motivation and it described my situation so accurately that it was even a little scary (in a good way) because it forced me to stretch beyond my comfort zone. It was one of those incredible flow-inducing experiences hard to describe with words. A stream of deep insights and profound questions.
Thanks Mark for sharing this book with me, it came into my hands in perfect timing. Reading it has been an absolute pleasure and a wonderful journey of discoveries.
December 14, 2015
What a helpful, well-researched, level headed book about being a creative. I have it near my desk and will refer to it often.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews