Last updated on July 12th, 2023 at 11:33 pm
Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age
Rating
4/5
Date Started
3/25/2023
Date Completed
4/6/2023
Five Powerful Quotes from the Book
Quote 1
“Here they are, the principles every Thriving Artist lives by — the Rules of the New Renaissance: 1. The Starving Artist believes you must be born an artist. The Thriving Artist knows you must become one. 2. The Starving Artist strives to be original. The Thriving Artist steals from his influences. 3. The Starving Artist believes he has enough talent. The Thriving Artist apprentices under a master. 4. The Starving Artist is stubborn about everything. The Thriving Artist is stubborn about the right things. 5. The Starving Artist waits to be noticed. The Thriving Artist cultivates patrons. 6. The Starving Artist believes he can be creative anywhere. The Thriving Artist goes where creative work is already happening. 7. The Starving Artist always works alone. The Thriving Artist collaborates with others. 8. The Starving Artist does his work in private. The Thriving Artist practices in public. 9. The Starving Artist works for free. The Thriving Artist always works for something. 10. The Starving Artist sells out too soon. The Thriving Artist owns his work. 11. The Starving Artist masters one craft. The Thriving Artist masters many. 12. The Starving Artist despises the need for money. The Thriving Artist makes money to make art.”
Pithy Summary
Quote 2
“Influencers want to help people, they want to invest in others. They just need to know that you’re worth their time, which means your abilities need to be obvious. Your job, then, is to get to work. Because the best way to win over a patron is to show them your potential. And the best demonstration of your ability is the work itself. This doesn’t mean you must be suddenly amazing – most artists in need of a patron are not – but it does mean that you should be working; and, more importantly, be willing to learn. When we allow ourselves to be teachable, we attract those who would influence us and help our work spread.”
Pithy Summary
Quote 3
“And so began a decades-long dive into the world of the ‘Inklings,’ exploring how this community of writers influenced some of the greatest works of literature of the 20th century. Among the many examples Professor (Diana) Glyer cited of how these men influenced each other’s work, one in particular stood out.
“After the unexpected success of The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien’s publisher asked him to write another novel. As he began writing what was then called ‘The New Hobbit,’ he got stuck only a few chapters in. One day, he asked his friend C.S. Lewis to lunch, and admitted to feeling bored with the project.
“‘I don’t know what to do,’ Tolkien said. ‘I think I’m done.’
“‘The problem,’ Lewis replied, ‘is that hobbits are only interesting when they’re in un-hobbit-like situations.’
“That was all he needed to say. ‘So,’ Glyer explained, ‘because of one lunch with a buddy, the story where Tolkien was basically done and directionless, one comment opens up the vista and gives us what we now know as this wonderful, rich, epic story – The Lord of the Rings. I think that’s pretty strong evidence of influence.’
“With one little comment, C.S. Lewis changed the direction of what would become his friend’s greatest work. As Lewis himself once wrote: ‘The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.’ The same, it seems, can be said for being creative. We don’t do our best work alone – we do it by collaborating with others.”
Pithy Summary
Quote 4
“This is what happens when we practice in public: we not only hone our abilities, but attract an audience interested in what we’re sharing. The more we do this, the better we get, and the more confident we become. Eventually people start to notice. This doesn’t mean we let them see every step of the process; but, we have to put our work out there. And when we do, we just might be surprised at how people react. When we show the world our ideas as they unfold to us, people repay such generosity.”
Pithy Summary
Quote 5
“When we find ways to make money, it buys us time, and gives us the opportunity to create more. This was why Michelangelo never stopped working long after he’d made enough to retire. Income wasn’t the goal – continuing to create was. We don’t make art for the money, we make money so that we can make more art…
“Walt Disney said: ‘I don’t make pictures just to make money. I make money to make more pictures.’ This is what most of us want – not to get rich off of our creations, but to have enough time and freedom to create what we want. We want to have the means to focus on what matters to us.”
Pithy Summary
About the Book
Real Artists Don’t Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age – Audiobook | Ebook | Hardcover – “For centuries the myth of the starving artist has dominated our culture, seeping into the minds of creative people and stifling their pursuits. But the truth is that the world’s most successful artists did not starve. In fact they capitalized on the power of their creative strength. In Real Artists Don’t Starve, Jeff Goins debunks the myth of the starving artist by unveiling the ideas that created it and replacing them with 14 rules for artists to thrive, including:
- “Steal from your influences (don’t wait for inspiration)
- “Collaborate with others (working alone is a surefire way to starve)
- “Take strategic risks (instead of reckless ones)
- “Make money in order to make more art (it’s not selling out)
- “Apprentice under a master (a “lone genius” can never reach full potential)
“Through inspiring anecdotes of successful creatives both past and present, Goins shows that living by these rules is not only doable but it’s also a fulfilling way to thrive.”
About the Author
Jeff Goins – “Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he shares his ongoing journey of transformation, inspiring creators like you to discover your voice and share it with the world.”
Additional Resources
Tags
Business | Careers | Nonfiction | Self-Improvement