Real Artists Don’t Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age

187 Pages·2017·1.13 MB·English

by  Jeff Goins

Praise for Real Artists Don’t Starve “Jeff Goins
doesn’t just show us how to be more creative.
He also reveals a path for turning our art into
business and our business into art. Every
entrepreneur, writer, and artist should read this
book and take notes.”
—DANIEL H. PINK, AUTHOR OF DRIVE AND TO SELL IS HUMAN
“Jeff Goins is back with his most powerful book yet. Every page offers insight,
hope, and practical advice for anyone who wants to make their dent in the
universe.”
—SETH GODIN, AUTHOR OF LINCHPIN
“Jeff Goins has established himself as a fresh and dynamic voice inspiring us to
get out of our own way and produce our best work. Real Artists Don’t Starve is
the work of angels: a book every aspiring writer, artist, and creative must read.”
—STEVEN PRESSFIELD, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE WAR OF ART
“I absolutely love that Jeff makes such a compelling case that being an artist
isn’t an either/or decision when it comes to money. It’s not ‘be a real artist and
starve’ or ‘make money and quit being an artist.’ Best of all, this book is
perfectly timed for a digital world where we all have the opportunity to apply the
principles in this book and create real art for real money!”
—JON ACUFF, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
“Anyone trying to make a living from their creative work will find much to steal
here.”
—AUSTIN KLEON, AUTHOR OF STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST
“Jeff puts to rest the myth of the starving artist. Artists not only deserve to be
well rewarded, but there are more opportunities than ever for them to make it
happen. This book is not only the blueprint, it’s also Jeff’s personal artistic
manifesto. And now it’s mine.”
—JAMES ALTUCHER, AUTHOR AND ENTREPRENEUR
“In a world where work is increasingly commoditized and automated, creativity
should command a greater premium than ever before . . . but it doesn’t. Artists of
all kinds seldom realize their own unique value, and their careers and creations
suffer as a result. Real Artists Don’t Starve unleashes the potential of artists and
builds upon Jeff Goins’s passion for empowering artists that enrich life as we
know it.”
—SCOTT BELSKY, ENTREPRENEUR, INVESTOR, AND AUTHOR OF MAKING IDEAS
HAPPEN
“It’s one thing to want to be more creative. It’s another to learn the art of doing
creative work. In this book, my friend Jeff Goins shows us how to take our
creative talents and turn them into a full-time living. Don’t miss this!”
—JEREMY COWART, PHOTOGRAPHER AND FOUNDER OF THE PURPOSE HOTEL
“Goins dispels the myth that being a creative is some illusive, mysterious
dimension reserved for a chosen few. Instead, he reminds us that being an artist
is a job that any motivated person can do with a strategic focus on inspiration-
gathering, collaboration, risk-taking, discipline, and marketing. A great book for
anyone bogged down by old-fashioned ideas about what it takes to be a thriving
artist.”
—LISA CONGDON, ARTIST AND AUTHOR OF ART INC: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO
BUILDING YOUR CAREER AS AN ARTIST
“Real Artists Don’t Starve provides practical, roll-up-your-sleeves approaches to
succeeding creatively and financially as an artist. It’s a treasure trove. I loved
it!”
—KEVIN GRIFFIN, PLATINUM-SELLING SONGWRITER AND MEMBER OF BETTER THAN
EZRA; FOUNDER OF PILGRIMAGE MUSIC FESTIVAL
“We’re living in unprecedented times. Entrepreneurs, creatives, and other artists
have never had more control over their work than they do today. But that also
means the old solutions don’t always work as well as they once did. Thankfully,
there’s Jeff Goins’s Real Artists Don’t Starve. This handbook for the new
creative economy reveals actionable principles to succeed in today’s
environment.”
—MICHAEL HYATT, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF PLATFORM: GET
NOTICED IN A NOISY WORLD
“This book is your wake-up call, packed with provocative ideas and compelling
stories that light the way.”
—JONATHAN FIELDS, AUTHOR OF HOW TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE AND FOUNDER OF GOOD
LIFE PROJECT®
“The myth of the starving artist not only sabotages opportunities for artists, but
also keeps society from receiving the gifts of art. Jeff Goins will show you how
to make a healthy living from your creative talents, without losing your muse,
soul, or morals. If you are an artist, or love one, get this book.”
—PAMELA SLIM, AUTHOR OF BODY OF WORK
“For centuries, the myth of the impoverished artist has led talented people to opt
for a more ‘practical’ profession. Jeff Goins expertly dismantles this sinister lie,
and shows why there has never been a better time to thrive— both personally
and professionally—as an artist. Read this book, then pass it on to an artist you
love.”
—TODD HENRY, AUTHOR OF THE ACCIDENTAL CREATIVE
“Finally, a book about art and money that tells it like it is. If you’ve struggled
while trying to make it as an artist, your art isn’t the problem— your mindset is.
My favorite advice in this book: stay up late and embrace strategic stubbornness.
Read it at your own risk!”
—CHRIS GUILLEBEAU, AUTHOR OF THE $100 STARTUP AND THE ART OF NON-
CONFORMITY
“Too many books talk about how to be creative without much practical
application to the real world. But this one is different. Jeff Goins shows you how
to use your creativity as the weapon it is to make a living and a life for yourself.”
—KABIR SEHGAL, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF COINED;
MULTI–GRAMMY AWARD WINNER
“The idea that the artistic and the business mind are separate is just a lie told to
keep one side from experimenting with the other. The best artists know their
business and the best businesses believe what they do is art. Jeff Goins brings
both together into one new way of thinking in this important and necessary
book.”
—RYAN HOLIDAY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY AND EGO IS
THE ENEMY

© 2017 by Jeff Goins
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic,
mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief
quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of
the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas
Nelson. Nelson Books and Thomas Nelson are registered trademarks of
HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.
Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-
raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail
[email protected].
Any Internet addresses, phone numbers, or company or product information
printed in this book are offered as a resource and are not intended in any way to
be or to imply an endorsement by Thomas Nelson, nor does Thomas Nelson
vouch for the existence, content, or services of these sites, phone numbers,
companies, or products beyond the life of this book.
Epub Edition April 2017 ISBN 9780718086282
ISBN 978-0-718086268 (HC)
ISBN 978-0718086287 (eBook)
ISBN 978-0718098926 (IE)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017931116
Printed in the United States of America 17 18 19 20 21 LSC 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Introduction: Myth of the Starving Artist
PART 1: MIND-SET
1 You Aren’t Born an Artist
2 Stop Trying to Be Original
3 Apprentice Under a Master
4 Harness Your Stubbornness
PART 2: MARKET
5 Cultivate Patrons
6 Go Join a Scene
7 Collaborate with Others
8 Practice in Public
PART 3: MONEY
9 Don’t Work for Free
10 Own Your Work
11 Diversify Your Portfolio
12 Make Money to Make Art
Conclusion: Join the New Renaissance
Note from the Author
Acknowledgments
Sources
About the Author