The motivational gurus like to tell you that in this age of attention deficit and intense competition, where anybody and everybody is trying to market their own particular brand of uniqueness to everybody else, all you have to do to succeed is to consistently deliver massive value.
Unfortunately, it isn’t true.
Massive value, delivered, frequently goes ignored, unrecognised and unwanted. You see, you need others to be able to recognise massive value when they see it and be willing to acknowledge and pay for it. There are a million reasons, unrelated to you or the quality and value of what you are offering, why they don’t. They are impervious to your value, no matter how much you double down, to deliver even more.
What’s an artist to do?
I think the answer lies in contenting yourself with work well done and to realise that getting any consistent recognition for it is a lottery. The accolades and rewards might and frequently will go elsewhere. It’s not your fault and has nothing to do with how much of a lynch pin you have turned yourself into. The only thing you can do is to never come up wanting, for lack of effort or application. That’s all you really can do.
Do what you love and love what you do.
