The Top Three Mistakes You’re Making as a Creative
Creativity is a beautiful thing. Those of us who are fortunate to be right-brained have the power to dream, design, build, and inspire. However, as any creative knows, this blessing is not without its challenges. Staying on track with a creative project can take a lot of brainpower (and willpower, for that matter!) and we have a way of getting caught up in the details, which can cause us to lose sight of the big picture.
There are three big, but common mistakes creatives make in their businesses. When we can move past these hurdles, we open ourselves up to the flow and freedom of creativity. We can take advantage of our active imagination and dream up new ideas without getting stuck in the weeds. Consider whether any of these resonate with you and commit to taking action to overcome it and live the inspired life you deserve.
#1. Taking on more than you can handle
It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the industry or running a well-established business; overwhelm does not discriminate. Most creatives know how it feels to spread themselves too thin. The spark starts to fizzle out until you’re left with a burnt-out lightbulb over your head. Anyone can burnout from carrying too much weight, but it is especially difficult for creatives who pour their souls into their art. We are opening ourselves up to subjective opinions every day, so there is a certain level of vulnerability that becomes exhausting if not kept in check.
If you feel like you’re struggling to keep your head above water, you’re not alone — but you still need to take action to get yourself afloat. It’s time to start setting firmer boundaries, not just with clients and colleagues but with yourself. Learn how to say “no.” Try it out in the mirror if you need practice. Give yourself the time to rest and refresh. Burnout kills productivity, so running on fumes is not going to serve your business well. When you allow yourself the mental space to breathe and catch up with life, you’ll find yourself far more motivated in the office.
#2. Holding back from delegation duties
Delegation is hard. I get it. You’ve built a brand from scratch and you have seen it evolve over time. It’s like watching your babies grow up, get their license, and leave the nest. Letting go is hard. But, it’s also necessary. Just as keeping your children home forever would stunt their growth, keeping your business restricted to your hands only will also limit your company’s future. You can do a lot on your own, but as your company grows, you will not be able to do it all.
Learning to delegate takes time and patience. You will have good and bad experiences along the way. A social media intern might post a caption that wasn’t approved (yikes). A new salesperson might double your booking rate each month (yay). Like everything in business, it’s a matter of trial and error and, with practice, you will get very good at selecting the right team members and assigning them responsibilities that match their skill set.
But, before you can be very good at this, you just need to jump in and start. Accept that you will learn along the way, but that building a team to delegate tasks is, ultimately, in your best interest.
#3. Comparing your business to competition
Competition is invaluable in the growth of a business. It motivates us to be better and spurs changes that we may not have considered otherwise. Our competitors give our prospects alternative options, which forces us to stay on top of our game. However, competition can be perilous when taken to the extreme.
By nature, we all want to be better than our competitors. In an industry that is increasingly oversaturated, this notion can evolve into a dangerous obsession with standing out from the crowd and surpassing those around us. The intention to serve your clients the best is all well and good, but the fixation on external influences is unhealthy — for you and your business.
If you’re wasting time stalking competitors on social media or working only to one-up others in the industry, it’s a good sign that you need to step back and take account of your business goals. Is it really your big goal in life to be “better” than everyone else? This is a self-serving goal at best, not even taking into account that the idea of “better” is wholly subjective.
There’s nothing wrong with keeping tabs on competitors, but don’t let it become an addiction that supersedes the real reason you got into business. Start small with baby steps, like turning your phone off outside of work hours or giving yourself some room to cheer on others in the market. It’s a mindset shift that will take time, but it starts with taking action.
Being creative is a gift; don’t let it fall apart by getting caught up in any of these challenges. Do what you need to do to free up your mental space and energy so you can immerse yourself in what you do best. You, your business, and your clients will be better for it.
Kylie Carlson is the owner of The Wedding Academy, a globally-known education organization for industry professionals. Since its start in 2007, the Academy has launched the careers of over 4,000 wedding planners with their certification courses, and Kylie has devoted her time to empowering other CEOs and entrepreneurs to build a meaningful, powerful career. She’s also the founder of Wedding CEO Club and the Wedding CEO Podcast.
