Artists and entrepreneurs have more in common than you can imagine. Both worlds may seem too different, yet the similarities are shocking. Successful entrepreneurs and great artists are both people who create, build, and innovate; they are passionate, ambitious and vivid learners. The similarities are many, but here are the seven that stand out.
Creativity
Entrepreneurs and artists are people who create – artists create art, entrepreneurs create businesses. For both, entrepreneurs and artists, the creative spark is what drives them and keep them motivated, it is what fuels their imagination and aim for innovation.
Style
Both spaces – the art space and the entrepreneurial space – are extremely competitive. There is a lot of talent and ambition in both spaces. The competition is brutal. In order to stand out from the crowd and make a name for yourself – as an artist or as an entrepreneur – you need a signature style. Your style – for creating art or doing business – should be distinctive, memorable, respectful and trustworthy.
Boldness
Both artists and entrepreneurs, rarely follow the rules. They know that in order to create something unique, they need to step out of the comfort zone and push themselves to do things they haven’t done before. In their work, there are elements of unpredictability and boldness. There is always an element of surprise.
Outspoken
Being proud of their creation is something that entrepreneurs and artists have in common. Artists like to speak about their art, so do entrepreneurs like to speak about their businesses. And this is the right thing to do. They both have the same goal – to get their art/business out there, to reach a broader audience, to sell and grow.
Pressure
Entrepreneurs and artists live dynamic lives. When you have made a name for yourself, people always expect more and more from you. The pressure of competing with yourself sooner or later gets to you. Whether it is a new exhibition or raising another investment round, the pressure is high. But when you are obsessed and passionate about what you do, there is nothing that can stop you from chasing your goals and dreams.
Community
Entrepreneurs and artists are both active in their communities. Artists feel like they have to communicate with like-minded people in order to share ideas, experiences, or simply to have fun together. So do entrepreneurs. Giving to the community and sharing the expertise is something that both, artists and entrepreneurs, love to do and tend to do often.
Criticism
Whenever you do something different, something out of the ordinary and the predictable, you are going to be criticized. Being on a mission to change the world and make it a better place, puts artists and entrepreneurs in a tough spot. They are often misunderstood and mocked. Receiving criticism is an inevitable part of being an artist or being an entrepreneur – it is important to learn to embrace the constructive one and ignore the pure hate.