It’s about creating the lifestyle you want to live and building a business around it.

Creating a high profile career in fashion and lifestyle photography is gratifying, but what it took from me to get there is the real gift.

During the last ten years of creating this career, I’ve learned a few things that might be useful to the up-and-comers. In this collection of episodes, I break down the process that I used to make a living with my art. These tips go beyond my world of photography and transcend into any creative venture.

The lessons can be useful if you’re into illustration, fashion design, fashion blogging, music, performing arts, writing or any other creative hustle. Think of it like the DNA of a creative professional. Think of it like the building blocks of inspiration.

This is the twelfth installment of my 15 part series on how to make a career in art.

As much as the craft is important, the business is important as well.

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Some things we learn in this podcast:

• Why money isn’t an end all [2:05]
• How long it takes to get to what is the beginning of your career [2:20]
• Why you don’t have to go back to school to get a business degree [2:45]
• How you have to build a business around your art to live a full-time creative lifestyle [3:45]
• How having a mentor can help you learn the ropes of the business side [4:00]
• Why you should hire a consultant [4:30]
• Why you have to have a marketing plan that goes with your budget [5:40]
• Take advantage of the resources that are out there [6:50]
• Why you should read books about art and business and marketing [7:55]
• The value of networking and building relationships [8:50]
• Why it’s important to think about the lifestyle you want and build a business around that [9:25]
• Why you have to have a why to drive your business [10:30]
• The importance of having the drive and getting inspired [14:10]
• Why you have to be motivated to devour information [14:45]

Links mentioned:

• Listen to the previous episodes of ShopTalk Radio mentioned:
  • Episode 17 with Sean Stephenson
  •  Episode 53 on Finding a Mentor
• Check out all of Lewis Howes resources
  • Listen to The School of Greatness Podcast
  • Buy The School of Greatness Book
• Learn from amazing online classes on Creative Live
• Here’s the list of books recommended in this episode:
  • Never Eat Alone Keith Ferrazzi
  • 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
  • The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
  • Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
  • Start with Why by Simon Sinek
  • Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
  • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
  • Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
  • The Brand Called You by Peter Montoya
  • Essentialism by Greg McKeown
  • Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
  • The Promise of a Pencil by Adam Braun
  • Jab Jab right hook by Gary Vaynerchuk
  • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
  • The Art of Start by Guy Kawasaki
• Music Credit: Being Noticed by Lodent