Tough message if you wanna Make it in the Industry

When you are just starting out as a creative it can be pretty stressful and one of the main causes for that stress can be the shortage of money. Retoucher Pratik Naik of Solstice Retouch had a tough but very true message for ones looking to make it as full time creatives.

Being a full time creative is a mixing between passion and occupation. And mixing the two may not be easy when you start. Especially in the monetary sense. And Pratik gives the only real true definition of making it: “…success in this industry is being able to support yourself by creating. Everything after that is up for discussion”

This does not happen over night and you will have to have deep enough pockets (or another job) to worth through this first (or two first) years if you are to make it to a sustainable job:

For two more years, I continued working at the hotel and worked from home. Eventually there came a tipping point that I couldn’t manage both and I quit my job. The main thing to understand, for anyone who wants to pursue their goal, is that they need to have enough money saved before going full time. If you do not, have a part time job. Don’t less the stress of supporting yourself be a deterrent. If you decide to jump in immediately, you will find that you will put so much pressure to sell your talent that you will lose.

Having that financial support will give yourself the clarity and time you need to make it. It’s a calculated risk and one that needs a game plan. For me, when I quit, I had the money and the momentum to keep the pace going

Pratik’s story is quite an example of someone who wanted to retouch more than anything and he has a recipe for making it. Sadly, it is a recipe and and not a magic bullet, here are the first four realizations for that recipe, you can read the full thing over at Train To Create.

1. You will need to have enough financial support to sustain yourself for one to two years. If you do not have it, think about a part time job.

2. Do not quit your job just because you think you will make it. It’s great to know you’re ready and passionate, but be wise now or take ten steps back later.

3. You have to want this more than sleeping or eating. There are days where we literally do not sleep or eat until a job is done. We don’t mind it because we want it that bad. If you don’t want it bad enough, there will be another soul who has that fire inside of him to take over your opportunity.

4. Understand that it will take a lot of patience, years in fact. If you do not have the patience to make it happen, it will eat you up inside.

So, the recipe is there, it just takes a lot of blood sweat and tears.

[SUCCESS: Making it in the Industry | Pratik Naik for Train To Create]