Trusting your creative vision
Every artist who has created something truly great had a vision and stuck with it. That vision was often disliked at first, and different from anything being done in their time. So why is it that as artists, we let what other people like dictate what we create. Yes, we should be in service to our audiences, but once we let them dictate our work we are no longer the artist, they are. So start trusting your vision. That's the only way to build something from the ground up. If the work is based on ideas that have been watered down by outside voices, it will never inspire change. For those just starting, or who have lost site of their vision, you will only find it when you start to look for it. One way to do this is by realizing this. It’s the parts of ourselves that make us different, and that we try to suppress that make our work worth anything. You're the only person who has experienced what you have. This makes your perspective on the world unique and valuable. So start to express that perspective through your work and see how people will react. You might scare away some people at first, let them leave. It’s the ones who stick around and who fall in love with the work that is unique to you that count. Think on all the brands, artists, musicians, and creatives that you love. I bet all of them are different than anything else you’ve seen before, and have people who hate what they are saying. Any time you make something for a group of people, you will automatically upset another. This idea of the ins and outs is an essential concept when trying to build a community. Express your perspective, stick to your vision, and make something potentially polarizing. Success will come when you step out of the crowd, and start to gather your own.