Your 4 Creative Career Steps

Whatever your creative career may be (web, graphics, audio, music, art, video, etc.) there is a likely chance you are in one of several career steps.

Or you may be between steps. Through your life, you may be working through the steps in order from 1 to 4. Or you may be thinking back to an easier, early step and thinking about stepping back to it.

Here are the 4 categories of steps:

1. HOURS
Hired Hourly $
You punch a clock and are paid via time

2. TALENT
Hired for Talent $$
You get paid for your talent and technical skills

3. IDEAS
Hired for Ideas $$$
You get paid for your vision, your ideas, your thought process, personality

4. WHO
Hired for Who You Are $$$$+
You have nailed all of the above, your resume, is you

(4 are often people like celebrities, sports figures, rock stars, business gurus, etc)

Many creative artists who are independent producers are wedged between 2 and 3. And many charge for services and content more toward step 2. The key is to work your career (and income) toward 3 instead. Lets say you are a motion graphics animator. A client says they need a flying logo, 2 says no problem. 3 says, hmm, is a flying logo the best idea? 3 offers the most to the client, and charges accordingly.

3 is typically in charge of a team of people more talented, and may have a completely clean desk, but 3 can still be anyone, even a single producer, if they focus on vision (ideas) as opposed to technical skills.

When working at level 2, you have little leverage and are trumped by another producer or company doing the same technical tasks for less cost. 3 can charge more because you can’t get their vision elsewhere. In other words, most of what you should charge for and offer to clients takes place before your hands ever land on the equipment.

Figure out what step you are at now. Are you happy at that step? Or are you between steps?

And more importantly, what step is next for you?