Talent and Teams

I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

Q. What is the difference between artists that make it and those that don't?
A. An outstanding team.

We all know talented people, with ambition and drive, not lacking in any of the the things that makes a good artist. So why aren't they able to be considered at the top of their profession, or even a working artist? No team.

The truth is no one can make it alone. In order to be able to make a living, whether it is art or truly any other business, one needs a really good team. In the famous book by Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich, for which Hill interviewed Andrew Carnegie a very wealthy self-made industrialist and other successful business people to find out why they became successful they found several common threads one being that they all had a Mastermind group. A group of professionals that they often conferred with to share ideas and build successful strategies together.

A really good writer who enjoys success, has an editor, a publisher with resources, perhaps even a publicist and agent not to forget the business side the copyright lawyer, the accountant and the emotional support from home not to mention cooking, cleaning and all the usual duties of life. Oh yeah and be creative too while you are at it.

When someone is getting started they need to wear all these hats and more. Which often leads to inconsistency, rushed work and basically going no where. There are only so many hours and so much energy in a day.  That is why finding your team, people to share your success and vision with, people who believe in your talent and will help you reach your goals as they are in turn able to meet theirs is a vital part to becoming a successful and employed professional writer.