I recently shared this on Instagram (and with my mailing list) but I wanted to post it here on the blog as well, because I think we could all use this reminder from time to time:
Your work has value.
Yes, value in a monetary sense, as in you should charge what it’s worth. But more importantly, it has value to the world. Your art or craft isn’t frivolous. You shouldn’t feel guilty for not doing something that is “more useful” or “helps more people.” Art and craft enrich the world in enumerable ways, it provides beauty and emotion and enriches people’s lives, and that is valuable. Don’t let the focus on hard skills (or all the other shit that’s going down in the world) make you feel like what you do is somehow less than. Because it’s not. What you make matters.
And it’s super important that you come to terms with this. Because until you do, you’ll have a hard time profiting from your work.
I do the work that I do because I firmly believe that the more art and craft in the world, the more we all benefit. And I know one of the best ways to make that possible is to help artists and makers make more money. (So they can make more art.) I believe in the power of art and I believe in the value of what you (and I) make!
So please know that what you do has value, and please, please keep making (and selling) your art (or craft)!
And thanks to a comment on that post, I actually followed that up with an IGTV video where I talk about how your work doesn’t need to solve a problem to be valuable. (And what makes it valuable instead.) You can watch it in the video below:
Don’t see the embedded video? Click here to watch!
The truth is, I’ve been fighting against the idea of problem solving marketing for a while now! You can read the two posts I wrote about why I’m sick of it (and what to do instead) here and here.
And while I’m sharing old posts that might give you a pick me up, here’s another one I think is so important (and ties into the idea that your work has value.) It’s my reminder to please keep sharing your work!
Edited to add: I created a follow-up video talking a little bit more about the value of your work (and why it is more than just price or materials). Watch it below:
Don’t see the embedded video? Click here to watch!
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Tired of one sized fits all business advice that doesn’t really apply to artists and makers? Click here to get my exclusive Free Training: How to Sell your Art (of Craft) Without Resorting to Problem Solving Marketing
