The Creative Ego
There’s a lot that goes on with the creative ego.
There is something inside a creator that wants to be noticed. We have something to say, and we want everyone to take heed. Sometimes, that goes overboard: we over-pursue a job; we rub others the wrong way by overestimating our prowess or skill; we don’t listen to critiques on the work because we “know better.”
Without temperance, the creative ego can hurt your chances of getting a job. I’ve personally seen it happen time and again, and I’ve also heard horror stories.
Your best bet to rein in the creative ego is to remember the sandwich rule, where you’re always in the middle: someone is better than you, but you’re better than someone. As long as you remember that you’re better than someone and that someone is better than you, the creative ego should be held in check.
(The caveat to that, of course, is that you’re realistic about your abilities. As soon as you overestimate yourself, you’re falling prey to the creative ego. It’s a fine line to walk.)
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Category: Columns, The Daily Dose
