Are You Too Creative For the Corporate World or Too Corporate For The Creative World?
This is a question that many creative generalists (multi-passionate creatives) ask themselves, and it can be challenging to determine which side you are on. This article will look briefly at the struggles of left-brain people in the corporate world and right-brain people in the creative world. We then move on to the question: What happens if you fall somewhere in the middle? In what category do you fit? Let's find out!
Neither here nor there
Left-brained people in the corporate world often feel stifled by the rigid rules and lack of creativity at these workplaces. They may feel like they're not able to express their true selves or be creative in the ways that they want to be.
On the other hand, right-brained people in the creative world often struggle with the constant need to be creative and come up with new ideas. They may feel like they cannot relax or take a break from their work because they have this persistent need to think about new projects or ideas constantly.
So, what happens if you fall somewhere in the middle? In what category do you fit?
If you identify as a creative generalist (or multi-passionate creative), you may find that you have a unique perspective that can be beneficial in both the corporate and creative world. You're likely to have the ability to see things from different angles and come up with innovative solutions to problems. You may also find that you're able to balance out the left-brain and right-brain aspects of your personality, helping you manage your work and personal life.
When our idea of creativity keeps us trapped
It often seems easier to make it as a creative generalist in a creative job rather than trying to pursue a corporate career. But what do you do if you think you're not quite creative enough for the creative world?
A world you'd love to belong to, but one that you're not cut out for because you don't feel like a "real" creative, as so many of us creative generalists do.
What if you think you only look creative from the outside, but you feel like a fake deep down?
What if you think you're not creative at all - but still, you seem to be the only one who brings different and daring ideas to the corporate table?
Many multi-passionate creatives like being creative, but most believe they're not really creative, or at least not enough. The problem is that when we think about creativity, most of us don't see past paintbrushes and modeling clay. Many creative generalists also believe that being creative not only equals being "artistic" but also that you must excel at your art.
But this false belief of what a real creative must be like limits us, like all other false beliefs do: by speaking to us through our inner voice, by making its way into our conversations with others, and ultimately, by influencing our actions.
It makes us believe there's only one way to be creative, one way to express our creativity, and we're often not even aware of it because we think of it as a fact. Not a belief.
Ultimately, it keeps us trapped.
We come up with excuses for not trying, not playing, not exploring, for not creating. We drag our feet, don't complete projects, or fail to try something new. It weakens our beliefs about who we are and what we're capable of. It holds us back from pursuing hobbies, passions, and crafts from getting outside our box.
When we don't even start trying, we lose the opportunity to exercise creativity, stuck in a self-perpetuating process.
The good news: You can bust this false belief.
Think about who makes up the "creative enough" rules. Who gets to be that decision-maker, whether you're creative enough or not? Who is qualified to award you that title? Assign you that label?
That's right, the answer is you - and only you.
That means you have the power to skirt that rule of "enough," and you get to break that rule entirely. Drop "enough." You can start thinking of ways and alternatives. (That is being creative!) Be the exception to the rule. Or find the exception to the rule. Because there are plenty of others out there, who are being creative their way. And that IS enough.
A label can help us make sense of our world. But it can also limit us if we let it.
Neither here nor there: Not a bad place to be
Once you get out of your own way to claim the "I'm creative" title, you might still wonder whether the corporate or creative world is best suited for you. Here are a few questions that might help you to decide what career path to follow (or create your own, why don't you?):
When you're in creative flow, do you feel more alive, or do you prefer to have structure and systems filling up your days?
Do you feel like you need to constantly create something new, or are you happy working on both creative and non-creative projects?
Do you feel energized by interacting with people, or do you prefer to spend more time alone?
Do you feel like you need to be in a specific place or environment to create (e.g., do you only write when you're at home, or can you write anywhere)?
Do you prefer to work on one project at a time or juggle multiple projects simultaneously?
Accepting that you are creative enough and answering the questions above honestly will help clarify whether the corporate or the creative world is a better fit for you! And if you find that you don't neatly fit into either category, like so many other multi-passionate creatives, that's fine, too! You always have the option to create your own path and build a career that's tailored specifically to your strengths and interests!
If you're unsure of which path to take, the best advice would be to experiment, to try different things.
What feels right for you? What do you naturally feel drawn to?
You don't need to force yourself into a specific box or category - go with the flow and be open about where it takes you. You may find that you enjoy elements of both the corporate and creative world, and that's perfectly okay!
Just follow your heart and intuition; they usually know the way.
This article was a collaboration between myself and Winnie Tang. Click here to learn more about Winnie and to discover her work.
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