I️ recently was listening to Anna Wintour’s Masterclass and had a “aha” moment. I️ realized that almost every creative entrepreneur I️ work with falls into one of two categories - The CEO or The Editor. Maybe “falls into” isn’t the best phrase, let’s say strongly leans into one of the two categories.
This realization made me want to write about what I️ keep seeing from a birds eye perspective. Looking from the gallery and coaching positions, I️ have seen a lot of artists grow and that moment when it clicks is the same moment when they learn they have to wear more than just the hat they are comfortable with - they have to wear them all (until you can hire, but we’ll save that for another time). If we call these two “hats” CEO and Editor, let’s break down the difference and what each brings to the table.
Both require a strong voice, a strong vision, and a level of self-confidence. The issue is that strong voice, vision and confidence often are oriented more in the direction of big picture or small details. Let me elaborate…
Editors love the little details. They love to dream, create the vision and act on visuals. These are people that start with Instagram, build the site before they create the work, focus on photography and story telling and building a brand that is true to them. They focus on the exact right logo, the perfect font pairing, they’d never reach out to a gallery before they feel ready. Every detail has to be perfect, but the business plan…well they’d probably say “that can come later” or even “what’s that”?
The issue with this mentality alone is these creatives neglect strategy. They forget that you have to make a certain amount to make it worth your time. They often burnout because they aren’t focusing enough time on growth and instead are just focusing on creation. You need both. If you only create and don’t see success you suddenly feel like what you are creating isn’t worthy, when in reality it might be in need of a little marketing makeover. Ok, so maybe this isn’t you…well you might lean more CEO and it comes with it’s own problems.
CEOs love the big picture. They strategize. They know exactly how many prints to sell to hit their target, how long a painting takes to create, the pricing required to attend a show.
The problem with single minded CEOs is they focus on strategy and often get caught up in the big picture and don’t just start making. Their hyper-fixation on numbers makes them hold money close versus knowing when to reinvest. To be a successful entrepreneur you need to be a dreamer, a creator, forget the strategy for a second and let the business build it self (to an extent) in the early days.
So what do we do? We each have our unique talents and that is beautiful, but we also have our weaknesses. We have to find a way to do both or find the person or resources to fill in the gaps of where we feel less secure.
I️ hope this exercise does more than make you notice weaknesses, I hope it helps you to realize and recognize your strengths. Being a CEO or Editor is a huge title, and you get to be both! Acknowledge your talents and let them shine.
Thank you for being here and supporting this page. I’ll be back next week.
Talk soon,
Hayley
Weekly Recs
Masterclass - I️ have to recommend it because it inspired the entire episode. So many of these ideas come from reading, learning, and listening. Masterclass is a great resource if you want to learn from the best.
Chantecaille - Liquid Blush - I️ am not a makeup person, but I️ do use a few products every day. This liquid blush gives a slight tint and really layers well on top of my Merit products (complexion stick and bronzer) (which I️ also am obsessed with). I️ use the tiniest dab and it’s lasted a long time. Highly recommend!
Your Honor - I️ recently watched this show on Netflix. If you love a fast-paced thriller then this is for you. The story follows a judge whose son is involved in a hit and run with the son of a very prominent figure in the city…I️ won’t give away too much. If you need something new, then this is for you.
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