Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jakob Takos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Jakob thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Yes, I am genuinely happy as an artist, though reaching this point took time. Life’s moves fast and can be overwhelming, but I’ve learned to find beauty in simplicity and value honesty in my choices. I wrote down recently the two things I value most in my life 1. Being a good husband and 2. Bringing my ideas to life. These two pillars have more depth to them, but from a surface level when I feel off track or misguided in my decisions, I resulted into checking my two personal pillars that have helped keep me grounded in my life.

The act of creating brings me a sense of fulfillment, and I hold dear the freedom that artistic expression affords. Despite facing challenges, my journey as an artist has been a catalyst for important life experiences—meeting my life partner, starting a business, and developing a strong work ethic.

While thoughts of a more comfortable career have crossed my mind, I value the pursuit of passion over a steady paycheck. The unpredictability of life and the creative journey align, emphasizing the importance of preparation over rigid planning.

Influenced by Rick Rubin’s book, “The Creative Act: A Way of Being,” I believe in the power of good habits and treating every choice with skillful care. The goal is to live life in the service of art, embracing the challenges and uncertainties that come with it.

Jakob, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Jakob Takos, an Audio and Visual artist from Jupiter, Florida. I started with music at the age of 10 picking up the guitar. Fast forward a bit, I picked up a camera, and now run Nothing Negative, a creative company specializing in creative concepts and branding strategies.

My band, Jakob Takos & The Connection, has a unique sound featured in the EP “Sunshine Soul.” It has a country, blues, reggae vibe to it.

Proudly worked on the book “111 Places in Palm Beach That You Must Not Miss,” now in its 3rd edition. Currently, I’m diving into new projects constantly and collaborating with artists along the way. My recent collaboration was with Joey Calderaio where we took Noah Kahan’s song Stick Season and out our own South Florida spin on it.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspects of being an artist boil down to two things. Firstly, the transformation of an idea into something tangible, be it a published photograph, capturing a specific shot envisioned, or turning a melody in my head into a full-fledged song. The journey from concept to reality is a gift that keeps on giving. Secondly, it’s the reception – whether it brings simple enjoyment as an escape or emotionally resonates with someone. The unexpected movements and surprises along the way are always appreciated and add to the joy of the creative process.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A crucial lesson I had to unlearn was taking negative feedback to heart. As an artist, it’s easy to feel personally attacked when someone criticizes your work. I realized that not everyone can express their feelings clearly, and some offer initial reactions without explaining why. Now, I approach criticism by asking questions, taking a moment to understand, and focusing on finding solutions rather than reacting defensively.

Contact Info:

• Website: jakobtakos.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jakobtakos
• Facebook: facebook.com/jakobtakos
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7i8LcvEwQiy84DKmgsz0TA

Image Credits
Hunter Hutchings (film photo) Nothing Negative (stick season cover)