Do you ever wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a more standard path? Does everyone have these doubts sometimes? We wanted to find out and so we asked as many talented artists and creatives as we could and have shared highlights below.

Marcus Porter

Being an artist and creative are both important to me and my journey! I can’t live with one or the other as I take everything and don’t close myself off into being the best version of myself. I personally am very creative but in order for me to express myself I have to learn skills and techniques. Once I perfect those skills and techniques I then will have the knowledge to artistically change my camera settings for expression. Artistry gives me the ability to cultivate my skills and talents to create images and film that spark emotion. Creativity helps me think outside the box and create compelling stories to tell for my media. Read more>>

Dylan Heidt

The timing of this interview/feature is really interesting, because I’m at a point in my life where I’m grappling with the idea that I may be a happier, better version of myself if I were to not be pursuing a career within the music industry. I’ve been writing, producing, arranging, touring and mixing/mastering music for not only myself, but a plethora of other artists over the course of the past 12-13 years and while I’ve done far more than I ever expected to within the world of music… Read more>>

Jorge Larrea

Great question! I am at my best as a creative. The challenges of being a creative and overcoming them when creating or being a part of a project is fulfilling. I actually have a regular job, shoot… come to think about it… even when I was publishing a physical version of 305 Magazine I had a regular job. Sometimes had two jobs while pushing out creative work and projects. The 9-5 never killed my motivation only fueled it. It’s easy to think that being a creative is like baking a pie, setting it out and once it’s sold, boom wealthy life. Read more>>

Chad Judd

This is a tough one because the answer is yes and no. With me and many of the people I speak with regularly, this is an often reoccurring thought. In the creative field, there tends to be a lack of stability when it comes to earning an income. This is especially the case when we are early in our careers. This instability quickly leads to self-doubt and ultimately questioning whether you’re on the right path or not. Read more>>

Jeevan Dhaker

I’m happy as an Artist. I love art so I keep creating content. It is the reason I wake up 4 or 5am, work all day, and still not get tired of it. I also have a team of creatives who helps me in reaching the goal. I used to have a part-time job. I quit my job in July 2022 to pursue my dream. When I was thinking about quitting, I was worried about not having a stable income. But I did better financially afterwards. Now, I never think about a regular job and I’m thankful that I took the right decision at right time of my life. Thanks to my friends and family for supporting my decision. Read more>>

Michael Cross

Firstly to begin with as a creative I’m very happy honestly it’s satisfying being able to write a song and having supporters enjoy what I’ve created. It’s definitely a process but as time goes it becomes easier, and the reward such as gaining new supporters and having an impact on people makes me cheerful. Secondly do I think about what it would be like to have a regular job? At times I do. The musician lifestyle can be a bit lonely.. Read more>>

Marcellous Lindsley

Yes, I can say that I see and feel the energy flow through me differently when I am pursuing something that is a passion versus doing something just to do it. I’ll always put your best foot forward, but if I am passionate about something I’m giving more than 110%. I do because I still have a job to support me through school, and the beginning phases of my career. I was working to support my career, but was still in school at the same time so some nights I’d have to sleep in the car. It made me more ambitious cause it showed how much I really want to pursue this passion as a career. The conclusion I came to was that I need to do more things for myself. Read more>>

Dee Rovetta

I’ve found an immeasurable amount of contentment and happiness in making art. My passions include my art, sharing the freedom of working in abstraction with others and providing mental health counseling through my internship starting in a few months. The last time I considered having a regular job was a few months ago — I was struggling to see the worth of my work, starting my application for field experience in grad school, and stressed in every sense of the word. Read more>>

Maribel Gomez

Am I happy with my creative work? yes very happy, the art of creating something that we imagine or think gives me the tools to develop my creativity and that is very satisfying, even more so if for that creativity I make a living and I am happy. I have worked in many jobs before but I do not miss them, I prefer to fight and continue striving for my company, which in the end is the legacy that I will leave to my daughters in the future. Read more>>

Jennifer Mabon

I’m the happiest at being a creative. Having the ability to create amazing dishes, brings happiness and comfort to my heart. It gives reasons to be proud, Knowing that this work of art is from my hands. I sometimes think about having a regular job quite often especially when the money of flow isn’t coming in to the consistency of what I am expecting everyday or on a weekly basis. For example, If I’m struggling with meeting a quota for the week, then that makes me want to apply for a job. Read more>>

Lindsey Roussel

A little over a year ago I quit my full time job to be an artist. While financially stressful, I am the happiest I have ever been. Being a full time artist let’s me set my own hours, work on personal projects, and take care of myself physically and mentally. The only person that will look out for you in a work setting is you. I was killing myself for a job that told me I was irreplaceable and then replaced me before my 2 weeks were up. So if you have the ability to choose between working for yourself or someone else, I’d 100% recommend working for yourself. Read more>>

Christen Marbury

I am currently a full time social worker & part time model/content creator. Balancing working a full time career as well as being a creative has not been easy but I couldn’t imagine only doing one. I love being a social worker because it allows me the opportunity to help individuals and create community change. On the other hand, I love being a model/content creator because it gives me an outlet as well as a way to (hopefully) inspire others via social media. I have to remind myself at times that it is ok to be a multi-faceted individual. It is ok to be a social worker and model/creator. I absolutely love doing both and they add different things to my life! Read more>>

Joshua T. Shipman

I am EXTREMELY happier being a screen artist and creative. Of course there were times where I wasn’t sure about the financial stability of this industry and I would worry, but I quickly snapped out of the thought of going back to a regular job lol. I looked back on the time where I worked front-desk at a resort (I’ll keep the name private lol). The job wasn’t hard, but I was really valued for my hard work. The guests loved me, but it seemed like I wasn’t as “great” as my co-workers. Read more>>

Christopher Fabor Muhammad

I am more than happier as an artist creative! I’m am living a dream; fulfilling my purpose and impacting the lives of others! What more can I ask for? I never really think about having a regular job but I have thought about jobs like that which I’ve had at some point. For example I thought about when I worked as a cashier to earn extra money even while I was an art teacher. It was at an Educational retail store and I had a terrible experience learning how to work their system with no experience and a very bad manager.. Read more>>

Bianca Walker

I suffered from depression throughout middle and high school. College was when I first began to take art seriously and it changed my entire life. Waking up to creative tasks as opposed to things that I felt like I couldn’t completely put myself into making a world of difference in every aspect of my life. Especially my mental health. Once I began pursuing art a blank canvas represented an opportunity for me to express myself endlessly and as a black queer individual it’s probably the first and only time, I’ve ever felt that extent of freedom, so I came to craft my practice and lifestyle after that feeling and came to understand the power of the erotic. Read more>>

Nich Mueller

I was sitting on a marble bench in front of one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world with an Art Teacher, a Psychotherapist, and a Translator. The topic was that of an ancient sculpture park in central Italy that had eroded to some extent over the last 500 years– the story of this sculpture park is all wrapped in a bit of mystery. Either the owner of the big house on top of the hill (Orsini) had paid artists of that time to build what is now known as “Sacro Bosco” as a gift to his love; or according to the Art Teacher, was intended solely to impress its guests, much-aligned with alchemy, to provide those who enter with such a wonder that they experience visions. I wonder what that means. Read more>>

Jordan Smith

Absolutely I am happier! I can’t say that I do think about having a “regular” job. I am constantly thinking of new ideas and ways to grow. One thing a creative lifestyle does not always provide is the structure that allows you to retire. I love hustling right now but eventually will want to stop working. Some order is necessary to ensure you’re setting yourself up for success in the long run. Read more>>

Polly Windham

I had been on the road for over a decade touring with an underground band. I was brainstorming how to move forward as I don’t do well with complacency. As a whole the band was on a different page on our progression. I started thinking of a different path for myself, but I couldn’t imagine it be without music. One morning on the road when we were parked at a rest area in the middle of the country I got online and typed in army enlistment. It took me to a recruitment page where there were questions about my skills and interests. Read more>>

Jon Yerby

The life of an Artist can be as unpredictable as it is fulfilling. Periods of hyper activity/creativity/boon followed by deserts of time in between, perhaps caused by markets, pandemics, injuries, or anything else. I am fortunate to have lived in a variety of places here in the US – Houston, Austin, Boston, Tallahassee, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and now Cedar City, Utah. Of course these environments are all unique to an artist, ranging from being a small fish in an ocean to a large fish in a smaller pond. Read more>>

Zach Whitmore

When it comes to being an artist, I find myself much happier than if I were working a regular job. It’s not just about the freedom to set my schedule, but it’s about the freedom of expression. With that freedom comes reward. Of course, the risks are higher and the challenges are a little scarier. But I have to say, when you overcome those challenges and risks, the reward is much more fulfilling. Read more>>

Carolyn Walker

Being a creative…. so many layers to this title. So many obstacles one must face. Rejection from the left and the right. Days where you only have $1 to your name. Your car breaking down after a last minute canceled gig (you arrived at the clients home to only be told they canceled). Your mind begins to wander. Am I supposed to be here? Were those people right, that being a MUA is just a hobby. How can I afford my materials? Photographers taking you for granted and dismissing you, like you are nothing. Read more>>

Parke Cottrell

There was a time that I seriously considered the notion of being a psychologist. Anytime I would have deep conversations with my friends there would always be this point where I would get a sense of real work being done for both of us. Learning things about ourselves simply through the act of talking. I was fascinated with it throughout much of my high school years. But around that same time was when I had picked up guitar and was – no joke – playing 6 hours a day. Read more>>