Is it natural to wonder what life would have been like had you chosen a different path? Is it common? We asked many artists and creatives from all over the country if they’ve ever wondered about whether they should have pursued a more standard career path to see what we could learn from their stories.

Amy Stone

I don’t need to imagine what it would be like to have a “regular” job. Been there, done that. And have gotten fired from almost every single one of them. When I first graduated college I moved to New York City and took a year to try to be an artist and as most other creatives do, was a server at a well known restaurant at the time owned by Bobby Flay. Read more>>

Shane Becker

I think about this a lot and It’s probably because I have a family now. Just yesterday I was thinking about my future and my son’s future and wondering if I could keep doing what I’m doing and still be able to make a great life for him and my family. Those thoughts can really take a toll on you. It would a lot easier and reliable if I went to a “normal” job but I know myself and I would still work on music and my art after a 9-5 job. Read more>>

Danny Gamble

In being asked if I’m happier as an artist and creative, I must answer, absolutely. Of course, I have to question what another means of income and making a living could be, as we all do, but this has definitely been the path I’ve been on from a formative age. In terms of the last time that I had thought of questioning work paths, it is frequent and often, yet once the looking into options is delved into, there’s really no other choice. Read more>>

Katsiaryna Sharai

I’m in love with the creative process! From the moment of my creative activity (about ten years), my creative activity has changed very dramatically. Transformed and developed, flowed from one type of creativity to another. But it always remained a creative process, in which I started from the question to myself: What exactly do I want? Read more>>

Jonathan Wade

I often find myself wishing I could have a ‘normal’ job. It seems that other jobs have answers and solutions to their problems while I’m scrounging for inspiration on what kind of art to create that represents “cheering in the dark”. In the past, Over the years I’ve considered going into a trade where I can work with my hands and still have some creative problem solving. Read more>>

Blkmrkt

I have a personal saying/ mantra. Happiness comes from comparison, joy comes from within. There are days I’m not happy and definitely think about being another “cog in the machine”. Then I think about who I’m comparing myself to, who told me I have to be anything other that what I am. That’s where I find joy, in the reflection. In the short search of my mind for gratitude. Read more>>

Kylie Olsen

Just reading this question reminds me of Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way”, she spends chapters outlining how we are designed to be creative beings. Following our true design by taking the time to create whether that is as a career or a hobby is crucial to our overall contentment in life. Personally, and additionally, as someone who believes that we were created by God to create, we are also fulfilling His will by spending our energy creating. Read more>>

Naomi Richmond

I think every artist or creative-minded person has had the thought of: “What if I just stopped right now and took the easier route?” or “Maybe I should’ve just gone to college, got my degree and found a full-time job.” And while there’s nothing wrong with that, I think our society sometimes teaches creatives that having a fulfilling career doing what we love is out of our reach. Read more>>

Paula Jordan-Mayo

I would say for the most part I am happy being an artist. I’ve always been an artist since I was about four years ago and this is the career I always wanted to pursue. I don’t particularly like how the second question is phrased with the wording “regular job”. I believe being an artist IS a regular job and it should be respected as such. But I digress. Read more>>

Amy Stone

My journey to being a full time, working artist has not been straight forward. I’ve never had a formal art class in my life, but my education at home and at school was ripe with creative instruction. I grew up dancing, singing, acting, and writing. In undergrad, I studied English and Spanish. I studied abroad and learned about art history. So creative self expression has always been a part of my story. Read more>>

Paige Johnson

For the entirety of my working career, my time was focused in public-facing jobs; I worked retail, I worked with kids, I worked the front desk in a gym. Through all of these jobs, I loved the work I did, but I found myself extremely burned out working face-to-face with people day in and day out. As an extroverted introvert, I found this exhausting and draining, I was constantly in pain from standing on my feet all day, and I all the joy had left my job life. Read more>>

Ryn Eckert

I ask myself that question a lot, especially as someone who is still very much underground and unknown in the music world. But even growing up in school, though I was placed in AP classes and leadership orgs., I never truly felt the desire to work hard at that. I would always rather spend hours listening to music, studying music videos, or practicing guitar until my fingers calloused over. Read more>>

Brianna D’Amato

I love being an artist and being able to do what I love every day. The one thing about being my own boss that is sometimes challenging is the self discipline. I have to make sure I am managing my time properly in order to have a successful business. I occasionally think about how life would be different if I had a regular 9-5 job with benefits and a consistent income. Read more>>

Kaelyn Gavin

Creating art full-time has been one of the most fulfilling choices I’ve ever made. I am very lucky to have a long-term boyfriend who has always supported my dreams, and who continues to support our household while I learn to make a living from my artwork. My plan going into college was to become a software developer after graduation, which would have helped provide a sizable dual income for my boyfriend and I. Read more>>

Holly Johnson

One of the primary challenges of running my creative business is managing the sporadic nature of sales–fluctuating with the seasons, the economy and in response to how much effort and budget I can dedicate to marketing. Cash flow is always a challenge and the reality of how much of my time is needed for the business side (rather than creating) is often enough to make me consider how nice it would be to have a biweekly paycheck and a 9-5 job! Read more>>