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.

Jordynn Greeson

For the past nine years, I’ve been living the dream as an artist behind the chair, and let me tell you, it’s been amazing! I’ve done a little of everything—making sandwiches, folding clothes, even crunching numbers as a small business banker. But from day one in the salon, I’ve never had that dreaded “Ugh, work” feeling. Meeting new clients daily, swapping stories from their wild celebrations to heart-wrenching tales, and using my talents to boost their confidence—it’s a privilege I’ll never take lightly. There’s no way I’m trading this for a 9-to-5! Read more>>

Chen Zhang

I think about this almost every day — what it would be like to have a regular job, with a stable salary, paid vacations, and the comfort of not constantly chasing the next project. For people outside the animation industry, it might be hard to picture what we actually do. I work as a 3D modeler, which means I’m responsible for building the digital characters, environments, and props that appear on screen, giving shape to everything before it’s lit, textured, and animated. It’s a highly collaborative role, but also incredibly detail-driven. We have to think about anatomy, stylization, topology, silhouette, and how our models will move, render, and integrate into the pipeline. It’s both creative and technical, and it’s intense. Read more>>

Kara Waters

I absolutely love being an artist and a creative! In my early adulthood, as a former people-pleaser and rule-follower, I tried to take the traditional route. I earned a Bachelor’s degree and completed half of a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Georgia. I spent a few years working as a social worker. While there were parts I genuinely enjoyed and so much I learned, I realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t the life I was called to live. Read more>>

Torshia Brielle

Nothing bring me more joy besides my family than being an artist. The one place in the world that I am 100% sure that I belong is on stage. it ironic that this question is being asked because ive had a “regular job” before and it was the most unfulfilling thing I could have done with my life and time. I was good at it but I hated every second of being boxed in. The last time I had the thought of getting a regular job was shortly after my relocation to Atlanta, Ga. I work in film and music at the time I was spending more time in film world and the writer strike hit and work vanished with no timeline of it returning in sight. it was an extremely tough season to weather. Read more>>

Cat Charles

I am definitely happy as a creative. I’ve realized that being an artist is really the best way I can serve the world. I always wonder what it would be like to have a more stable job. There was a time when I would think about it; if I made different decisions in life, and I would see an image of myself that was happier, wealthier, and safer. But now when I picture this, I realize that I would most likely be incredibly unfulfilled. And that’s not to say that all careers don’t offer a sense of fulfillment, they certainly do. But, I’ve found that being an artist truly aligns with my values in life. I didn’t realize that being a creative allows me to serve my community with so much joy and pride. Read more>>

Hollie Brown

On most days I am happier as an artist. The sense of excitement and purpose I feel when painting or working with ceramics far exceeds any appeal a traditional job might hold for me. That said, pursuing art as a career is not for the faint of heart. It requires determination, persistence, and above all, adaptability. Opportunities in the art world can be unpredictable—one year you might sell several pieces, the next, none. So, it becomes essential to find creative ways to bridge those gaps. Read more>>

Tawnya Reynolds

The thought of living any other lifestyle has not crossed my mind until recent years. My suspicion is it stems from putting one hundred percent of my life’s efforts into a career which in essence, is similar to winning the lottery. I’ve often wondered if a common 9-5 would have been the ‘safer’ path. There’s comfort in knowing what to expect but I am convinced it would be unfulfilling. The perception of success in the music business seems to be based on fame and money. I’ve had to decide what it means on a personal level, and for me, to thrive and find joy is the bar. Read more>>

Ruddy Mejia

Honestly, I am definitely happy as an artist and creative and I’ve been very fortunate with every opportunity I’ve had to be able to work with a variety of ages to teach illustration, painting and drawing both in classrooms and workshops, but curiosity has made me think of what it would be like to have a boring 9-5 behind a desk once again. Read more>>

Sophia Greco

This question intrigued me because as a tattoo apprentice, I do have a second job in order to help with financial situations. And so I get a little bit of both worlds every day. I do both mostly 5 days a week. Days off these days don’t really exist for me anymore, but I prefer it that way. I like to stay busy, I like to help people, and I like to create art. Working an every day 9-to-5 job helps me with my customer service skills because it’s important to have that in any business you want to be in. But most importantly, it helps me remember to be patient and kind to strangers under every circumstance. As an artist, I want to create things that make people happy and make people love themselves more every day having it on their bodies. Read more>>

Tony Griego

I’ve really only ever worked in food service jobs to survive. So I guess the opposite of this question has been the case for me: I’ve worked regular jobs and thought about what it would be like to get to be an artist. I have distinct memories of working in cafes in Utah, desperately wishing my time and energy could be my own to pursue creative explorations. There was this one cafe that I worked at in Salt Lake City that hardly anyone ever went to. I’m mean like twelve people a shift came into this place. So I was forced to sit there for hours and just exist, bound by this invisible chain of survival. I was miserable. I would sit there with my art books and read about all these people throughout time that followed their artistic callings and made the damn things. Read more>>

Alyssia Strasser

Having worked full-time in this field for about three years, I feel my perspective is quite different from many artists and creatives who yearn to create full-time at any cost. At this point in my life, I prioritize stability, even if it means giving up some of my creative time. Since starting my journey in 2019, I’ve frequently faced this topic, wavering between taking on a second job and feeling unsure whether I can depend solely on my art income. When I first started, my excitement about committing to this full-time was incredibly high, and even after achieving success, I maintained that momentum without a backup plan in place. Read more>>

Justin Perry

I am very happy as both. My last few years has been me aligining both sides so I am in a flow between the two. My creative happiness of exploring what I want to see feeds my artistic happiness with art for sale that represents me as much as talent. Read more>>

Kashaveli

I’m love being an artist. Pursuing my career as an artist really began while I was in college. College is often seen as the place where you’re supposed to find a “good job,” but for me, it became clear that success could mean something different. After graduating, I realized that leverage was key. I put a lot of time and energy into perfecting my craft as an artist, but at the same time, I was also building a strong foundation in the corporate business world. In my story, the two paths worked hand in hand. A well-paying job in my field gave me the financial stability to fund my growth and success as an artist. There have definitely been ups and downs—both creatively and in life—but I’ve found that having both sides, the practical and the creative, has made the journey more sustainable and fulfilling. Read more>>

Marvin Joles

I am extremely happy when I get to create. Being able to create income from it has been a tremendous blessing. It allows me to be free to share what I am interested in, create content around that and share it with the world. I recently went to the World of Asphalt Conference in St Louis and spoke there. While there I was able to create video content with some of the largest brands in our industry… all while in the stadium where the Rams won the Super Bowl. It was a surreal moment for me. It made me think about how lucky I am to be able to do this, and have done it, for a long time now and that if I had to go into a “regular” job, how awful of a fit I would be there. Read more>>

Dina Mahrouz

I believe that for someone like me—and really, for any designer or creative spirit who feels the need to create—a regular, conventional job isn’t truly fulfilling. While such a job might offer safety, stability, and fewer uncertainties, it often lacks the freedom and emotional satisfaction that come with being an independent artist. Read more>>

Tracy

Asking my friends and family to support my business is… well, let’s just say, a journey in itself. From 2010 to 2023, I ran a successful social media marketing company called Your Virtual Footprint. My mission? To help individuals and organizations market, promote, and sell their products and services in the most effective and efficient way possible—without pulling their hair out over hashtags and algorithms. Read more>>