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.

Kaitlyn Blade

I actually wonder about having a “regular job” more often than people might think. A common misconception with being a full time artist is that you get so much “freedom and time to do whatever you want’. This might be somewhat true, but being a creative has its hardships too. Read More>>

Kinsey Gibson

I feel very lucky that my job and my passions are intertwined. But yes, there are weeks when I doubt my abilities and wonder if I am cut out to be a self-employed artist. I’m a business owner, but the label ‘artist’ resonates with me more. As a photographer, the slow season is typically accompanied by thunder and dark clouds, leading to schedule changes. Read More>>

sven waldhor

I love my work, and I am so much internally and personally happier as an artist than I would be at a regular job, other than the instability of the finances. I often think about it, especially in these troubled times. Read More>>

Patrick McGrath Muniz

Happier? That may not be the right question. The right one: What’s the alternative? I’ve been doing this for thirty years already. And yes, there are moments when I look at what a regular job would mean and something in me doesn’t immediately recoil. I can certainly see its pros. Read More>>

Alai Ganuza

The beginning of my career was super sudden and accidental. At the time, I was not choosing to pursue art. I was hoping to study a bit more at university and maybe get a different job, but definitely not to work for myself and be my own boss. I was not planning to become an artist or to teach art to a global community. I thought I wouldn’t be happy being a creative because I believed it required so many skills, involved so much work, and had too many tasks. It isn’t just training; you have to build your brand. Read More>>

Bill Hauser

I don’t know if I’m happier as an artist or creative, because financially, it’s rough. That said, I tried running from being a musician, but ended right back at it after hitting emotional rock-bottom living in nyc–after taking 10 years off from doing music. When you’re at the bottom, all of a sudden the things you used to be concerned with–how others perceive you–no longer matter. For me, it became a matter of spiritual sustenance–finding acceptance and fellowship because I’d run out of fucks to give with most everything else in my life at the time, outside of my immediate family. Read More>>