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.

Jonnie Estes

This is such a good question! I would say overall I am very fortunate to have a relatively happy disposition which certainly colors my outlook on anything I do. I have my days of doom, and I don’t think they would go away regardless of my career path. I think questioning what you’re doing with the finite time you’re given is always a good thing to check in on. I would say I check in on myself at least twice a year if not more (yay unexpected small business struggles/lulls!) Read more>>

Keegan Carter

I don’t believe in extremes, at least anymore. I think balance is always key and I apply the same thinking to my art career. When I was younger, all I wanted to do was be a businessperson and make a lot of money. Once I started spending more time with my creative craft I, then, only wanted to be an artist. I found both ends of the spectrum unsatisfying. I think about this topic quite often because once you’re good at something atypical the first question people ask you is if you “plan to make it your career” or “do it full-time.” We’re conditioned to think about things as entirely full or entirely empty rather than somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Read more>>

Ashley Love-Mills

I’m happy as a creative. It definitely comes with a lot of challenges in doing this full time which isn’t exactly peachy(lol) but just the thought of not being an artist full time makes me sick to my stomach. Working in the entertainment legitimately is the hardest thing I’ve ever done but I’m too far in to turn back. I must see it through. Read more>>

Jazzmin Harrison

Last year, I had a good year. It was one of the best years in my three years of being a Makeup Artist. I had reached a goal that I made before moving to Atlanta, which was to do entrepreneur and social media influencer, Ari Fletcher’s makeup and work along the side of Dionte Gray, “Arrogant Tae”. My clientele expanded exponentially and I felt like I was about to take off. Life as a young boss was good, I felt bossy and independent. Read more>>

303JAC

I am 100% happier being a creative in this lifetime than anything else. I feel like I am a kid all over again, ever single day. Anything I imagine, I can create. I’m not going to lie to you, I am very much still in the “day-job” period of my life so it’s very cool to see both worlds. Many of my artist friends can relate as well. The thought of assuming a “regular life” goes through my head every day, although I think my life is still pretty regular, I am blessed with an amazing position in this life. Read more>>

Nicolette Mallow

Yes, I am deeply fulfilled and happy to be an artist. I feel blessed to be given artistic talents and that I know my purpose in the world. The arts helped me rediscover my voice and identity. Art healed me. Art gives me a safe place to express emotions. Art gives me the ability to create my own magic in the world. The written word helps me write all the things I’m too afraid to say aloud. Music and dance connect my mind, body, and spirit in a way that brings me priceless joy. I love to sing to nature sometimes when I’m happy, even if I’m alone. Read more>>

Ninalauren Justiniano

I love being a creative person and earning a living by doing things I’m good at, though there are pros and cons to it of course. While owning my own business allows me to make my own hours and my own work, it sometimes lacks consistency which can be stressful financially. There is also much more responsibility that goes into owning your own company but the rewards are also much greater in my opinion. Read more>>

Josh Padgett

I work a regular job during the day, so I haven’t really been able to move into playing music full time. I have the thought of hanging it up pretty frequently in the past, if I’m honest. The last time I had the thought, I re-evaluated my expectations of what I get out of being a musician, and ultimately came to decide that 1. My life would be a lot more incomplete without it 2. A lot of why I want to hang it up often is because I dread doing cover gigs a lot of the time, and it’s often the most lucrative part of doing it at this junction 3. Read more>>

Kathleen Padgett

During and after college, I found myself working a handful of odd jobs. I waited tables for a long long time and I also worked for several event based marketing companies. I’ve didn’t know what it was like to work Monday – Friday, I always worked holidays and weekends. The grass always seemed greener on the other side. I really longed for the normal 9-5 job, I could spend time with friends on the weekends and have nights off. Read more>>

Xavier Passmore

I am very pleased with my career as a creative. I find it genuinely fulfilling and it perfectly compliments my character. On my journey, there were times that I had to seriously consider having to secure a “regular job”. But being a creative in the fashion industry can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, the job provides a steady income and a sense of security. On the other hand, the job takes up most of the week, in some instances opportunities might arise and you might not be able to accept due to the work schedule, or you miss a phone call. Read more>>

Yun Liu

I am really happy being a musician and being able to build and follow my own schedule. Although I have been studying music either part time or full time since very young, I would have never imagined a life and career like this when I was still in school. Back then, people often perceived such lifestyle as insecure and less successful than a life with a regular job, and I always thought the best thing for me after getting my degrees was to become a faculty in a school. Read more>>

Tam Allen

While I am so absolutely happy and grateful to be an artist, there are times where I can feel quite depleted from using my creative energy for my job, The thought has definitely crossed my mind that if I were working a job unrelated to my art, I’d feel more inspired for my projects. I remember many of my previous entry level jobs and how I would feel so “stuck at work” and antsy to get off the clock so that I could create. I would get so many ideas while working those jobs, and thinking about this made me realize how important it is to *take breaks* and do something completely unrelated to my work and perhaps even mundane, so that my creative brain could have a break from constantly being used. Read more>>

Mike Haffner

I’m incredibly happy as a creative and while I still have a regular job for now, I do occasionally wish I had a regular schedule. When I say regular schedule or regular activities; I mean, you get off work and come home and “do nothing” or just “relax”. My current schedule has me leaving work at 5pm and then I typically go to a business to shoot content and maybe even another after that. If I don’t have anything after work then I go home and work on editing content which can take hours of my time. Read more>>

DJ Helios

I definitely feel like the most authentic version of myself when I’m creating – making mixes, djing in real life and creating content. I can say without a doubt that I’m happier when I’m playing music and creating memories than if I were to have a regular 9-5. I think the only times I consider that it would be nice to have a regular job is when sometimes I need a mental separation from what I would consider “working” and with resting or having a social life. Read more>>

Olivia Colley

Being a fashion designer brings me the most joy out of life completely. Im always asked if I wasn’t a fashion designer what career path I would choose for myself and always the answer is “I don’t know.” When I think of any other job even in another creative fields still don’t think it would provide me the same amount of happiness that creating clothes does for me. Read more>>

Aaron Dews

Ultimately, I’m more joyful as a creative! It definitely comes with its set of difficulties though, but in the long run, more fulfilling. I was working in a bunch of environments that honestly had nothing to do with want I wanted to do. There’s nothing wrong with working a “regular job”, it’s just that even though there was a level of security, I was miserable because I was investing in something I was not passionate about. Read more>>

Ashley Thompson

Well I guess I’ll start off by saying I ABSOLUTELY love being a creative . A model . A statement …. I love what I do , truly, however I’m not solely living off of it ,… right now ! Not to say it won’t happen one day . Im a creative that hasn’t fully walk in my purpose, but im pushing and im trying to figure it out . Working a 9-5 is not the life for me , “I do not dream of labor “ lol but it gets the bills paid . Iguess to some it up , I’m Ashley in the day , and bombshvll in the night . So this question is backwards for me , but I love it . Read more>>

Tereva Crum

With the exception of the past two years, I have spent my entire adulthood making incredibly responsible, practical decisions that always placed my own needs on the outskirts of my existence. During that time, I became consumed with making the ‘right’ decisions. Before I had my first child, I was in graduate school pursuing my Master’s in Social Work. I paused my pursuits so that I could focus on motherhood, and one baby ultimately led to two wonderful little humans, whom I am OBSESSED with. Although my creative spirit spilled unapologetically into motherhood, I didn’t feel like an artist, not a real one at least. Read more>>

Tom Ruthz

Yes, very much! I do what I love to do and I know that many people don’t think that being an artist isn’t a real job. Of course it is! I’ve been doing art for living since when I was 14. I am 54 currently. But besides art I had very few jobs from my 14-18yo. Then I quit my job and I decided to be an artist full time. Read more>>

Katelyn Farrugia

My first, resounding instinct is YES. I am ecstatic to be an actress and wouldn’t have it any other way. But reality has a way of infiltrating our dreams, right? I was recently gardening in my backyard (a new found hobby) and had a peaceful thought of, what if this was all I had to do? What if I could have a normal 9-5, raise a family and pay all my bills in one month. And those thoughts can come in all shapes and sizes – what if I’m not good enough as an actor? What if casting stops wanting me? Read more>>

Rodney Iler

I am happy as an artist and creative. Over the past few years, I’ve learned a few things about adjusting to the lifestyle of being a full-time creative. One of the most vital things was the reason why I decided to choose this path. I believe that understanding your “why” will help you maneuver through the up and down motions that come with being a full-time creative. I’ll be the first to tell you that this journey is a very rocky road until you’ve built yourself and/or your bring to a certain level. Read more>>