What Every Creative Person NEEDS to Know - Prof. Jordan Peterson

Psychology professor Jordan B. Peterson argues that creativity is not necessary a blessing but also a curse. He has essential advice for people who plan to monetize their creativity.
This clip is only a small excerpt of Jordan Peterson's lecture “2017 Personality 19: Biology & Traits - Openness Intelligence Creativity II” held at the University of Toronto. You can watch it entirely here: • 2017 Personality 19: B...
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[@PsycheMatters]

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[@chrismahn9632]

Lionel Muggerage He doesn’t disparage the arts, his whole house is completely filled with soviet paintings and native masks and he enjoys a wide range of music. He’s simply speaking the truth.

[@SovereignStatesman]

Jordan Peterson misses the elephant in the room. The REASON creative people are undervalued in society, is because of OLIGARCHY, which suppresses competition; that's why our economy is an oligopoly of 5 major corporations per industry, which stagnates progress. Jordan Peterson believes that we live in a free democracy, because that's what he's been taught; but in reality the people do NOT consent to their government, since the law has been subverted during the Lincoln Administration. Until he comes to grips with this fact, he's going to assume creativity is a natural curse, not a political blessing.

[@SovereignStatesman]

@Lionel Muggerage You overestimate him. He thinks that the free and democratic society suppresses creativity, but in reality we live under an OLIGARCHY to which he's blind; since that's the hand that FEEDS him, and empowers him over others. The University of Toronto and the nation of Canada give him licensing and accreditation, without which he's just Dr. Laura. So like Marx, he thinks that free markets cheat people; but in reality we don't have a free STATE, since the people DO NOT CONSENT TO THEIR GOVERNMENT.

[@analysator]

Summary: Get a "safe" job and keep some free time for your creative work. Then, if your creative work starts to sell, you can expand the time used for your creative work.

[@Tobyee]

🔥🔥🔥

[@avadea5296]

unfortunately creative prople don't work that way - nine to five ratrace will always eat away their soul

[@theheatherd4897]

AVA DEA try to think of it this way instead : if you have a goal and you're determined to reach it, you have to be willing to make sacrifices. All business owners (and that's what you are, a business owner if you sell creative products) have to make them.

[@dapperking]

accurate af

[@dwtp1080]

Yeah. Safe job. Is there even such thing?

[@sonias9722]

A creative person "wins" when they finish their projects and get to show it

[@siriusdigitalmedia]

With no money? You win with the money. Otherwise, you fkn lose.

[@toenailclippings9720]

@@siriusdigitalmedia money isn’t everything

[@siriusdigitalmedia]

@@toenailclippings9720 That doesn't mean that money is nothing or that you can't use it to do something. Nothing is everything except the universe.

[@victorfrankyl4146]

And Only when you finish

[@marcolulofs2019]

And how do you keep yourself alive??? Like a parasite living on welfare??? And then nag about everybody else earn more money because they work a regular job.

[@aurematic]

This is exactly what I do: I work 3 days in a week to pay the bills. The rest of the week if just for me so I can work on my personal projects: music, writing... creating. I am not rich for *money* but for *Time.*

[@l3goo00s4]

how are u now bro? still working on ideas?

[@annaturquoise7114]

Did that system work

[@antonb6196]

Yeah how's it going? Im doing similar

[@jesus_is_a_champion]

@@antonb6196 how’s it going for you?

[@antonb6196]

@@jesus_is_a_champion well im balancing music with school instead of work. But im constantly improving over 3 years and getting close to the level I want for officcially releasing

[@jesusceballos2459]

I am married, I work a 9-5, I have a 7 month son, and in the last two months I put 70-80 hours writing and illustrating a childrens book. I am exhausted all day, my body is lacking sleep but I am also almost finished! My family is my strength and my son is the inspiration for children’s book. To all the creative people reading this, keep your dreams alive, keep creating, keep pushing. You can make a living off your creativity!

[@debbylou5729]

You haven’t told us how many you’ve sold

[@13igorsm]

sometimes , words of warning are more precious than words of encouragement

[@petrichor7121]

Truth!!

[@reesdimarzio1852]

Slayed!!

[@joshaguas1845]

Very frank and practical advice here. As a creative, you should feel challenged rather than shut down by Peterson’s claim: being a creative is near impossible. As a creative you have to believe in yourself wholly and without doubt. If you believe that you can contribute to the art you are involved in, then I believe that warrants an attempt, no matter how unlikely it might be, statistically. Go for it.

[@geoffreyharris5682]

Try being a consultant or designer, writer, or developer or even an analyst. That often works better than being an artist.

[@letsreadtextbook1687]

@@geoffreyharris5682 I think that depends on the person's talent/passion/skill, why would you pursue a section of art you're not passionate with? You'd better off getting a normal job if that's the case

[@JohnSmith-kt2xb]

Being creative is an award in itself, I am creative I write songs, I design glass, I make things, I compose music, I do stuff - it's not about the money, money is an abstract concept that i just do not understand i am 58 I have never been rich, but I have never gone hungry (yet!) and my creativity has allowed me to live without the need to get a soul destroying job, I am in face a professional me and success can also be measured in happiness, on that one I am in the top 1%, thank you. The 'GREATEST' luxury of all is being able to go to bed in the evening, when you want and waking up when you do, with time to make and enjoy breakfast and coffee, before starting your day. Try it for a time, you will discover happiness too, running your life to anyone's clock but your own, leads only to depression. We were not designed mentally to be enslaved to the clock. Sure meet appointments on time (3 mins early), but be your own master when it comes to time. Remember, it is not fair and don't be late.

[@adamhonestyanddecency5054]

John Smith Sometimes as I'm drifting off to sleep, mind composes music on its own.

[@globoxcrumble5300]

amen brother

[@universalwraps8071]

John Smith but that’s just you, he is speaking about people who want to make it big, not about people who are okay with staying were they’ve always been, did you even listen?

[@kalebvera1841]

@@universalwraps8071 make it big, is not really gonna happen. maybe they should get real and question why they want to make music for , is it for the love of art or money and fame

[@bilalhamurabi3362]

I loved that comment =)

[@carlstereway4327]

This is why all Artists have to learn to Sell.

[@DeepSpaceNinja]

If your primary objective is money, then you're not an artist. The goal is making your vision come to life regardless of what others think of it.

[@carlstereway4327]

@@DeepSpaceNinja Thats true... but do you know how many great artists there are out there in the world that can revolutionize the world... but because they are afraid to communicate, they do not contribute or benefit the world.. learning how to sell is having the ability to articulate your art to other human beings.

[@gfr7270]

Or just hire a pro seller

[@zelwynecabatingan2599]

@@carlstereway4327 I agree

[@Void_from_Abyss]

@@carlstereway4327 agreed

[@moshyura]

"Don't listen to anyone, everybody's scared" - Jay-Z If this scares you off the path you weren't meant for it

[@bernardo7180]

What if I wanted to be a Nazi in California???????

[@dimariobell8499]

It means you're smart and realistic. Being blindly idealistic will lead to nothing but disappointment. You're using JayZ who is a one in a million story full of luck and his unique experience. His life isn't a blueprint Every one can follow so pls stop

[@benjaminsibson4265]

M S it’s not rubbish, it’s just not what you want to hear. He’s not saying you WONT be successful. You should just be aware of how low the chances are in a creative domain. I’m assuming you’re in art or music?

[@nullsker]

@@dimariobell8499 I mean you only live once though right ? And what’s the point of not trying . Atleast you’ll go down knowing you gave it your all versus being afraid and settling for a shit job..

[@nullsker]

@@dimariobell8499 what’s smart and realistic anyways ? No one ever did anything special being smart and realistic... smart and realistic gets you to act and think like everyone else . To me that’s a life wasted

[@geoffreyharris5682]

JP is actually quite good at advertising and marketing. Controversy and practical social knowledge especially when eloquently expressed both sell.

[@nishanthk5306]

Yes, any problem with that ?

[@jspright5226]

This aged well. Hail Lobster.

[@bochafish]

This is true if you look at it from that perspective. I tend to think of it as I use creativity in my job and feel satisfied. I play music on the side and feel satisfied. My degree is in Business. Just saying to all the creative kids watching this video, it's not a curse. You just have "to learn the game, and play it better than anyone else."

[@markboll2606]

Such optimistic words from such an optimistic man.

[@Pumkyn]

that'a what I was thinking LOL

[@ulfsark78]

as someone who wrote and published a book, and spent more money marketing it than I got from selling it .... this hits the nail on the head.

[@MuqbilAlkhalaf]

I'm literally living what he's saying! So true

[@KWillyzz1]

Click bait. Where is Bob Ross and the happy trees!?

[@stuart2777]

If you´re here for the Bob Ross, you are in the wrong internet neighbourhood..;)

[@HrothgarPedersen]

I know right? I came here to see Bob Ross demonstrate the "Jordan Peterson Lecture" subject, in the alla prima style!

[@ileana5299]

Ikr

[@ABW941]

"And now we paint the happy face of Jordan Peterson, use the odorless thiner to clean your brush, make two black strokes for his Eyebrows, and shape his face with a small Spatula. Use dark grey for his three-o'clock shadow and dont forget we dont make errors, only happy littel accidents!"

[@shermaljones5561]

.

[@jeffd.reames1494]

Ok, that reinforces the ideaology and theme of the "starving artist"... which I basically am...but I won't give up and I hope every other creative individual won't give up either...it's definitely a gift and I am responsible for expressing that gift to the best of my ability. Hope keeps me going and my invisible inner compass directed by the Spirit of God. Ok so what do I do now? I've written and illustrated a children's book that I think is potentially a great inspiration to children and adults as well...just don't know how to get it published... However I will continue to try and try and try and try..... I hope for the best to others who are experiencing similar challenges.

[@derrickshadrack4442]

that's just it man, in order for the creative endevour to flourish, those who create/ are creative should just keep creating, it's the only way. It's no good to stop just by virtue of a possible failure for monetization. Creativity is a blessing, greater than a curse, the market is the curse. Make money however you need to but keep creating, don't make creativity slave to market, it is not healthy.

[@wiktorpaluch4234]

Good luck Jeff, I mean it.

[@randyzeitman1354]

You nailed it in the first sentence... unmanaged creativity ain’t good.

[@mrhost561]

Basically a long winded way of saying "don't quit your day job, kiddo"

[@jspright5226]

Thank god you're not the one lecturing. If all you had to say was that, then it'd be a waste of my time.

[@winterwarden]

bucko*

[@winterwarden]

@@jspright5226 "Subtracting value - a lecture by J Spright"

[@BDLabs2]

Yeah. But, that phrase is so vague that it’s practically confusing.

[@En_theo]

More like "don't quit your day job till you're sure you can make a living out of your craft".

[@HeavyK.]

This is errie how much this man is on the mark. I've been a creative for as long as I can remember, and I have to do it. I will do pretty much whatever I need to, to make sure I can be creative. And that sometimes means making money with work that is not so creative. If it allows me to be creative, then I will take it on and keep going.

[@palmamingozzi5736]

So far it has not been profitable for me, neither the art nor the writing, but it can’t be helped, six years and have to create, it is something I enjoy doing over anything else. I accept that it is a loss financially, but I am not failing because it has been a healing process, I have done more things with art than any other place in society, made wonderful friends, am part of community, have communication, exhibit all this and with a disability. The Arts are transforming and bring meaning to life and are the gift we own for self expression and suffering. Truly priceless.

[@samshiba8028]

First and foremost, I feel very happy to be in the same space as other creative people...it is so lonely 😞 I am an aspiring filmmaker and I understand what the Prof is saying, my own understanding due to my own personal experiences. I am currently doing a business administration learnership which I get paid, it is a Monday to Friday 9 - 3 job. Due to this, I meet with a lot of business professionals who always share their knowledge with me regarding the business side of things, they sometimes even help me get contacts for my craft. This works for me, learnership to learnership - which add to my craft, not take away, but also the part of not wanting to be indebted to someone else...pride.

[@thetremortones2480]

Art is insane and pointless. That's why humans love it. Even if your an artist, it makes no sense to pursue art with profit in mind. You have to love it 'so much' that your prepared to loose money (and mind) in the process and accept the confusion. However: the character you build from that kind of sacrifice will make you stronger and more realized that you ever thought you could be. That's growth that can't be bought with money. If your inspired to create. CREATE. NOW. Or you'll always wonder what could've happened if you tried. Your only here once.

[@seanmcaleavy2369]

Yes, what you said. It is truth.

[@Themindofreyrey]

Powerful statement brother!

[@evilwev]

wow pretty clueless. Try talking to people who work in the art world, we do fine ;)

[@globoxcrumble5300]

no, art leads to progress. and there is also the discussion what is art. isnt the iphone also a product of creativity and art? and humans dont love insane and pointless things, they are afraid of insanity and look down on pointless things.

[@turolretar]

How is it insane and pointless

[@PsycheMatters]

In case anyone is wondering (or not), the “Future Authoring” program that Dr. Peterson mentions in this video is available here: bit.ly/SelfAuthoring It's part of the “Self Authoring Suit” that he developed for people to analyze their past, to get their present life in order and to identify a more rewarding path for the future. Jordan Peterson Fan Channel is an official affiliate of the program, so if you follow the link through, you will not only support Jordan Peterson and his endeavors but also this channel in a small way - and most importantly yourself. Thank you.

[@shaunmcinnis1960]

I've been making a living as a mural artist for 20 years and I feel very blessed to able to. Yes, I could make more money if I stuck to my trained field but but I am much happier "all day long at work" as a result. I did work in my trained field for 16 years but became miserable and literally depressed. I pursued my art out of desperation really.I believe if your passionate about anything, two things will happen. 1. you will be very good at it and 2. The money will follow as consequence. Just try to keep your living expenses reasonable until you gain momentum. It's usually our bad decisions in other areas i.e. Money management that hold us down. IMHO

[@ottodetroit]

You can be creative both artistically AND business wise. Self promotion and hard work separates working artists from starving artists.

[@adamhonestyanddecency5054]

What creative people need to do is strengthen their weaknesses. I'm creative, and I'm going to study accounting as a way to balance myself out, and to have a solid means of support while in pursuit of my creative vision.

[@adamhonestyanddecency5054]

DT Chris I'm naturally so far out of the box, I need to be brought back in a little, for stability. Successfully creative people have balance.

[@Void_from_Abyss]

Agreed

[@888dni888]

Keeping your main creative pursuit as a hobby is the best way to retain your passion for it anyway. As soon as you start using it to pay the bills, you'll have to make compromises which suck the soul out of it. Fortunately there are a lot of emerging industries where you can still use other forms of your creativity, AND bring home a decent salary. It is possible!

[@kalidar8215]

true dat. If you meet artist working for money on projects pity him because he is paid to do what he is told by others who are usually retards.

[@nickb863]

I've found that this exact argument also works in reverse. By funneling my creativity into an "applied" 9-5 salaried format I'm forced to make terrible compromises and produce things that are rather mediocre compared to what I could do on my own. Then, at the end of the day or on the weekends, I barely have enough physical/mental/emotional energy left to do anything creative, hobby or otherwise. So in general, going your proposed route it doesn't work. at least not how you say it does. but that's okay because its very hard to create an egalitarian system in which everyone is allowed the maximum amount of space to realize their true potential, their inherent creativity at minimum to no cost. it might theoretically exist, but not in practical terms

[@ibkristykat]

I agree 88dni888 - keeping it as a hobby is the best way to retain your passion for it as a hobby. My husband's said if he worked on cars for a living he wouldn't then want to work on his own cars as a hobby. he'd BURN OUT.

[@seanmcaleavy2369]

This is true. For some years I used my creative output for my source of income. It was nice at first but then it really just started feeling like a job. And then I found myself just going through the motions. Nobody knew it, but I had reached a point where I was just faking it. When the realization of that hit me, I quite so I could rebuild my love for it. Now I am very careful about what I am willing to do for money. Kind of the polar opposite of a whore I've become.

[@user-rh5yf2wz8l]

If you treat your art as 'a hobby', that's all it'll ever BE. Do your craft full blast, hone your skills and be a strategic thinker & planner marketing-wise. Be tenacious & don't view challenges as 'problems'. Professional painter here for 30+ years. My work SELLS. It takes guts, tenacity, confidence & self promotion. But don't just quit or put it on the sidelines categorized as 'hobby'. I make extra money on side in varied ways if need be but my focus remains on the prime directive...& being adaptable to have less money at times _& be ok with that_ ( budgeting to live on temporary lower salary in scant times) is all part of it. Can't give up. Don't JUST paint when you secured a commission. Keep doing it just as a musician rehearses & remain FOCUSSED. Keep your eye on the ball & do gigs that work _peripherally_ to your prime directive that does not impede your drive to do your art/chosen craft. Example: Do not do a full time job that physically & emotionally drains you & don't bastardize your art by doing a version of it as a joe job that you'll hate: example...working in a mass produced fake-art, _'sofa sized painting'_ job that makes you hate painting. That would be like Chopin working polishing bad musicians' pianos. Don't DO that. Better off taking a gig doing occassional phone work etc & save your medium for excellence. That's the key. Don't get drained. Or do quick burst sporadic GIGS...example...2 weeks or 1 side project here & there. Versatility. Patience. Tenacity. Some of MY _non-_ 'hobby'⤵ vimeo.com/144973595

[@gunner678]

So true, just look at Nichola Tesla compared to Thomas Edison, specifically regarding the initial discovery of AC Electrical Current.

[@Thenewbornband]

The core point that Peterson makes time and time again is to live a meaningful life and how vital the pursuit of purpose is. However now he seems to be saying that creative people should put that purpose on the side while they focus on making a living. Don’t get me wrong, this is a valid point in terms of how to survive in a modern society but why not instead say “pursue your purpose and have a job on the side to support your pursuit”. Otherwise I feel his idea here (or perhaps his phrasing of it) deeply contradicts the core values he so passionately talks about such as the idea of sacrifice (bargaining with the future), the importance of failure, dedication to one’s craft, and pursuing what’s meaningful. I also believe he isolates the trait of creativity too much as if it cannot be paired with left brain skills. Creativity lies at the heart of every scientific, mathematical, and technological advancement. It has way more potential to enhance the “business side of things” than Peterson gives due (especially when it comes to marketing). The fact that he so passionately discourages the likelihood of creative types succeeding in starting their own business is downright shocking to me. And the “you should really listen because I know what I’m talking about” certainly left a bad taste in my mouth which was most unexpected coming from JP. However I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and attribute it to passion and not arrogance. Aside from this I just want to say that I truly love Jordan Peterson and everything he stands for. I was lucky enough to see him speak live in NYC a few nights ago and it was one of the most memorable nights of my life. I really wish I could address these issues with him and hear his take on it. On that note if anyone wants to respond and discuss this, that would be great!

[@cinderling5472]

Thank you for verbalising my feelings so eloquently. I too was quite shocked and had a bad taste in my mouth when he said what he said. Also, i think it strange that he didn't probe into the heart of the matter further, or hearts; namely, the capitalist system that discourages the pursuit of true creativity, and how little value is placed on it in our current society in general. For example. I expected more in depth answers from him. And indeed so very strange he assumes that creativity exists in a vacuum! I understand where he's coming from however, and appreciate the warning. Still this could've been a much more satisfying lecture. Truly, creative thinking is a gift; and it is a fault of society, not of the individual; when creative genius goes unnoticed

[@JoeyMarshall]

I guess the old saying "you might not like it but it doesn't make it false" comes to mind... It's statistical fact that if you pursue the creative arts, you're almost guaranteed to fail, from a monetary perspective. You could argue that it's not the most important aspect of life (i'd disagree, money can't buy you happiness but it can certainly bloody help!) but the Starving Artist trope exists for a reason. Every creative person I've ever met was self-loathing and miserable anyway, so it's not even like it was "good for their souls" or anything. Might as well have been soul-destroyed but earnt more. For balance, bear in mind that I'm coming at this issue from the perspective or someone who has never and probably will never feel passion about anything or anyone... Creativity doesn't make sense to me.

[@jacobr2022]

I winced when he said "I know what I'm talking about" I'm sure, like you said, it came from passion and didn't come from arrogance.

[@vickykale3304]

I love his clear way of giving directions...😍😍😍

[@seanmcaleavy2369]

He may be right, I don't know much about gaining footholds or turning something you love into a commodity. But I do know, for myself at least, that creativity is its own reward. To live a life absent of any ability to manifest an idea into something real would be more like enduring a life.

[@Abiils]

This is exactly my thoughts! There is a very restricted boundaries in things we could do in terms of creativity that prevents us to make a living from it. His final note to put aside the creativity as a side job while getting a proper income is what i'm trying to do currently.

[@shadowbandit3975]

I'm a military officer....Its an honor to serve. But my creative drive is video game design, 3d design, writing, film production. Its feels better knowing I got stable paycheck with a nice roof over my head, but still enough free time to work on my creative avenues. Actually my creative avenues are probably the more stressful parts of my life lol.

[@AveryMilieu]

This is depressing. I can wallow in self doubt without any expert assistance, Thank you.

[@dustincampbell8775]

faks dont kare bout yer theelings

This is tough love. The sooner you realize he is telling the truth, the better life you will get.

[@adamhonestyanddecency5054]

Avery Milieu lmao, yep.

[@jasonkeene9834]

A lot of people find this out the hard way, and it breaks them. They stop trying to realize their dreams. What he's saying is that you need to expect going in that it's going to be extremely difficult. Ground yourself in some other job, something that gives you time for your craft, work at it on your own time, research your options, take your time doing it right. There's a really good lesson here.

[@WesternUranus]

This resonated so much with what I live. I love to make photoshop collages on the side and if I don't do it on a regular basis the inspiration I have lingers in my mind. Then another one comes around and if I have yet to realize the first one the tension increases and so on and so forth... I NEED to do it

[@malcolmnicoll1165]

So true. Every word. Most grateful for this message.

[@RedSpiralHandTV]

Gosh, I'm fortunate to have carved out a career niche where I could feel engaged, challenged and creative...but it was in commercial art and graphics even though I'm a fine artist. But I'd have withered away at some boring job. Now I'm a seasoned marketing pro, internet and graphic designer so it's easy to market my sideline projects... Now if I just had more extra time... Maybe when I'm 70... But yeah, you have to suck it up and make a living. If you are really good and work hard you can find some way to pay the bills doing something way more creative than most...just perhaps not as freely creative as you'd prefer. Got to leave the ego at the door and tell yourself "it's just a job." I'm 59 and was a single parent...been working since the 70s.

[@888dni888]

Great to see success stories in the comments section! I feel like there's not enough folks out there reminding people that it's possible to make something that's good, AND make money. It's just a shame you're so right about having no extra time!

[@gunner678]

RedSpiralHand a really good example and one I can relate to, thanks. Creativity can be incredibly maliable if one is willing to adapt and think outside the box. Sometimes the little victories can nourish the creative soul enough to endure and find a place for ones 'product'...

[@YemYum]

RedSpiralHand isn't your line of work a great gateway to getting a job as a concept artist? I was hoping to get into graphics design in hopes that I can build a resume suited for concept art and get the job I dream of. But i don't know.

[@rob879]

jordan has said something contradictory in a previous lecture. he said that if 2 people spend the same time working on their craft, where person A spends 3 hours a day working on their craft and person B spends 8 hours a day on their craft, after 2 years person B will be so far ahead that person A can never catch up. so if being successful is so unlikely, why would you spend your time working a job, knowing that all your contemporaries that are spending 100% of their time perfecting their craft are pulling so far ahead of you that you cannot catch up? would you not have to MAXIMIZE your chances of success by affording all your resources (time, energy, money, relationships) to whatever it is you're trying to achieve? to think otherwise is foolish. to think that after working a full day, commuting to and from work, cooking dinner, tending to all your responsibilities and most likely being sleep deprived and exhausted that you are going to be industrious enough to spend your spare time working on your craft as opposed to relaxing and trying to catch a breath? sorry, not gonna happen. if you are capable of working and dedicating 3 hours minimum to development of your craft while simultaneously working full-time and maintain that for several years then you have nothing to worry about because in order to do that you would have to belong to a very tiny fraction of people of exceptional discipline and industriousness, and anyone possessing that would eventually be successful no matter what. if you are that industrious and efficient, than you would seriously go places if you spent that time working on yourself than working for another man. think about what a person with that level of conscientiousness would accomplish in 8 hours as opposed to 3. you shouldn't waste time making other people rich, you should double down on yourself in that case. jordan is saying that you can reach the level of skill required to be successful while only dedicating a mere fraction of your time and energy to your craft which is not possible. it's all or nothing. that's why so many actors, writers, and musicians were poor and sleeping in cars/couch surfing. they knew that spending time doing anything other than working towards achieving their goals and perfecting their craft is misguided at best. maybe you can manage working part-time while being hyper-industrious and I'd be inclined to agree but anything beyond that is unreasonable.

[@rinaldo-rex]

That's thoughtful because it's true on so many levels. It's always an ethical dilemma - whether to survive "normally" as just another person working a mundane job, doing things to make one's life livable OR doing something that which I know I am capable of, and which I'll be "satisfied" if succeeded and where I can excel at, and pursuing things that are mentally rewarding my creative inherence. I'm not sure how to find 'that' balance where you survive whilst doing your creative endeavour. Perhaps it's just as bloody difficult as everything with life in finding an equilibrium. It's always easy to live just for the sake of living - caring about nothing at all. Always. And it's always bloody difficult to strive to live to one's capability - difficult but worth it. This is so confusing, yes, but it does make a rough sense when you cumulate so many of JBP's lectures, especially on nihilistic thoughts and existentialism - Either we can live as someone who doesn't matter, or someone who matters to this society. Hmm. Thanks for that thoughtful comment anyway! :)

[@mubumubu5975]

Hi, I might be wrong (somewhere in my comment) in my reply to you but forgive. I haven't seen the video you're referencing but based on your paraphrasing I understood that you mean the more time you put into something, the more successful you'll be at it. While in this video, you'll have a better chance of being successful compared to going for "all or nothing". I'd like to sort of correct your argument. Yes, there was a contradiction, but not in the essence of context. Reading your comment I thought to myself define "successful" (starting from your second paragraph). I haven't seen the other video but there are two different successes I interpreted from reading your comment. There's the success of establishing an original intellectual property to an effective level, where it is highly marketable, achieving success when sold in the business type of format. Which somehow already directly implies the second success, which is the financial success of your creative product in a business market. I apologise quickly again if I have interpreted this wrongly but I would advise you not to confuse the two (if you have). In this case, there is no contradiction. You will achieve success of creating a better, higher quality product if you spend more work on your craft and you will (safely) achieve success if you don't rely on your source of income. One may be dependent on the other but they are in no way congruent (;in a state where a contradiction can occur). And I'd like to give a personal example of this. According to the first few minutes of this video, I am a creative person, consider myself partially as such (I hope to be a scientist) and have officially been so for the past 5 years. I learned how to produce electronic music, got to a level where my attained skill-set allowed me to express my creativity with a consistent workflow. At this stage of "manufacturing" at a rate, it would be of interest to of course, make profits of these products you are able to create, quickly and of consumer quality. That's where success now comes in. If you look at the market of EDM it's filled with unique sounds, particularly noises, sharp, annoying (think dubstep) kinds of sounds being put to creative use. On the other end of the spectrum you have less dirty, more organic, humanlike sounds (what i call formal instruments) which are on the market to suit the consumers need. Be it a party or some chill session, background music for bars, you name it. How do you get your product on the market, and get it successful? The easiest way and most reliable way is to release with a label (they'll take care of promotion, networking, marketing and sales, yay!). Some people I'll recommend this to will know what I'm talking about. However, each label will have a target audience that they want to appeal to so, they search for Quality but also style. Certain appeal to their consumer-base (usually genre based, for convenience). However amongst all other uprising people, people even as young as 12 that have picked up the skills at an earlier age thanks to today's online resources and networks to find and communicate with experts/role models to serve as mentors. Why should they pick you? Why should you be the right one to be in the spotlight? I only speak here for the music business but the answer is, creative quality. Uniqueness. Why here something that sounds like a song from 2 years ago, 2 months, 2 weeks, 2 days? Multiply this across the number of labels that themselves are competing amongst an overlapping consumer base and then take it exponentially with the amount of kids, teenagers and adults, across all genres/ styles/techniques and platforms. You'll find, you really. Really have to be unique, to catch the listeners and labels attention with whatever genius of melody, percussion, rhythm, foley or vocals you have. Look at the stars and identify what you think makes them catchy, compare their old songs to new ones, how did they evolve across the years. Do this for several of them. You notice adaptation, you notice the polish. This is what 8 hours of work everyday compared to a 3 hour hobby gives you. Now I, sure, I've managed to change techniques, try out styles from other genres and tackle them, blend and mix to perform my own chance at unique but to a certain level of success. Not consumer market sales success or originality/uniqueness success. My peers whom I have now been connected to in the community admit I've grown, admit my works are enjoyable, but always end up saying it's too simple. I don't know how to make dubstep, design my own original sounds. But I can capture melody, groove, rhythm and perform around that. I attained personal success. I'm contempt with myself but not for you and them. During my acquiring of my skillset, I was transitioning into high school. Started with lots of time, lots of experimenting, lost that time and became structured. Set up arrangements and developed habits, and patterns to my creative process. If i have a spontaneous melody, record it with my phone no matter where I am. Come home listen to it, and spend 3 hours laying down a skeleton, laying essential elements. And spending weeks just fine-tuning it into something decent, which over time became "good". But notice I said experimenting. That time for me was lost. It was there but I was a school student. What seemed more attractive? Creating manifests of your creative outbursts which you can distribute to others or experimenting with how far your creativity can take you, with the long term goal in mind. Either of them will give you your practice but if you can do both, you'll got that much farther. I'm now in University and I see no potential of me improving my craft creatively (amongst other creative projects I want to undertake). I decided to quit and may return after what Mr. Peterson said in this. Find a source of income and do the creative stuff on the side. Going for all or nothing for a person pursuing an Astrophysics PhD but studying Engineering while thinking of working as a Software Engineer (hopefully in the field of VR) seems pointless. It was one of my childhood dreams but I'm slowly waking up. But I'll continue dreaming, after a hard day at work! (Sorry to impose all this text on any potential readers. There is no TL;DR for this as 80% gets personal. If within the first 5 paragraphs, I'm being redundant then you can stop before reading my example. If you read it all, thank you! It took me almost 30 minutes to write...as you can see... :P )

[@Argail8137]

I don't know you guys but I hope all the discussions on internet were like this...

[@farhanggorgin7715]

I think you are missing the point of this lecture , he is saying it is a bad strategy IF you don't have a way of generating wealth to take care of yourself while working on your creative project , which is 100% true , here is an example from my personal life , i have a trust fund and i am an artist and a painter so i get to spend that money on life necessities and whatever i need to buy if i want to put on a gallery show. Now if haven't had that financial backing , i almost assuredly had to do odd jobs on the side or use my degree in English literature to teach or work as a freelance translator to generate the money i need to live and to buy the tools with which enables me to pursue my artistic goals. So yes less time spending on my painting while working to get the money i need to pursue whatever it is i'm into would be the conservative course of action and a right one too if i want to have my cake and eat it too, albeit the baking part of the the cake metaphor is gonna take a hell of a lot longer this way.

He is correct.I used all of my money and time in my first Startup and of course it failed and recovery was hard. Now I now I have to develop a financial base to my projects, because to maximize probability you must iterate and you can't burn yourself in every iteration. I have 2 degrees and a 2 Masters in physics and engineering. My friends make really good money and I'm tutoring kids from high school and college, but I know is the only way I can have time. So, there is an area in between what you interpreted, which is a sustainable survival income. But you need a stoic perspective, otherwise you are fucked.

[@broncos915]

Love this man

[@pkingo1]

Can relate, lol :). Don't bother rationally finding a way forward as a creative, the process is just magic :), let go, trust yourself, love yourself and ways open up

[@Arttruthseeker]

Yet imagination and innovation along with creativity are what offer joy in movement in life!!!

[@crowkangi]

part of what makes a quality artist is to know struggle and adversity. this is some of the sacrifice made to the altar of art.

[@emmetlarrissy8228]

Crow Kangi yes.

[@dr.zoidberg8666]

Being creative in and of itself entails suffering -- society doesn't need to pile on extra suffering to ensure that art is good. In my experience, creatives very often get treated like shit by non-creatives, particularly if they're not ultra successful.

[@jessicataylor7174]

That's the lie creatives are repeatedly told so they don't stand together and DEMAND what they are worth and better conditions. If you believe it to be part of the life you chose, you embrace it without question and when it feels too much you blame yourself instead of a system and mentality that wrongly allows for the genius behind something to be paid less than those who promote it.

[@void6714]

Spoken like a true artist, thank you

[@ThisIsMattsLife]

Meh, the song and dance of the starving struggling artist is over played.

[@Mobuku]

I think with songs, especially making your own music, is that it requires a team most of the time. Unless you're a one-man band, I guess matching schedules with willing friends, a band, is a tad difficult to start with, compared to visual arts where you can just work solo. That's why it's difficult to monetize it. Visual Arts on the other hand, especially digital art, it takes at least 2-3 years to build a decent network online. My advice for that is find a popular show, video game, anime, etc. that you really love and draw fanarts of semi-niche characters from it. Post the fanarts to every social media you can get your hands on, make sure to tag them properly. Eventually, you'll get a following within 2-3 years, and you'll get art commissions here and there. However, you really have to understand basic composition and color harmony for people to look at your works. Peterson is right though to do it on the side until you make it big, if it happens.

[@skidwilldanceforyou]

I’m what would be called a creative person. But I have a career in healthcare and music/writing/philosophy/ideas all that stuff is just what I do. No money in it. BUT in my career creativity gives me a major advantage at work in problem solving, ways to communicate, emails, it’s endless how useful it is. I imagine most careers this would also apply.

[@glennloughran1856]

I'm cursed with a creative brain. All my life I couldn't keep up with practical jobs. Turns out I have severe dyspraxia. But I can write music and conjure up ideas out of tin air. Unfortunately there's a lot more work for practically skilled people than a frustrated artist. Peterstone is absolutely right here.

[@Void_from_Abyss]

Same

[@jezzbass1826]

Thank you !!!

[@a-dutch-z7351]

You also have to time it well.

[@emre28oz79]

Creative people are creative because that's their job in our civilization in our existence as humans. A villager lady ads a new ingredient to her stew is as equally creative as the Picasso or some one who invents a new computer. Making money or getting the recognition from public with what you created is in the activity of managing and it has nothing to do with being creative.

[@ibkristykat]

I'm creative in multiple ways (thinking outside the box to fix problems at the time whether physical in nature or a way to help a person feel comfortable). But also art wise - photography, mixed media/crafting, video/movies, acting and writing. But my life's work is in my real career - Hospice. I'm a nurse aide, and now that I'm out of nursing homes and in hospice care (since 2012) I have found my calling & my place in life. I keep ART as my hobby, which is a passion that helps balance me but i don't want to follow that as a JOB or career. I would burn out and lose my passion for it. But it's not my job in civilization to be artsy in any way. I'm a caregiver. :)

[@JackstandJohnny]

Yep, He is absolutely right.

[@hi_im_ana]

great speech, im a creative person since i was kid, i write sci fictional/adventure histories, and i also create, design and draw my own characters for these histories, i even compose and play some music sheets for piano related to my other creations, and honestly for me to create all of that stuff isn't even difficult but finding a way to actually succed at my projects, this is actually hard.

[@marcaa7786]

Being negative and demotivating people gets you nowhere for sure...Creativity is a gift and can only be put down by people who are not it seems...

[@scoobtoober2975]

@4:35 that is exactly me, i went into boring engineering to pay the bills. i try to find creative things to do at work for sure. But side hobbies consume me or projects on the house consume me. To be creative and over the top crafty takes brain power that i need to burn off. wim hoff saved my mental anxiety for sure, so much more calm

[@redrum22]

This guy is just so good

[@threat645]

He’s so spot on. I have so many fantasy stories in my mind i feel like i’ll go insane if i dont get them out as a game or CGI show.

[@lawrencedm3399]

This is great!!! My competition is *SCREWED*!!! :-D

[@rogerevans9666]

Based on the sheer number of pages of sheet music, Franz Schubert was a opera composer, but not one of his operas became a hit. They were all flops. He is mainly known for his songs, sonatas, chamber music, and his symphonies.

[@benjaminbecker8508]

Absolutely!

[@DragonballZ-ei7zx]

This is why I'm glad I've started my music production and everything else at a young age. Quit school. Nothing bad happened. Learnt everything. Now I'm good at it. And I'm going to succeed. Because I fully believed and still do. Fear is what stops people.

[@odonodave]

this is so true.

[@Fisk4life]

Hits the nail on the head.

[@jeffs7267]

This man should be required listening for all school age people

[@Rocklicks72]

I wished someone had given me this advice when I was young 😀

[@matthewmillette9898]

Truth. If you're a visual artist be a graphic designer to make a living. Do your fine art on the side. Use your gifts commercially to survive, hopefully you'll enjoy it as well. Do your passion on the side until it takes off. Or even if it doesn't. Just keep it enjoyable.

[@personface5457]

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[@outpsycho5807]

this is so true...

[@lazarusblackwell6988]

Its true. Im miserable when i cant be creative. Also i know that getting the money to sell your ideas is very hard but i give people some of my ideas for free anyway. I mean there is the thing and high satisfaction from seeing your idea being used by people of authority like the corporations. You see your idea change the world and improve lives and i think that could be enough even if you dont get any money for it.

[@politic17]

But creativity is a broad concept of essentially the human mind's way of expressing its core and evolution for the very nature of the human lives. Furthermore, creativity can be the very thing that could make a human being work and earn money, so if someone is very creative and smart contractor of any kind of work, this means that his creativity is what has made people want him to do things for them, and so on. - So, creativity doesn't have to equal to invention, writing songs or books, or having an idea for something. It is a very large spectrum of an unlimited ideas and ways to express them. Also, if a person is creative, they'd collect money to establish a foundation in which they can produce more creativity with the money they've previously earned, despite the fact that they didn't have the amount of money they should have had, ( it is a sacrifice that they should have already agreed on for the future). - Without creativity, the world would repeat itself, and nothing will ever happen. It is because of those who were willing to do whatever it takes for the evolution of their time's standards, that we're moving forward and freshly evolving the way that the people are thinking, and saying, for example, " Hey!, stop pressing buttons on your phone!!, we have a touch screen that you can freely operate ", that wasn't made possible by the people who weren't willing to give their passion and desire for something to break the world and move the planet to a newer portrait that the people are amazed at. - I believe that creative people are the most precious living organisms on planet earth, because they're the ones who are actually moving the wheels of time periods. And don't worry, they're never gonna vanish, because they're essential for mankind to survive and evolve. Please, for anyone who disagrees, I'd love to read your argument.

[@fffly11]

Very powerful. Well put

[@diegoambrosio]

Dr. Peterson excels in a profession of science not as an entrepreneur, let alone artist. If successful artists followed this video, would they be successful nevertheless or would they have given up on their craft in favor of a tech/sciences/sales profession? To try to excel in two professions at the same time... Chances are to be standard at both.

[@RoarTheRapper]

That's why I'm glad that there's certain avenues by which creativity CAN be monetizable and worthwhile to invest in, IF you stick with it! Take YT for example; you can still be original on this platform and if you put the time into it, reach out to similar people through social media, maybe pay for a few ads here and there, most people say it takes about a decade or maybe a little less to really put down some solid roots. But a lot of people also put all their eggs into their creative basket, which for me and I think a lot of people doesn't really work. It might seem interesting to "go for broke" but you might end up there a lot sooner than you think.

[@blahdeblah1975]

Successful creativity is not necessarily financially rewarding. It's a calling.

[@Lostpanda123]

4:27 BINGO!!!! This is so true!! I realised this in a painful way.

[@Void_from_Abyss]

Yeah

[@Desperado070]

so true

[@Limsdorf]

Trying to monetize creativity isn't a creative strategy in the first place, unless one's creative power lies just in the economic field.

[@Baconbits16]

He's right. Being creative is like a form of madness. Difficult finding a path, often misunderstood, ideas mostly unheard; but have to find that route to passion or won't feel alive. The soul-crushing defeats to achieve progress on long-term goals will drive us nuts, split our life, and drive us to economic ruin; unless you have amazing discipline & a good network. But you can still end up like Kurt Kobain, Rob Williams, Mac Miller, etc.

[@barbarastrayhorn4667]

Being creative helps make this weird world bearable.

[@Hoserfishing]

Is a Creative person also Innovative with a strong work ethic? Because honestly if you approach a business idea the way Jordan Peterson is doing you will fail spectacularly. He is displaying the mainstream mentality...truly creative people can succeed because they see opportunities and understand when the win/lose ratio is heavily tilted in their favor... where others see only pitfalls. If you have a focus on failure you will fail. If you focus on success and can produce a better mousetrap in today's World you can get that message out like never before. A high priority is seeking out an experienced mentor that can help you avoid pitfalls and fast track the road to success. There are many successful business owners who simply noticed a big void in the marketplace. Others saw the same void but were paralysed due to fear...the Innovative/Creative person jumped on the moment with a plan because they have a different perspective than the crowd and are not fear focused but seize on opportunities. I have seen a Creative person do more in 3 days a week than a regular Joe can achieve in 5 due to positive mindset and a different perspective.

[@vanstry]

This is very true. I worked for years at a career that I was good at, and that I enjoyed (mostly) but it wasn't what I wanted to do. But it allowed me to pursue my creative avenues and not only improve them, but learn how to make money from them. Then once I was able to make money from my creative efforts I quite my job. True, that job paid more (after years of experience) than being creative. But now I get to pursue my creativity full time, and get paid for it.

[@trynachill]

what exactly do you do?

[@vanstry]

I'm an author, a best selling author. I write SF&F, though mostly focused on urban fantasy these days.

[@trynachill]

vanstry that's really cool, how long did it take to turn your writing hobby into your job?

[@vanstry]

Years actually. Once I got to the point of being able to publish and have actual sales, it took me about three years to get to the point where I could start thinking about doing it full-time. Another year or two before I could really consider myself successful at it and not be afraid of quitting my job and doing nothing but writing. I'd say from the time I wrote my first novel, until the time I published my first novel, about fifteen years went by. During which time I did a lot of other writing, and some fanzine and online free stories as I learned more and got better at it. The big problem was always getting published. Tradpub is very hard to break into nowadays, because it's more about your personal politics than about how well you write. No one in the trads would publish me. But when Amazon started to make it free and easy to self publish, I did it, and was shocked to find that there were a lot of people who wanted to read what I write. These days I outsell most traditionally published authors. But it took a lot of work to get here, and a lot of work to stay here. But I'm fine with that.

[@andrewillomitzer3711]

I feel like there are ways to be creative in the workforce thanks to technology. Such as in Web Development, or UI/UX design. Sure it may not be the creativity you are really interested in, but it would aide you in not being miserable at work, and they pay a great salary.

[@jonahholdsworth5079]

I don't understand why people don't like jordan peterson. He is so wise and experienced in all facets of life

[@landomt8138]

Imagine coming in late to a Jordan Peterson lecture that's being filmed with a camera following him around and he's wearing 2 microphones. That poor girl looks really distressed lol

[@WesternUranus]

Thought about it too lmao Although you could argue that he's not going to allocate any time to her since he is being filmed so that kinda goes both ways

[@glebboyarchuk2796]

Thanks for notice about strave, rly. That a thing what im lose to think about it. No jokes)Sry for bad eng, and hello from Russia!

[@vivianphillips768]

SO many creatives in this comment section arguing him. No - Dr. Peterson is right on the money here. I’m a successful creative, and it was the hardest and most challenging thing I’ve ever done. You have to be incredibly in love with your work and incredibly strategic at the same time. It has to be the most important thing in your life, until you get the job you want monetizing it. Not only does it have to be important, but you have to be SMART about how you do it. And if you land a creative career, then there’s upkeep, since creatives jump from job to job. You have to be cutting edge the whole time. You have to be following (actually, spearheading) new trends in your industry. If you don’t, the first gig could be the last. That’s the reality. Couple all of that with the mere fact that you need relationships with friends and family to fulfill your life (anyone who says otherwise is wrong and will eventually see it in a hard way). But - here’s the GOOD truth. I have NEVER seen someone who stayed the course and did the work NOT be successful in the end. If they kept trying, kept pushing, kept looking, kept doing, they succeeded. It’s just hard as all hell, and most people give up. I don’t fault them for it at all. In many cases, the sacrifice truly isn’t worth it.

[@TribalGlobe]

Sometimes you put things in terms that seem to suggest that one's economic role is the purpose and aim in life. Also might I point out that there are plenty of creative people who are neither starving nor doing extravagantly well. There are plenty of us who are supporting our selves and our art, and are not that interested in glorious fame. Another consideration; the arts and cultural sector in British Columbia makes more than the fishing and lumber industries combined.

[@FlatStella1]

so tru!!

[@HongFeiBai]

Being a creative self-published author is fun. Marketing is pretty fun too.

[@m.g.i2480]

So true....

[@funanimalsounds]

This is true.

[@KTChamberlain]

My TV/Film Acting instructor once told my class: "If you can't negotiate, you have no power." He never said anything about creativity in acting or in actors because it was irrelevant. Charlie Chaplin was very creative, yes, but he had to know how to negotiate as an actor in order to be able to direct the films he starred in, earn the highest wages in Hollywood at that time, and eventually gain full creative control over his films and that was no small accomplishment, given how actors were treated prior to 1914 when showbusiness was still a fairly new industry. In short, you need more than just creativity to succeed. This is partly why the Romans coined the saying, "Fortune favors the bold" not "Fortune favors the creative."

[@reckonso]

Character is destiny. 18 hour work days, designing your own web page, numerous social media outlets, set the standards and rules. Know your limitations.

[@tearstoneactual9773]

As a writer for over two decades, can confirm.

[@michelevitarelli]

4:37 the creative person casually enters in late...

[@franklulatowskijr.6974]

I’m a musician that wanted to do it for a living when I was a kid. I got a job working at a water utility to pay the bills, and it turned out that it was something that I was also very good at. So I played gigs on the weekend for extra cash for years and watched as all of my friends that did music exclusively (with two exception) went on to ending marriages, alcoholism and financial ruin. Now almost twenty years in to my career in water, I still play music but only on the side. It’s really the only way to do it.

[@mxplk]

4:35 Student walks in late, and misses his advice about doing the creative work "on the side." No loss, she doesn't appear to be the creative type anyway.

[@jamesford2942]

So, the professor looked at my life and described it. I am highly creative and because hard to live with when I can't be. I have my own business selling the products that I created. I suck at everything to do with it. My one saving grace is that I work in the hot rod industry and get to be creative at work. The money I make at work funds my creative products and business. Highway 101 Rod and Custom (highway101ind.com) can build anything but a profit. I love and hate my creativity and procrastination. Jim Ford

[@TheThompson425]

I am a creative guy that works a day job at a warehouse. I call my creative side my half life. When I meet people that want to go all in on creativity I tell them to start it as a half life until it is profitable to become your full life. Surprisingly even though it is the half life because they love what they are doing they end up being more productive in that life than at work.

[@Arttruthseeker]

Brutal.

[@danajones6699]

lol i just wanna make art But it is always good to have a source of income next to that hobby. I know what he is talking about. Always have a plan B but don't give up one whatever vision or dream you have that makes you happy. Just work on it little by little. If your dream doesn't work out than you still have plan B ^^

[@Void_from_Abyss]

Agreed

[@zinkazoy]

A wise musician/contractor/friend of mine once said, “playing is the easy part and only 5% of the battle”.