A new kind of artist is on The School of Greatness today, and I'm so excited to introduce you to him.
I’m guessing you’ve never heard of him — even though he’s done 100 speaking gigs a year for the last 12 years for some of the biggest companies in the country, is a bestselling author, and has created an amazing living from making art he loves.
Erik Wahl calls himself a performance artist, and once you see him on stage doing his thing, you realize why.
But he wasn’t always a successful, booked artist traveling the country and inspiring thousands with his work.
He used to be a corporate suit kind of guy, chasing money and working long hours at the office.
Until it all fell apart with the economy.
Through the humbling process of losing his money, career identity, and opportunities, Erik went back to the thing he had loved as a kid – making art.
But this time he had a decade of business experience to turn his creative passion into a full-time living.
What he has created as a result is amazing.
I loved getting into the psychology of a successful artist, businessman, and creative. Erik shared some awesome advice for any aspiring artist in today’s world. And he drew an incredible portrait of me!
If you or someone you know is looking to create a full-time living around your art, take notes from Erik Wahl in Episode 460.
Some Questions I Ask:
- Did you go to school for art or did you teach yourself? (4:06)
- How does an artist build a successful business around their art? (12:34)
- What do you think about before you go on stage? (27:10)
- How do you continue to innovate after doing your thing so many times? (43:50)
- What is your advice for unlocking your creativity? (50:35)
In this episode, you will learn:
- How to get through a major career loss and transition (8:30)
- Why street artists are so fascinating compared to other fine artists (9:26)
- Why starving artists are a self-fulfilling prophecy (10:47)
- The reason artists need to understand people to be successful (13:54)
- When darkness can be good for the soul (22:16)
- What it takes to make it as an artist (24:01)
- How structure creates freedom (28:32)
- The power of re-defining success (36:30)
- Erik’s advice to aspiring artists who are trying to make a full-time income from their art (46:36)
- Plus much more…
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