Passion

Most people don't spend their careers doing what they are passionate about, at least in the United States they don't. Are you spending any time exercising your passions?

I don't believe in the sanctity of the starving artist. So I spend a great deal of time marketing. I'm not as passionate about marketing as I am about writing, but the better I get at it the more I enjoy it. Since I am passionate about writing, I write to market—blogs, articles and emails.

The point I'm making is: If you are passionate about what you do, you must also be passionate about getting it in front of the public. If you're a painter or photographer, that means exhibiting and selling your work.

We do not live in a free-exchange society. An hour of my time is as valuable as an hour of yours, but that isn't the exchange system of our culture. We live in a cash and credit society. We pay for stuff; therefore, others should pay us for our stuff. "The laborer is worthy of his [or her] hire."

If you don't charge what your passion is worth, you're reducing your ability to engage in your passion more often. You rob the world of your gifts.

Draw people to you, then charge them when they show up.