We love rebels and people who challenge the status quo, conventional wisdom and mainstream narratives and so we asked some really bright folks to tell us about one piece of conventional advice they disagree with.

Ben Axelrad

“You have to spend money to make money.” Work with what you’ve got, that’s what I believe. If you have a lawnmower, you can have a lawn-mowing business. Even if you don’t, your willingness to work hard and provide a service is a sellable entity. When I started my business, I needed a space I could rent for four hours on a Saturday to teach one TV writing class. I found the cheapest one available–$15/hr for a dingy black box theater with a folding table–and got started. It was an 8-week class, so in total it cost me $480. Read More>>

Scott Simons

I think a lot of people get into the arts thinking there is some sort of defined path. Like, people want to know what the purpose behind every action or decision you make is or engage in “If I do A-B-C then X-Y-Z will happen” type thinking. In my experience, not just in my own career but among friends, everyone’s story and path is different and often times saying yes to a gig, collaborating with someone or making a piece of content just for the joy of doing it rather than thinking of the endgoal usually leads to the most fruitful and rewarding results. Read More>> 

Jasmyn Carter

“No days off.” I understand what the intent was, but I think it’s some of the worst advice ever. It promotes ignoring self, rest, and just life. Although working on your career every day can provide benefits, it could also cause some problems. We need rest. We need to recharge. Even celebrities go on vacations. If you’re in an art field, how do you expect to continue to create when you don’t live? You can’t pour for an empty cup. Rest is just as important as being relentless. Read More>>

Angie Menze

One piece of conventional advice I disagree with is the idea that “you have to wait for inspiration to create good work.”

Many people think creativity only strikes when you’re feeling inspired, but I’ve learned that showing up and doing the work consistently—even when you don’t feel 100% inspired—often leads to the best results. Creativity is more about discipline and persistence than waiting for the perfect mood. In fact, pushing through the “off” days can unlock new ideas and growth. Read More>>

Melonie Latham

“Just find what sells—and do more of that.”

I mean, it sounds smart, and I get it. And it’s tempting too. When a new product takes
off, the obvious thing would be to ride that wave. Scale it, milk it, repackage it even and
push it hard. But here’s my truth: I’ve been down the road of chasing what’s popular,
and it left me exhausted and uninspired. Honestly it left me disconnected from why I Read More>>

CHASE

I’ve heard people say, “If you choose to do what you love, you won’t work a day in your life.” I get the sentiment, but I think it’s more accurate to say: if you do what you love, you’ll be working every damn day of your life – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing, lol. Read More>>