If you follow me on Instagram (and if you don’t you should) you can see I live a very, what some say, BUSY life. Full of dance gigs, travel, teaching, choreography…time off is sprinkled in rarely.
I recently just took the longest vacation of my adult life (8 days to be exact). In those 8 days of the most amazing and fun trip I had 3 sleepless nights of anxiety and worry about what upcoming work I need to book, projects I need to focus on, and choreography that needs attention. *sigh
Being a creative artist means that you have to be willing to put in the hard work to get to where you want to be. It is an inconsistent, competitive, and demanding lifestyle. I have been doing this Hustle for over 20 years and it is every bit worth it. If you are also out there hustling then high five to you. It is not easy. I have learned a few truths along the way and just wanted to share a few of them.
No paid vacation. Yep, when you have been out there hustling you learn to live a life where you understand that when you are not working you are not making money. Other’s working their very consistent salaried jobs look forward to their paid vacays, not us. When we aren’t working we aren’t making money, we are missing gigs and opportunities to work jobs that may be our big break. If you want to do the Hustle, you have to find ways to balance work and life but still stay in the game. This took me forever to learn and understand and I still struggle when I get a few days off just appreciating the time to myself without thinking about the jobs and work I could be doing (clearly see above). Sorry to all the “self care/me time fanatics”, the Hustle does not stop, get yourself out there. I am not saying you can’t take a break ever, I am just saying that if you want to be in the Hustle you have to figure out how to find that balance of staying relevant and giving your body what it needs. (more on this in future blogs :)).
There are a lot of people who want what you want. You can’t settle. Those who work the hardest will stay in it the longest. Self improvement does not have a stopping point. If there is a dance class accessible to you, take it. If there is a class or seminar relevant to something you want, do it. The ones out there hustling for the work and getting the jobs are also already working on the next goal.
Every opportunity is an OPPORTUNITY. Read that again. And again. There is no gig you are “too good for”. If this Hustle life is for you, you take the jobs and give them 100% no matter how big or small. Guys, this world is so small. Every opportunity is a step in the stairs that are leading you where you want to be. When you are hustling, DO NOT SKIP A STEP. You don’t know where it will take you. I have worked jobs for a third of what I should be making because I knew that it would lead to something great. If you want to Hustle, EVERY job gets 110%.
Living your ultimate dream life often means putting in the hustle, doing the work, wishing you had a day off then remembering the “WHY”. And, just trust me, It’s so worth it.
Everyday I’m Hustling.
Liz