The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Self-doubt can be an ally.  This is because it serves as an indicator of aspiration. It reflects love, love of something we dream of doing, and desire, and desire to do it.  If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), “Am I really a writer?  Am I really an artist?” chances are you are. 

The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident.  The real one is scared to death.

Steven Pressfield from  The War of Art

Performance art is no mystery to you, and a good show may lead to the tossing of coinage.  So don’t hold back.  You’ve done some pretty crazy things on stage or in the subway before.  Remember that time you skipped naked through the airport terminal yelling, “I feel like a pickle!” as an artistic statement against bureaucratic existential hedonism?  What?  Surely I’m not the only one to have run through an airport naked…  All right, I probably am.  But I did get a few free meals out of it, and some fabulous new head shots: one from the side and one from the front.

This is an excerpt from the book The Starving Artist’s Diet.  To get your very own copy of The Starving Artist’s Diet visit www.starvingartistdiet.com.  It’s just that simple.

My four year-old son is a big The Incredibles fan.  He dressed as Dash for Halloween and has worn the costume to my other son’s Christmas program and then shopping the other day.  And in the last two days, he’s racked up two more viewings of the movie.

So file this one under the “Like Father, Like Son” category because as I listened to the movie play from my office, I thought about how much I liked the movie too.  In fact, I think it’s probably my favorite Pixar film.  Of course most of their work is top notch, but today this one really resonated with me.  Especially Mr. Incredible’s character (not because I think I’m incredible or can leap tall buildings in a single bound). What I relate to is his plight.  He was created to be incredible, a super hero, but one day he was relegated to a desk job handling insurance claims.

Just like any career, taking care of insurance claims is important work, but I think we’d all agree that it was not the work Mr. Incredible was created to do.  As I have thought about this more and more, I believe that many of us are lured into that “desk job” because of social pressures, a desire for money, or merely a desperate need for money.  Instead, we should be looking at our futures with both head and heart.  We should look for a way to combine our calling (a heart issue) with a way to make a reasonable living (a head issue).

I believe there is a divine relationship between who we are and what we do or should do.  Sounds pretty logical, but is there that connection in your work life?  What if it were as simple as going back to when we were between the ages of five and ten and looking at our response to the question of what we wanted to be when we grew up?  Of course, we’d have to create a filter for the typical fireman, baseball player, ballerina response and take into consideration that there are a lot of jobs kids don’t know about.  But how did you answer that question back then?  It was probably a decision made solely based on dreams, passion, and love instead of one based on outside pressures, skewed perceptions, and obligation.

Maybe we could actually get a better read on career selections by looking at the five year old’s answer instead of personality and IQ testing.

If Mr. Incredible had existed when I was five years old, I’m pretty sure I would have put that career on my “when I grow up” list.  Now at 42, I’m daily pursuing the goal of being “Mr. Incredible.”  Yes, I want to be a super hero (when I grow up).  Actually, what I want is to pursue being incredible, and the only way to really do that is to do what I was created to do.

I want this for my kids too.  So next year, when my four year-old turns five, I’ll have to schedule an appointment to help him with his career planning.

Photo by Melodi T

One thing?  If I could choose one thing?  I’ve never been accused of being a person who could choose just one thing.  And that’s most likely my problem.  I’m the Jack of all trades… I’m mean a Renaissance Man.

I have always had a list of things that I’ve wanted to accomplish.  Often times the length of that list has prevented me from accomplishing anything.  Focusing on one goal at a time is the ultimate challenge for me.  Instead, I can have five projects going and never finish any of them.  A common trait of the right-brained.

One of the goals that I’d always had was to write a book, which I accomplished at the end of 2010.  Prior to this, I had written professionally for several years and completed a multitude of sitcom scripts.  However, what I found in writing all those scripts was that they had very little value unless they were produced.  By writing my book, I was dependent on no one but myself.  Also, I had something I could easily share with others.

At one point in writing my book, I knew that if I were to finish it, it would only happen if I dropped all my other projects.  I couldn’t take the time for the three or four other projects.  I had to put my energy into the book 100%.  It had to be the “one thing.”

So what is my one thing now?  I don’t feel at liberty to write it here.  Not yet.  But I am setting out a plan and preparing myself to focus.  I’m putting everything else on hold.  (Although I did receive a tweet from Casper Van Dien today, so I may have to dust off one of my scripts and send it his way… I hope he’ll consider something that doesn’t feature giant alien bugs.)

I’m figuring that the loneliest number, that “one thing,” will lead to a multitude of opportunity.

Photograph Courtesy of Stephen Davies

I joined a 30 day writing initiative yesterday which is part of The Domino Project.  While The Domino Project is something I don’t quite understand, I thought it would be good to explore.  I felt that way about Facebook and Twitter when I joined and over time began to understand their purpose.  Maybe The Domino Project will be the same way.  (Evernote is my next online mystery to conquer.)

So for 30 days I’m going to try and write about the topics the creators are sending me (I’m starting a little late, so it’s more like 21 days).  The topics are being created through Ralph Waldo Emerson’s book, Self-Reliance.  Having never read the book, I’m interested to see what I learn.  Today, the prompt is to express what is burning in me.

I wrote a book titled, The Starving Artist’s Diet, which I published last year.  When I started the book it was really just a joke.  Everyday a new diet book/cookbook comes on the market and in my opinion was ripe for being parodied.  The Starving Artist’s Diet was going to be just that.  A good laugh at all the diet books.  Instead, over the time from when I started and finished I learned a lot.  Not so much about food and dieting, but about artists and art.

I started with a joke and ended up with a humor book that incorporated artists and a celebration of art.  For me that has lead to a greater appreciation of my own artistic ability and a broader understanding of what a true artist is.  Modern culture has really narrowed the definition of what art is and who creates it, but what I have found is that everyone of us is an artist or at least was created to be an artist.

I believe that in the beginning humankind was created in the image of God, who was and is and is to come the ultimate artist.  And being created in His image, we were all created to be creators.  We were all created to be artists.  Yet, the art that we were designed to create isn’t limited to just paintings, sculptures, music, or books.  The art we were meant to create lies in where our skills and passions are.

When we approach whatever our work is with the passion we associate with the right-brained artist who works with paint, clay, notes or words, we will be the artist we were designed to be.  Imagine the painter who didn’t immerse himself with great passion into his work.  Would you buy his painting?  The same should be the case for the person who cleans houses, works on cars, or sells shoes.

We need to find our passion and combine it with our skills.  Then we will all be the artists we were created to be.

That’s what’s burning.

The Food Guide Pyramid is out.  After spending two million dollars in tax payer money, the government (The USDA specifically) has gotten rid of the pyramid and created a pie chart (actually a dinner plate of some sort).  Irony aside about the new symbol being a “pie” chart, is the whole “instructions on eating” really needed by the government?  If ever there were something that could be handled by the private sector, it’s how to eat healthy.  Face it, everybody has written a book on how and what to eat.  Even I’ve done it.

SHAMELESS PLUG: The Starving Artist’s Diet by Jack Lugar

When I was in elementary school, I was taught about the four food groups.  It was simply meats, grains, fruits & vegetables, and dairy.  It was pretty straight forward, and from what I know, it never killed anyone… At least not directly (excluding allergies) and not without many years of over indulgence.

But apparently somewhere around 1992, someone in the USDA was bored or needed to spend budgeted  money and decided to create a pyramid.  Heck, it worked for the Egyptians.  So, the simple food chart was modified.  I was out of school when they did this, so I didn’t even know anything about the pyramid until I wrote my book.

SHAMELESS PLUG: The Starving Artist’s Diet by Jack Lugar

In the pyramid, the grains created the base and encouraged everyone to carb load.  The next part of the pyramid consisted of the fruits & vegetables, but for some reason they had to be separated.  I’m guessing some people (kids especially) were only focusing on the fruit and not the veggies, so the FDA wanted to make it clear that we needed some of each.

On top of the pyramid were three sections: one for dairy, one for meat (or protein type foods), and one for all the fats, oils, and sweets.  Apparently the pyramid was a bit counter intuitive because the things you needed least were at the top and the things you needed more of were at the bottom.  Pyramids are so confusing… Right, Mr. Madoff?

So, as of June 2, 2011, the Food Guide Pyramid is no more.  Now the USDA will give us guidance with a Dinner Plate.  I’m sure this will change everything (sarcasm).

Let’s face it, Americans know what to eat.  We know what is good for us and bad for us.  We know that sugary sodas are bad and water is good.  We know that chicken or fish is better than a fatty slab of beef.  We know that broccoli is better for us than potato chips.  But, guess what?  We don’t care.  It’s as simple as that.  If Americans wanted to eat healthier and stay fit, they would.  In fact there are millions out there doing it.

If the government really wanted help the American people, the USDA would have invested those millions in buying copies of my book to share with the world.

SHAMELESS PLUG: The Starving Artist’s Diet by Jack Lugar

Specially formulated for the Starving Artist in you!

I really could have used an Easy Button.

Somewhere in the process of writing The Starving Artist’s Diet I decided that I should make a collector’s cereal box as a gift and marketing tool for the book.  After listening to a speech by Seth Godin, I was motivated to create the cereal box as an added incentive.  Godin talks about how books today are more of a collectors item than something to read because now there are so many forms of media available to the reader.  Anymore, voracious readers are buying books for their e-readers.  If they buy a bound copy, it’s more likely there for display.  What Hugh MacLeod calls a social object.

That was my desire.  Create a cereal box for the book (appropriate because the book spoofs diet books and as with so many of the diet books on the shelf there is actually a corresponding line of food products) in which the book would be delivered.  Ideally, someone would get the box and display it on their desk or bookshelf.  Then when someone would stop by, they may ask about the book.  The result is a conversation (although brief) about the box and book.

What I found in my pursuit to make my cereal box was that it is nearly impossible to create a limited number of cereal boxes for a reasonable price.  I called the big guys who make boxes for Kellogs, Kashi, General Mills, etc. and they told their minimum run was 10,000 boxes.  I didn’t even make that many books.

I forged ahead by contacting local printers.  After consulting a friend, I concluded that all I really needed was a color print on a 21×13 posterboard.  Apparently printers don’t like to print on poster board.  Some were willing to do 11×17 card stock, but that was too small.  I went to places like Stapes, and FedEx and was quoted around $15 to print on the larger format but not posterboard.  And then I’d still have to use spray adhesive to attach the print to a posterboard.  That wasn’t easy!

I also called mid-size printing companies and was quoted $14 per box.  I was getting closer, but at that cost, I was not going to be making many boxes.

So finally I went to Costco.  I’m pretty sure I was there for the selection of free samples passed out by the blue hairs, but what I found was that Costco could make a 16×20 poster for $5.99.  Amazing.  The only problem was that I still need to attach the print to a posterboard, cut it out, score the folds, fold it, and glue it all together.  Trust me, that’s a lot of work.

Are you thinking of making a cereal box?  Okay, probably not, but if you are, weigh your costs before making promises.  When I promised cereal boxes to people, I had no idea I could be forking out close to $20 per box, and I didn’t even think about shipping.  I often have plans that far outweigh my budget.  This was a case in point.

In the end, the box has turned out nicely.  If you think you might want a book in a Starving Artist’s Diet cereal box, you can order one for $55 which includes standard media mail shipping.  Considering the time and effort that goes into making this creation, The Starving Artist’s Diet cereal box and book will be highly collectible because there will certainly be a limited number made.

One of the hardest things to admit to myself over the years has been the fact that I am an artist.  Why?  Fear of rejection?  Fear of other “artists” not agreeing with me?  A perception that I needed to be corporate?  Thinking that my art wasn’t real art?  You know… Writing isn’t art.  Singing isn’t art.  Acting isn’t art.  Comedy isn’t art… or the fact that my performances were not art.

I’ve always been a fairly buttoned down person on the exterior while my mind has run rampant with creativity.  So I’ve never really felt comfortable in the artist crowd.  Nor have I fit in with the more mainstream community either.  Of course most of this is my perception.  It’s really not about how others see me.  It’s about how I see myself.

Recently I was called a Renaissance Man.  I found it humorous.  I’d never really thought of myself that way, but there may actually be a morsel of truth there.   I explored this term a little further because I wanted to know if this description had any veracity.  Some of the things I found to describe a Renaissance Man were  Polymath, Leonardo DaVinci, Homo Universalis (Latin for “universal man” or “man of the world”), and Jack of all trades.  That last one really hits home, and I’m not so sure I like it considering that the common saying is, “Jack of all trades, master of none.”

While a Renaissance Man is an expert in many disciplines, the Jack of all trades can be described as extremely capable in many fields but not particularly an expert.  Renaissance Man seems to be a kinder label.  A label that not only covers the traditional arts, but other areas of skill and knowledge.  To me, it seems that the point of a Renaissance Man is to approach every practice as an art.  To approach it with energy, passion, and confidence.

Where I’ve failed as a Renaissance Man is that I’ve always held myself back.  I’ve been afraid that I might not be as good as I hope.  I haven’t trust my teachers.  Again it’s an issue of perception.  Just like my self-imposed perception of being inferior when I would speak with a respected artist.  I often would feel as though they are talking down to me.  I’ve decided that I no longer have to feel inferior.  Sure I may not be as knowledgeable about styles of painting or a specific sculptor, but that is not my art.  My art is writing and performing, so wouldn’t it make sense for me to be knowledgeable about techniques in these disciplines?  And I am.  In fact, I have one of the highest ranked websites on sitcom writing according to Google.

Writing The Starving Artist’s Diet opened my eyes.  I reached out to so many artists because I felt they could bring an added dimension to the book that I could not have done alone.  What I found interesting was that many were eager to participate and contribute.  I also found a few who thought they were too good for the book.  What I love about this book is that it isn’t pretentious.  It let’s us laugh at ourselves and then in a way also encourage ourselves to press on.  It’s about survival.  It’s about the human condition.  Pain without laughter is just pain.  But pain with laughter will lead to joy.  Artists create because they have to.  It is a fulfillment of who they were created to be.  It’s hard to be an artist.  Most artists are under appreciated.  Many are afflicted with emotional distress or came from broken homes and painful childhoods.  Their art helps them recover and conquer that which afflicts them.  And the artist’s audience helps the artist heal.

I guess one of the reasons I never claimed the moniker of “artist” was that I didn’t want to be judged.  But why should I have ever cared?  I don’t know why, but I did.  I guess that’s just the plight of an artist.  Being judged.  Ultimately, I want to not care.  I want to just be myself, but that is very risky and potentially devastating to the financial bottom line.

I can’t say that I’ll be a different person from this point forward, but I’m going to try and not be afraid of claiming that I’m an artist.  It’s true.  I am.  I write, act, and sing.  I’ll let everyone else be the judge of how well I do any of those things.  But being an artist is not about talents, skills, clothes, or attitude.  It is a state of mind.  You are who you are.

Are you an artist?  What is your art?  Do you treat all your work as a masterpiece?  Art is not limited to paintings and sculptures.  It’s not limited to dance or music.  Art can be whatever you do depending on how you approach it.    It’s a mixture of skill, passion, and determination.  It’s the thing you do to fulfill who you were created to be.

I am a Renaissance Man.  More than a Jack of all trades.  I am an artist.

It is very hard to ship.  Yet is seems so simple.  In fact all I had to do is open an email, attach a file, and click send.  But every time I thought I was ready to attach that file, I’d think of something else I needed to add, or I’d see an error that I’d somehow previously missed.

I am proud to announce, that I have not only shipped my manuscript for The Starving Artist’s Diet to the publisher, but I have received the actual hard copy of the book back.  The book is a real book with a cover and several pages in between. 

It wasn’t easy. After many nights, mornings, and weekends, I finally decided I just had to send it in. After laboring over the manuscript for one last night, I finally hit the send button.  Of course, the next day I received an email from my publisher telling me that they could not do any layout until they had all the art files.  I guess that makes sense.  The book does have a lot of pictures and I believe part of the book’s success will rely on the unique layout.  So, my momentary joy in the success of shipping had subsided. I was back to the dread of needing to ship again.

Seth Godin said in his book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? that “art is shipping.”  He also said that art is only art when it has been shared.  The artist who creates something and never shows it to anyone has essentially not created art.  Just like communication needs a receiver, so does art.  In fact, art is communication.  This is really just the tree falling in the forest issue, right?  If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?  I guess art is pretty similar.  If an artist creates a work and no one is around to experience it, is it art?

Along this line of thinking, in order for art to be art, it must be shipped (delivered, given, shared, offered).  Until then, it is just work.

So, now that I have shipped, I have a completed book and now that it is in the hands of the receiver it can be considered art. What level of art may be determined by the reader. But from my point of view, now that I have created, labored, toiled, and shipped (completely), I have achieved art.

It feels good to ship.

I created a quick Wordle for The Starving Artist’s Diet. This is just a test run, but I think this will be fun to play with as a promotional tool for the book and I’ll probably do something with it for all the people who helped get the book off the ground. You should create your own Wordle at www.wordle.net. It’s fun.