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  • I’m ready.

  • Hey there, it’s Marie Forleo and you are watching MarieTV, the place to be to create

  • a business and life that you love.

  • Now, if youve ever wondered if getting a day job means that youre giving up on

  • your dreams, this episode is a must watch.

  • Today’s question comes from Natalie and she writes:

  • Dear Marie, I watch one of your videos almost every morning over breakfast.

  • Here’s the deal.

  • I’m 29 years old and living in Austin, Texas.

  • I’ve always dreamed of being a full time author and illustrator.

  • I’ve got the talent, patience, and determination for it.

  • In fact, my first book was just published.

  • I’m a firm believer that you bring about what you think about.

  • I feel like I’ve been visualizing and goal setting until I’m blue in the face and I’m

  • working my butt off trying to promote this book and I am broke.

  • I don't fancy being penniless, but I also don’t want to throw up my hands up and say,

  • Ok, universe.

  • I give up, you see?

  • I got a different job so clearly I do not believe you have my back and I do not believe

  • I’ll be a success.”

  • I’m creative through and through and want nothing more than to live from my writing

  • and art, but the clock is ticking and I’m having to pull the purse strings so tight

  • you could play them like a violin.

  • Please let me know.

  • Does getting a day job mean I’m giving up on my dream?

  • Much love, Natalie.

  • Natalie, Natalie, Natalie.

  • This is a fantastic question.

  • I’m so happy that you asked it.

  • I have a lot to say on this topic in this order.

  • So first up, books are nothing but big business cards.

  • Ok?

  • Generally speaking and especially in the beginning.

  • You need to know this, that most authors aren’t able to make a full time living off of their

  • books for quite some time, if ever.

  • So I want you to ask any writer if they were able to make a living off of their first book

  • and they will probably fall off their chair laughing.

  • Exhibit A is my friend and author Cheryl Strayed, who wrote the mega bestseller Wild.

  • Now, she recently confessed that even after her book hit the big time and Oprah had her

  • on her show, she was actually sitting there talking to Oprah, and she was nearly broke.

  • I mean, how’s that for a reality check?

  • Number two, many talented artists support their work, not the other way around.

  • So there are millions of writers and illustrators out there who are real artists that support

  • themselves in other ways.

  • I mean, some of them teach, some of them have day jobs or totally unrelated sources of income.

  • Does that somehow make them not real artists?

  • You know what I say?

  • Hell no.

  • In fact, my friend Liz Gilbert shares that she did not make a dime off of her writing

  • for the first 10 years and then for the next 10 years after having published 3 books she

  • still kept day jobs to make sure she had other streams of income to rely on.

  • That is 20 years and she is one of the most dedicated creatives I have ever met.

  • I also love the pact that she made with herself and her writing at age 15.

  • She said I will never ask you to provide for me financially, I will always provide for

  • you.

  • Now, if you want to hear more about that, I would highly suggest that you watch our

  • interview right here.

  • It is amazing.

  • The third thing is the universe won’t help you if you do not help yourself.

  • Look, I know youre worried that the universe is somehow going to interpret you getting

  • a day job as some sign that you don't believe in yourself, your art, or your goal of earning

  • a living from your writing, but what if it was actually the opposite?

  • What if the universe was actually thinking this:

  • Well, Natalie must not care that much about her art because she’s choosing this stressed

  • out existence.

  • It’s killing her creativity.

  • I’m sending her signs to get a day job, but all she does is keep making these vision

  • boards.

  • I just can’t support someone who’s not going to at least support themselves.

  • Natalie, Natalie.”

  • Seriously though, the universe is speaking to you right now and you want to know what

  • it’s saying?

  • It’s saying get a freaking job, woman, so you can stop stressing out and get back to

  • joyful writing and illustrating.

  • If this is the work that you must do, then youve gotta do it and do whatever else

  • you need to do to support yourself.

  • I mean, like you I also believe in a kind and supportive universe, but I also believe

  • in busting my ass too.

  • Look, I’ve gotta be real here, visualization and goal setting, all that stuff is great,

  • but you have to marry it with real world practicality.

  • I mean, in my own life I had a whole bunch of side jobs for almost 8 years and those

  • side jobs, they were my saving grace when I was getting started.

  • And in my opinion, creative dreams and day jobs, they go together like mac and cheese,

  • like guac and chips, like cookie dough and rose.

  • Cookie dough and rose?

  • I don't know if I can support that.

  • Cookie dough and a fine pinot noir, perhaps.

  • Don't judge.

  • Now, to be clear, I am not suggesting that you drop the goal of making money from your

  • art.

  • I’m just suggesting that you drop the stress that comes from demanding that your art pays

  • the bills.

  • And anytime youre unsure, remember this.

  • Getting a job never means that youre giving up on your dream.

  • That was my A to your Q, Natalie.

  • I really do hope it helps.

  • And now I would love to hear from you.

  • What is your take on day jobs and creative dreams?

  • Do you now or have you ever funded your creative dreams with other sources of income?

  • Any lessons from the field that you can share that would support Natalie?

  • Leave a comment below and let us know.

  • As always, the best discussions happen after the episode at MarieForleo.com, so head on

  • over and leave a comment now.

  • Once youre there, make sure to subscribe to our email list and become one of our MF

  • insiders.

  • Youre going to get this awesome audio training called How to Get Anything You Want, plus

  • youll get some exclusive content and some special giveaways and personal updates from

  • me that I do not share anywhere else.

  • Stay on your game and keep going for your dreams because the world needs that special

  • gift that only you have.

  • Thank you so much for watching and I’ll catch you next time on MarieTV.

  • B-School is coming up.

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  • For more info and free training, go to JoinBSchool.com.

  • There’s nothing I can do.

  • I don't know how to do that, but it’s figureoutable.

  • Are my shoulders dancing or what?

  • Ok, alright.

  • Were done.

I’m ready.

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