REFLECTIONS

Occasionally, Robert shares short reflections drawn from his conversations with remarkable creative artists from around the world.

After more than 700 interviews across music, film, literature, and other creative disciplines, certain themes and insights begin to emerge. These reflections highlight some of the patterns Robert has observed in the lives and work of the artists who have joined him on Follow Your Dream.

#1 The Self-Starters

 After more than 700 conversations with remarkable creative artists from around the world, certain patterns start to emerge. And one of the most interesting patterns I’ve noticed is that many artists were self-starters from a very young age.

 So many of the musicians, writers, and other creative people I’ve spoken with began their craft when they were very young — sometimes as young as three or four years old. But what’s striking is not just that they started early. It’s that they were drawn to their instrument or their art almost naturally.

 They didn’t need to be pushed.

 They didn’t need to be reminded to practice.

 In fact, many of them wanted to practice.

 They found joy in the tenacity and commitment of pursuing their craft.

 Now my own experience was a little different. My mother had to remind me to practice when I was young — and I suspect that’s true for many of us.

But listening to so many artists describe their early years, I’ve come to appreciate something important: when someone finds the thing that truly excites their curiosity and creativity, the motivation often comes from within.

 The discipline follows the joy.

 And that seems to be one of the early signals of a creative life.

 Just a thought from the conversations.