Counsel no. 5: embrace opposites
Artists are strange animals who swim in an unresolved paradox. On one side they are inspired, creative and productive, in a way that's often irrational and following their impulse. On the other side, they also need to promote their work, to communicate, to plan and get organized if they want to survive. The real world exists at the meeting of these opposites. Although it is important not to hang on to principles, to respect limits, it is also essential to make certain compromises, without compromising yourself. We do not live in an ideal world. It's important to get serious somehow, to establish priorities, to set objectives, to know where you want to be in 5 years, then 10 and 40. Even though plans will evolve as you go, they will take you places and you will find yourself building something concrete, instead of investing your energy in all directions and going nowhere.
Embrace these contradictions, which aren't real opposites. In action, in everyday life, where we are the worker, the artist, the entrepreneur, etc. - there remains no contradictions. We can be human beings like anyone, and artists too, and whatever we want, as long as it gets organized and we make it happen...
The challenge is not to be influenced by eveyone’s comments and thoughts on what you're doing. While staying open to critics, being your own master, keep your direction, have the self-esteem and the confidence to take risks, don't try to please everyone and persevere.