I haven't been making a lot of pots this year, I did my last wood firing in October of 2013. I did make quite a large number of pots this summer but 3 firings worth went straight to the landfill. I took a part time job at Home Depot in February to help make up the difference for not making and selling pots. I've been teaching for six and a half years and a carpenter before that, and while I've taken the occasional side job this is the first time I've worked in a structured work environment since 2006. I think artists tend to be self starters, we're creative thinkers and problem solvers, as well as go-getters. We (or at least I) work best independently. I've worked in retail, food service, and construction and I've quickly advanced to some type of leadership/management position in all those jobs. My motivation has never been just financial, I'm a stubborn, independent problem solver, and being in a position of leadership gives me the opportunity to do things the way I want to do them. Since starting at the Home Depot I've been named employee of the month twice and have been offered the opportunity for advancement and a new career path, this I politely declined. It's easy to be enticed by steady income and benefits, I've been down this path before but I know better. No matter how far you advance and how much freedom you're given the independent spirit will always be stifled and possibly broken. This is okay for some, but not for me. I want something that's mine, I control it, it lives and dies with my decisions.
It's strange to find a meaningful quote in such a strange place as the Gilmore Girls, but nonetheless I think Luke, the grumpy diner owner, said it best when his nephew dropped out of school to work at walmart and then criticized him for working in a diner:
“I
own this business, kid! I built it, this is mine! I’m not at the mercy
of some boss waiting and hoping to be chosen employee of the month for a
couple extra hundred bucks and a plaque. I’m always employee of the
month. I’m employee of the year, of the century, of the universe. You
should be so lucky to have a job like mine.”
I like that it's not about the money, it's about the freedom and the pride of building something. "I built it, this is mine!" Indeed. I look forward to hitting it hard in 2015.
Cheers!
2 comments:
Hey Brandon, I probably could write a very similar post. I'm stubborn, hard to get along with on the job, because I want things done my way and have extremely unrealistic expectations of others. I'm independent to the extreme. I too have been away from making this year, just from burning out on selling what I make. I also took a part time job, working at a local DIY Garden/hydroponics/ homebrew store, and have been surprised at how much I love it. I mostly do the merchandising for the store, they leave me alone, accept my talent in this area and let me do what I want. The extra income is nice to have and not sending all my money out the door for shows has been really really nice! If I were still on the making path, tomorrow I would be packing up my car and heading for the designer craftsmen show in Raleigh to set up. I can't tell you how nice it is not to have to do that this year! It took me a long time to find a job that fit my quirks, but I look forward to going to work and love the people I work with. I think new experiences help us grow, and bills gotta get paid somehow!
Congrats on the awards. Home Depot is like my mother ship :)
Tracey, I think you did write a similar post! Maybe this was part of the inspiration.
Good luck to everyone out there who is struggling to make ends meet and keep their creativity flowing!
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