1

The Creative Entrepreneur

“In the creative sector, the word ‘entrepreneur’ tends to carry negative connotations, conjuring up images of tech-bros or cigar-smoking, megayacht-
owning masters of the universe,” writes author Carolyn Dailey. It’s only natural, then, that for many creatives, their practice takes precedence over the business side. But to be successful, the two must work hand in hand. “I’ve done a couple of hundred projects over the last 29 years, but the biggest project I’ve ever done, by a long way — the perpetual one that has used the most of my thinking — has been the studio itself, as a project,” says architect Thomas Heatherwick, one of 10 creatives interviewed in this book. Harnessing insights from fields spanning from film to fashion, Dailey teaches the ins and outs of building and running a thriving creative business. Each interview is followed by accessible summaries of essential topics like brand-building, protecting IP and fostering a strong work culture. Featuring A&D professionals but also musician Nile Rodgers and Soho House founder Nick Jones, the book’s lessons are applicable across the creative industry — and beyond.

2

The Self-Expression Lab, Episode 8: “The Art of the Creative Pivot”

Design is often considered a labour of love. But what happens when you no
longer feel aligned with your career? This episode of the Self-Expression Lab, a
self-help podcast hosted by life coach Eliah Prichard, explores this very question. Guests Leonardo Ledesma and Sea Zeda — both from Art Seen, an L.A.-based fine art advisory — recount how they pivoted from the architecture and fashion industries, respectively, and the challenges and milestones along the way. “People in your world are rooting for you, but then they get comfortable with a particular path — the one that feels a little more logical or accepted. Sometimes, other people have a harder time with you stepping into the unknown than you personally have,” says Prichard, challenging the “sunk cost fallacy” of staying in a career that you have invested in but no longer serves you. Throughout, Ledesma and Zeda give actionable advice for creatives, highlighting the importance of networking (incidentally, the duo met at an industry event), taking risks and pushing forward even when you lose momentum. The key takeaway: Career growth is a deeply philosophical exercise. “They say your new life will cost you your old one,” says Prichard. “There’s a lot
of letting go in the process of creating who you want to be.”

3

The Business of Architecture

Architecture school is effective in teaching students how to be good designers, but less so in imparting the skills required to run a practice. That’s why architects Rion Willard and Enoch Bartlett Sears started this podcast: to give firm owners the tools to set themselves up for success. With help from industry experts, each of the over 600 episodes (and counting) tackles important subjects across the complete project life cycle — from winning new commissions to developing client relationships. At the root of the process is learning to communicate the value of architecture, both psychologically and financially. “We often conflate what we perceive as value and project it onto our clients,” Willard explains in Episode 621. “In doing so, we end up answering questions that were never asked, we come across unintentionally as salesy, and we think we’re listening and we’re not; we’re coming across as tone-deaf.” Keeping its finger on the pulse of the industry, the podcast covers timely and relevant topics — including the increasingly popular architect–developer model and tips for recession-proofing your business — making it an invaluable resource for practitioners.