How to remain relevant as an ageing creative professional

I have a few significant anniversaries coming up next year:

I will have been living in the US for 30 years
I will have been happily married for 15 years
I will have been a business owner for 20 years
I will be in my mid-50’s

My first thought is, I should throw a big party to celebrate this avalanche of anniversaries. My second is that I instinctively listed them in order of significance with the least important one being my age.

And yet, I know this is not the case for all creative freelancers and business owners. During my 25+ years working with independent creative talent, I’ve seen a lot of changes in how creative professionals make stuff, connect with people, and make a living.

I’ve also heard from many seasoned and successful creatives that when they hit a certain age (no surprise, this is younger for women than men), they find themselves feeling lost and cast aside by an industry that favors the young and fabulous.

We can’t change how old we are, but we do have a say in how we feel and talk about it. We get to decide what story to tell and what unique brilliance to highlight, thanks to our years and decades of industry experience, and what value we deliver.

Here are 3 concrete strategies to thrive as a creative professional, no matter what your age.

Idea One: Shift your mindset about ageing in the creative industry

Ever since I read Stanford psychologist and Mindset OG, Carol S. Dweck’s book “Mindset: The Psychology of Success,” I’ve been fully on board with the concept that no matter what we think or do, if we don’t first change our belief about a topic we will always default to acting in accordance with that belief.

Dweck’s concepts of the “growth mindset” (folks who perceive challenges as opportunities to learn and grow) and “fixed mindset” (folks who avoid challenges for fear of damageing their image as a smart or capable person) may explain why some creative pros work and thrive well into their 60’s, 70’s, and even 80’s, while others struggle or retreat when they find themselves “competing” with younger creatives.

Suggested activity:

Try the following part inspiration, part introspection exercise:

Inspiration: journal and or create a collage featuring older creatives you admire. They may be friends or mentors, public figures, or celebrities. 

Introspection: Write down the qualities they possess that you admire. What similar qualities might you want to cultivate in yourself? How might you go about doing that?

Idea 2: Learn how to build your own creative business

I offer a free introductory call as part of my business process and creative professionals often share that they’re at a crossroads and are not sure whether to double down on their creative business goals, or go and get a “real job” (you know, the kind with benefits and security).  My response is always this: You can absolutely decide to get a job – there’s no shame in that choice and benefits are a very real and necessary thing in the US. But/and/also, if your circumstances allow and you want the autonomy to decide what kind of work you do, who you do it with, how you do it, and for how long, building your own business will always get my vote. Especially if you’re a woman.   

I’ve been a business owner since 2006 which means I’ve weathered the post-9/11 recession of 2001, the great recession of 2008, and the pandemic. Every time things have been scary and uncertain and I’ve found myself sailing close to the wind more than once. But I’ve always had the comforting knowledge that I will never fire myself – that if I show up, try as hard as I can, invest in my business knowledge and acumen, and keep moving my feet, everything will be alright in the end. Having your own business means you get the opportunity to build your own safety net.  

Suggested activity:

If that idea is compelling, but you don’t want to go it alone, check out your fellow colleague’s experiences and  let’s chat.

Idea three: Keep making stuff, showing up, and learning

One of the very best ways I know to keep the pity-party blues at bay is to stay engaged. That looks different depending on the person and day, so here are a few ideas to help you find your sweet spot and cadence

Suggested activities:

Make stuff and experiment: It’s very easy for our identity to get tied up with what we’ve been professionally respected and paid for. And the more respect and recognition we’ve gained, the harder it is to try something new because we know we’re going to suck at first. It takes courage, but breaking the mold on how we “do creativity” is a liberating and necessary step towards the next chapter. Why not try something new with no expectations of prowess? Join an adult class at your community college, start a knitting circle with your neighbors, do a sketch a day of your cat, write a poem. Just do it!

Keep showing up: It’s natural to retreat when we feel insecure, but pushing ourselves to show up in intergenerational spaces can be the perfect antidote. Attend a Creative Mornings event, start a local club or group, or consider joining a group coaching program (the next cohort for my Creative Business Bootcamp starts in September, check it out!) 

Always be learning: I’m convinced that the key to staying young is to keep learning and reading. Absolutely, throw some business books and courses in the mix, but don’t forget to learn about all the things that interest you: plants, cooking, bird watching, etc.

I hope this post has given you some food for thought and I can’t wait to hear what your takeaways are. Drop a comment below!