The Difference Between a True Creative and a Hack
The difference between a legitimate creative individual dedicated to their craft and a hack lies in how each one processes feedback. Both can feel hurt and wronged by negative feedback. Both can disagree with the criticism and think it was unjustified.
But what each does next is what sets the two apart.
The hack complains. The hack whines. The hack collects sympathy and outrage from others on their behalf.
How dare someone else submit negative feedback when clearly the work was excellent, well done, perfectly executed? the hack moans. Critics are just mean and cruel; sad little people who never pursued their own creative dreams and so now spend their time picking apart the work of others who actually made something.
The hack cannot withstand honest comments that call out flaws and failings in their work. Anything else other than praise, whether deserved or earned or not, is unacceptable.
The dedicated creative, on the other hand, may feel the sting when another truthfully calls out where their work comes up short. But unlike the hack, the dedicated creative does not waste time rallying supporters who cry, “no way! What an idiot this critic is — you’re a genius, and they’re blind to your talent. They don’t deserve to work with you, they don’t deserve to enjoy your art!”
Instead, the dedicated creative accepts the feedback and responds, “Okay. I accept you expressed this criticism. And now I’ll work to be better. I’ll work to make progress. I will improve.”
If you’re dedicated to your creative output, you can do one of two things when negative feedback comes your way:
- Take it in, thank whoever made the comment, and ask them or yourself, “how can I learn and improve and push myself to the next level from here?”
- Take it in, thank whoever made the comment, and forget about it so you can get back to work.
The right response depends on the situation, but in every case, you choose one of them if you consider yourself a true craftsperson, a true artist.
That’s the difference. Creative people dedicated to their craft for the love of that craft accept feedback — even if it hurts, even if they don’t agree, even if it’s borderline cruel — because they know they are never done growing and learning and there will always be something for someone else to point to and say, “not good enough.”
That doesn’t mean you should internalize the feedback and make it your reality. It’s not about accepting that your work isn’t good, or good enough. It’s knowing from the beginning that you’re in it for the process and not some outcome like fame or wealth or popularity.
When you look at it from this perspective, no feedback really matters. Good or bad, it doesn’t change what you’re here to do: work and create and do and make.
That’s what it means to accept that someone expressed their opinion about your work — regardless of what anyone says, positive or negative, the dedicated creative who loves the work accepts the feedback and responds, “Okay. I accept you expressed this opinion. And now I’ll work to be better, make progress, and improve.”
You don’t wallow in despair when someone expresses a negative opinion. You don’t soak up pleasure and satisfaction when someone expresses a positive opinion. You listen to both, acknowledge that the message was received, and keep on creating.
