Thinking entrepreneurship like an artist

These days, I avoid telling people that I'm an entrepreneur. The word and what it encompasses has massively changed since I launched my first (real) venture at 21.

Instead, I answer by telling people about the projects I'm working on. Or if I'm in the mood for labeling myself, I'll say that I'm a digital artisan or, jokingly, an artist.

Being an artist sounds either pretentious or amateur. But it reflects how I think about my current way of working on projects. I focus on building something I want to see existing in the world. I often don't know what the product will be when released, and I'm okay to find that out as I build it.

I don't do customer interviews. I don't follow any agile methodology. All I do is focus on building something that I'm proud of. Because if I am, I will be happy to promote it. And then, I can adjust the product based on feedback if need be.

Artists don't ask for permission before composing a track or a painting.

Unless they are commissioned to create. Then, they act as business people, and getting a patron or not determines the endeavor's success. Meaning that success happens before the act of creation.

I currently think that this is backward. Especially if you are working on a relatively small project comparable to a song or an album.

And if you're working on a symphony by yourself, maybe you're biting more than you can chew.