As a creative and entrepreneur, I see so many peers with no business sense, or who let self-doubt paralyze them. I agreed with these ideas - but they got a bit redundant, perhaps especially because I already feel confident in my work and creative career path.

An innovative workbook to help plan your future by combining the creativity you want with the business you need.

“Creative Careers” is a book for artists and creatives. But it’s mostly a book about how to succeed as a creative in business.

As readers, we get key insights from 40+ well-known artists, actors, authors, chefs, comedians, publicists, film makers, photographers, creative directors, musicians, journalists and fashion experts. Each person has learned to run a business, all while keeping their creativity flowing.

Just some of those creative storytellers that float my boat include: Tom Bilyeu, Tim Ferris, Daymond John, Dylan Lauren, Joy-Ann Reid, Simon Sinek, Dan Sullivan, Roy Wood, Jr. and Randi Zuckerberg.

As a creative-turned-entrepreneur, I can attest to the fact that the life of an artist or creative is half business, half art. It’s wildly surprising how much on-the-job training we still need after college, internships and/or trade school. We have no idea what we don’t know. Writers don’t know how to charge for their work and send invoices. Clothing designers don’t know how to balance the books and negotiate with the trades. It takes the right mindset to be able to juggle so many balls and to not burn out.

Some things to think about when being paid for your creativity:
• How can you find “white space” and capitalize on it to create a new product – what spaces have yet to be filled?
• Are you an entrepreneur in terms of your mindset, way of thinking and lifestyle? Do you know how to work hard, can you problem solve and get through the bad times? Are you an eternal student – always curious, attentive, engaged and always learning? Can you recognize opportunity and connect the dots?
• Can you put out an MVP (minimum viable product) and let the market help you tweak your idea or product?
• Are you a storyteller? Can you tell your story in a compelling that to make others get on board?
• Can you manage your finances so that once you make money, you keep it?
• Do you have experience in critical thinking – can you look at ideas and question them?
• Who can mentor you? Where can you intern or be an apprentice?
• Can you work for free to get experience?
• What’s your most affordable next step?
• How can you assess and get comfortable with risk? How can you push your creative boundaries beyond what is safe, predictable and boring?
• Ask yourself, “How willing am I to fail today?” What is reversible and what is not? What is temporary and what is permanent?
• What’s really scaring you? Not knowing the outcome? Embarrassment? Rejection? Losing money?
• When does your side hustle become the hustle?
• How do you build a relationship with your buyers?
• What’s your voice, your story, your brand?

Special thanks to Hachette Books for an electronic copy of Creative Careers, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. I was so impressed with the contributors to this book that I purchased a copy right away. Get yourself a copy and be inspired to earn a living doing what you love.

Great book, shows that you could make a career off your passions, would highly recommend, Can't wait for more books from this author.

There were some creative ideas in here, but I was expecting a little more. Overall, I found this book helpful and did see a few things that I haven’t tried as of yet. Well written and interesting.

Creative Careers is a workbook style book with real world examples, rooted in psychology, education, brain research and much more. The book is divided into five parts: identifying your vision, getting started, debunking myths about doing it all alone, utilizing the power of stories and branding, and, potentially the most difficult step of them all, determining your value and running ideas like a business.

Every creative pursuit starts off with confronting some fears, biases and expectations. Whether it is our fear that we will not be successful or if we are asking too much money for our services, launching a career and putting value to what we do can be a daunting task. Creative Careers is a fantastic book that addresses a number of these aspects.

Ideas simply don’t come to us like a flash of lightning – they have been brewing a long time – nor do people work in isolation to get stuff done. I loved that through examples of working professionals and successful folks in the communities, Madoff exposes and debunks these and other myths.

Education and schooling never teach every aspect of a career. You can go to art school and never learn the business side of opening a gallery. You can pursue higher ed and never learn how to do your taxes. It’s these gasps in knowledge that often paralyze us and stop us from taking the first step. This is why we have Proof of Concepts. Doing something which is potentially low risk to try out an idea and then figure out if you will stick to it.

If you are looking for specific advice related to creative pursuits and starting a business, Creative Careers is the book for you. With multiple examples from all walks of life, workshop questions at the end of each chapter, this book explores creative careers are in depth. Many thanks to the publisher Hachette Books for providing me a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. This has been an informative read! Read my takeaways on Armed with A Book.

I found Creative Careers to be an interesting and fresh perspective on a book about business. This book is focused on careers that fall under the title of creating (art, writing, music, etc). Madoff makes some profound suggestions for those still in school with the intention of a career in the arts, like taking accounting classes. I do think that his background in fashion has kept Madoff enclosed in a bubble, and feel like he needed to expand more outside of that industry with his examples and interviews conducted throughout the book. While he has created a fantastic book for those intending to work in fashion, the other artistic and creative careers out there have been poorly represented or neglected completely. As a writer, it is difficult for me to feel that the suggestions and advice are valuable when it is primarily focused on a field that has nothing to do with my work, or is not neutral in its delivery.

Different things to consider and advice from a number of people who have created their own path. Not a book of different careers - more for those who have that career in mind and want some advice. How to define your own success, passion, pitching. At the end of each chapter, you get questions from that topic to think about.

Excellent book. True to the book description, this content will help readers to excel on the business side of creative careers, i.e make money and find material success. However, many of the principles and topics are equally relevant to all careers, for example, building strong relationships, starting off as an entrepreneur or building your personal brand.

Practical, sage advice!

Thank you B. Jeffrey Madoff, NetGalley and the Publishers Hachette Book Group for allowing me to read and review Creative Careers.

B. Jeffrey Madoff created a class called "Making a Living with Your Ideas" for Parsons School of Design in NY City and this is a lot of that class put into book form. How great is that!

We are very lucky to be able to access this information and all of the valuable tips and guidance this book brings.

I really enjoyed the comprehensive advice, real life success and failure stories from people who have struggled to get their businesses going or where great successes quickly. People like Ralph Lauren, Daymond John, Dan Sullivan and so many others give testimony of their climb to success (and sometimes failure before the successes).

It covers in depth What is your Vision? Getting off the Ground, The Myth of the Lone Genius, The Power of Story, and Run your ideas like a Business. Each topic has real life experiences from successful business entrepreneurs. At the end of each topic there is a question section to give you introspect into what you need to ask yourself on that topic. Its a guide for you to look at what and where you are on that subject.

Everyone in business can learn from this book, I found valuable information I could have used in my career in marketing when I worked for a corporation.

The book isn't just for those who want to go out there and build a multimillion dollar business it's also for the person who just wants to start a business for themselves and make a decent living. Creative Careers covers most everything you need to think about and know when you find the niche for you to become an entrepreneur.

Knowledge is power and Creative Careers is a must read.

B. Jeffrey writes an easy to read and follow book that you will read over and over as it has so much good information to absorb. It isn't a class book it's written casual and conversationally.

This book doesn't tell you specific ideas to get into but will guide you in your search and if you already have your product or service it'll help you going forth.

I gave the book a five as it is an excellent beginning resource. I hope he does write a sequel as there is always more to learn.

A GREAT READ
This is a wonderful book that reads like one long TED Talk. Madoff has the Midas touch and everything he touches turns to gold. His life story and his insights are more fascinating than those of his guests . This is a highly entertaining and insightful read for anyone who has a creative streak, no matter where placed in their career.
This review is briefer than the book deserves, but it is written in the age of the coronavirus.

I think Creative Careers by Jeffrey Madoff does great justice to the starving artist stereotype by adding more than a pinch of business acumen, brand knowledge, collaboration, need for financial intelligence, power of storytelling, communication, making experiences. Some of the artists interviewed are such pioneers. Take your time to know them and use their lessons.