Be like the Bee: For the Artist

Yesterday we talked about learning from the bee as Christians.  Today we are going to talk about what it means for the artist.

As a recap, the honey bee has a one time use stinger, which means he has to commit 100% to what he is going to sting, after all, he is going to die after he stings.


What does that mean for us as artists?

 It means going all in, giving everything you have for one thing.  It doesn't matter what kind of artist you are- photography, songwriter, graphic designer, screenwriter, director, sculptor, painter, author, anything where you create- you have a project where you can't just give it 50%.  Think if James Cameron has only given 50% to Avatar. 

Cameron had to give 100% and more to this project.  He had the idea for the project several years before the movie was made, but the technology didn't exist yet.  So he waited, not giving up, committing to his project like a bee commits to stinging.

We can't just sit idle on the sidelines waiting to create something amazing.  Amazing doesn't happen by doing nothing- it happens by working hard at something, by committing to it 100%.

So if you are an artist, take a risk, take a leap of faith.  After all, if you- as the creator- don't believe in your project, how do you expect anyone else to?

It isn't easy, but it shouldn't be.  If it was easy- everyone would do it.  People don't remember things that are common.  People remember things that are unique.  Think of movies like E.T. and Star Wars did well because there wasn't really anything like it.

Think about the iPod- and its genius.  Apple mastered the mp3 player when no one else could.  They didn't do it by sitting around and waiting.  They did it by stepping out, committing, and taking a chance.

So if you are an artist- learn from the bee.  Believe in your product or project.  Believe in it so much that you would risk it all for it.