A writer friend of mine just posted a thought provoking piece about finding motivation and accountability as a freelance writer, but it really applies to any creative doing personal work. The question is, who’s your boss? Who do you report to? The very pointed follow up question: if you’re freelance (or if you’re employed as a creative but have personal projects on the side) and you don’t have a boss figure, did you know that your chances of success drop significantly?

After a few months of consciously building a team of collaborators and ‘bosses’ (see the Big Project posts), I can attest to the importance of not going it alone. Creative work is first and most importantly an exercise in self-searching. You explore your perspective on the world and create something that communicates that perspective. Without creative collaborators and bosses, it’s so easy to look at finished work and disappear in to the woods of self criticism, or on the flip side, to make work that is meaningful to you, but doesn’t speak to anyone not occupying your own brain. It’s only through sharing with some kind of group of trusted people that creative work gains legitimacy and confidence.

If you’re in the process of building (or rebuilding) your portfolio, or writing something big, or contemplating a career change, find yourself a boss. I can say that in my experience, ironically, by finding someone to act as your judge you’ll feel more powerful and confident almost immediately.