Your FREE Guide to Success as a Creative Professional
A creative career is a uniquely inspiring adventure – with unique challenges.
When you set out to earn a living from your creative talent, or to produce creative work to a professional standard, you’re aiming pretty high.
Whether you’re an artist, designer, writer, actor, musician, filmmaker, or working in another creative field — artistic or commercial — you know that competition is fierce and only stellar work gives you a chance of success.
If you’ve been in the business for any length of time, you’ve probably also noticed that creativity isn’t enough. Like it or not, things like motivating yourself, choosing the right career path, managing your workflow, understanding your intellectual property rights, building a reputation, and convincing others of your worth can make or break your career.
All of which is challenging enough, but if you’re anything like me, the idea of a conventional job is something to be avoided at all costs. Which means the usual career advice isn’t much use to you.
This is why I’m launching The Creative Pathfinder — an in-depth course offering an alternative take on professional development for creative people. It’s a practical education in the artistic and professional skills you need to thrive in the real world of the creative industries.
Did I mention it’s completely free?
What Is a Pathfinder?
Originally the word Pathfinder meant an explorer – a pioneer spirit who was first to set foot in virgin territory, making the first discoveries and drawing the first maps. A trailblazer who was fascinated by the unknown.
More recently, the name Pathfinder has been given to those who make new discoveries and extend the limits of human knowledge and endeavour, in the arts, sciences or other fields. They are the curious ones, who can’t help tinkering with new ideas and experiments, just to see what might happen.
In other words, you are the Pathfinder.
If you’re doing anything genuinely creative, then you can’t stick to familiar territory and the established routes. Sooner or later, you’ll come to the place where the paths run out and you have to go on alone.
At that point, you’ll be finding — or making — your own paths, and your own maps for others to follow.
But wise explorers don’t set out recklessly. Before their journey they make plans, collect supplies and equipment, get fit and practise their skills. They also seek out the Pathfinders who have gone before them, into neighbouring territory, asking questions and studying their maps and notes.
So I want this course to act as a Pathfinder for you. I can’t describe the exact territory you’ll explore, nor the specific obstacles and situations you’ll encounter. But I can share with you what I’ve learned from my own creative journey, and nearly 15 years of working as a coach with many talented and accomplished Creative Pathfinders.
I hope it helps you in your quest to become a Creative Pathfinder yourself.
Who the Course Is For
I’ve written the course for the specific needs of creative professionals, including:
- professional artists and performers of all kinds
- creative freelancers – e.g. designers, photographers, copywriters
- employees in the creative industries – e.g. agency and studio staff
Another category of creative professionals includes those who don’t necessarily earn a living from their creativity, but produce creative work to a professional standard. E.g. I’m a poet, and most poets I know don’t earn a lot of cash from poetry, but we do aspire to write poems worthy of the name.
And don’t worry if you don’t have the word ‘creative’ in your job title or department name. The artistic professions don’t have a monopoly on creativity. You may work in a field that conventional wisdom wouldn’t necessarily label ‘creative’ but take a very creative approach to your work. As long as you see creativity as central to your work, you’re very welcome to join the course.
What the Course Covers
The course will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to achieve your ambitions as a creative professional.
The first two lessons will invite you to look at the big picture of your working life, and explain why following your dreams is not only fulfilling but also a smart career move.
Following on from that, we’ll consider your particular needs as a creative professional, and look at how you can develop the creative talent which is your biggest asset. Unlike most creativity courses, this one is designed for professional artists and creatives — so I assume you are already very creative, and suggest ways that you can extend your existing skills.
There is more to a successful creative career than creativity, so the rest of the course will help you develop the mindset and professional skills you’ll need to achieve your ambitions.
Some of the topics are unavoidably business-oriented — but rest assured I’m not going to give you a dull MBA-style lecture series. In some cases I’ll give you the ‘least you need to know’ to avoid getting into trouble. In other cases I’ll show you the surprising creative opportunities in the most unlikely topics, that are yours for the taking. And all of the lessons are tailored to your specific needs as a creative professional.
Here’s an outline of the course topics:
- your career goals
- creativity
- productivity
- career paths
- networking
- marketing
- sales
- managing money
- intellectual property
- motivation
- communication and influence
- collaboration
- managing others
On the journey you’ll learn:
- why following your heart makes sound business sense
- the four most powerful types of creative thinking
- how to handle a creative block – when you’re supposed to be the creative pro
- why opportunities just land in some people’s lap (and how you can be one of them)
- the most effective ways to make a living from your creativity
- why having a resume could handicap your career
- how to turn your website into a magnet for new business and career opportunities
- the weird and profitable properties of intellectual property
- how to sell without selling out
- what to do with all the money you earn
- why other people seem so weird – and what to do about it
- how to succeed in the face of overwhelming odds
How the Course Works
A lesson every week for 6 months…
Once a week you’ll receive an e-mail containing a link to a new lesson. Each lesson comprises:
- An article explaining the what, why and how of the topic
- A practical worksheet for you to download and complete
- Links to additional resources (articles, books, e-books etc — most of which are free)
Having written the lessons myself, I’m obviously keen for you to read every word. 
But it’s even more important that you take action based on what you read. That’s why there’s a gap between the lessons, to give you time to try out the ideas for yourself. And that’s why I’ve included worksheets with questions and suggestions for action.
Right now, there are 25 lessons in the course, which means it’ll run for a minimum of 6 months. Plus I may add a few extra lessons based on feedback from students.
In other words, we won’t be just skimming the surface – this is an in-depth programme to equip you for the ups and downs of your creative career.
…Plus a monthly ‘Creative Resources’ e-mail
At the end of every month I’ll send you a bonus e-mail full of links to inspiring and useful articles, videos and other media published on the web that month:
- Articles on my Lateral Action and Wishful Thinking sites
- Any guest articles I’ve written elsewhere
- A selection of articles, videos, podcasts etc I’ve discovered on other sites
Who’s Teaching the Course?
My name is Mark McGuinness. I’m a poet who earns my living as a coach and trainer for other creative professionals.
I started coaching artists and other creative professionals in 1996. Since then I’ve worked with visual artists, photographers, writers, actors, filmmakers, designers, musicians, architects — and people working in a host of other creative fields.
I’ve also consulted for organisations including the BBC, Channel 4, Arts & Business, and the UK’s Institute for Practitioners in Advertising, Cultural Leadership Programme and Arts Council, as well as many creative agencies and studios.
Over the past 14 years, I’ve helped clients facing a very wide range of challenges — creative, professional, emotional and business. My clients tell me what it’s really like in the high-pressure workplaces behind the glittering facades of the creative industries. While there are rarely easy solutions to the problems they face, I’ve paid close attention to what works — and what doesn’t. I’ve also had the privilege to work closely with some very high achievers in the creative industries, and observed the patterns of thought, action and communication that are critical to their success.
And I’ve been a writer myself for 20 years, and worked in various creative roles during my career, including publisher, copywriter, editor, psychotherapist, coach, trainer and consultant.
Over the past five years I’ve transformed my business into a digital enterprise, as the founder of two popular websites for creative professionals, Wishful Thinking and Lateral Action.
Last but not least, poetry is my own creative medium. I’m published in magazines in the UK and am proud to be on the editorial board of the acclaimed magazine Magma Poetry. I write about poems that catch my eye on my poetry blog.
This course is a distillation of what I’ve learned from hundreds of clients and my own experience, about what it takes to succeed as a creative professional — while maintaining your integrity, peace of mind and enthusiasm for your work.
Why Is the Course Free?
Good question. Unlike my blog articles and e-books, I normally charge for my courses. I considered charging for this one as well, but decided not to for several reasons.
Firstly, I want the ideas in this course to spread as widely as possible, which means making them as accessible as possible. I believe there isn’t enough career advice tailored to the needs of creative professionals, so this is my contribution. I enjoyed making the course and hope you will enjoy taking it.
Secondly, I’ve noticed that the more people know about me, the more coaching and training clients I attract. And I’ve found the best way to let people know about me is not to send them pushy sales messages (which I’d hate to do anyway) but to send them valuable educational material, which they’ll appreciate and share with their friends.
And finally, I’ll send out an occasional message when I bring out a new product or service to help you, or if I find something really amazing to recommend to you as an affiliate. Rest assured this won’t happen very often, and the vast majority of resources I recommend to you will be completely free.
So there it is. No charge, no obligation, and no catch. You’re free to unsubscribe from the course at any time, so it’s down to me to make sure you’re thrilled to receive every message I send you.
Ready to Set Out?
If you’re ready to embark on your creative adventure, just enter your e-mail address below and press the magic button.
Important: once you send me your e-mail address, I’ll send you an e-mail containing a link that you need to click in order to confirm your subscription. This is to protect your privacy and ensure that you only receive e-mails you have opted in for.
You are free to unsubscribe from the course at any time, and never receive another e-mail from me. Every e-mail I send you will contain a link for you to do this easily.
This next bit should go without saying, but just to emphasise the point: I will never share your e-mail address with anyone else. As a coach, confidentiality is extremely important to me, and that applies to your e-mail address just as much as a coaching conversation.
OK, there’s a ship about to sail with your name on it. You know what to do if you want to be on board.