Why Creativity Deserves to Be Valued Like Any Profession

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been called a dreamer. The one with rose-colored glasses, trying to help the world in ways that were beautiful, funny, and meaningful. But as I got older, I was told to “be realistic.” To lower my expectations — of people, of possibility, even of myself. So I followed structure. I took the “safe” path. And to be fair, I got pretty good at it. I learned to plan, to organize, to stay on the track others thought was best for me.

After a few career changes and more than a few life lessons, I realized something: there is no truly “safe” or “reliable” path. People often steer us away from creativity out of fear — fear that it won’t pay the bills, fear of failure, fear of disappointment. Creativity gets painted as a hobby, not a profession, and we’re told to tuck it away as a backup plan. I did that for years. I’d test the waters of creative work, only to retreat before I could fail too hard. Each time, fear won another round.

Ironically, my so-called realistic path ended the way I was warned a creative one would: losing a job I had poured years into, despite playing it safe. That moment shifted everything. I finally saw that creativity and structure aren’t enemies — they’re partners. Strategy gives creativity direction, and creativity gives strategy life. Both are essential, and failure isn’t the end; it’s part of the process. You can’t truly win if you’ve never risked losing.

Now, I choose to stand in the middle: a creative and a strategist, a dreamer and a planner. I want to show others that your ideas, artistry, and imagination are just as valuable — and professional — as any career skill. Creativity isn’t a side hobby. It’s discipline, it’s resilience, and it’s the force behind innovation.

So if you’ve ever been told to tone it down, play it safe, or leave your “dreamer ideas” for someday, hear me out: your creativity is not a liability. It’s a powerful skill that can change your life — and maybe even the world.