I recently read something on obligations that caught my attention. It read something like this:
The artist can’t ever demand that their crowd applaud or cheer them, and the audience isn’t obliged to. They’re in a relationship where the artist present their best work as a gift and say “I made this”, and the audience can decide whether or not they like it.
What is implied, and later on voiced is also that the artist is obliged to show their best work and to agree to this transaction in order to be an artist. I found that even more curious, as it is putting expectations on the nature of being an artist. Of course, being an artist in this case can be many different things. It’s not necessarily a dancer or a poet, but rather anyone who wants to do their own thing. Be that a writer, a motivational speaker a facilitator or an employee.
I think it applies to any work really. One of my thoughts going in to a new workplace has always been “deliver more that you’re expected to”. In a workplace scenario, unlike from the artist, you have expectations put on you. Hopefully, they’re sound and clear and then your task of overachieving is easy. It’s a lot easier overachieving in an environment where you know what’s expected than achieving anything in an environment where you don’t have any external expectations put on you.
In order to be an artist, you need to have the audacity to achieve without expectations.
What’s important to remember in all of this is that it applies to people who want to take their turn and do something different. It applies to people who want to achieve, and value that enough to give up other things. It’s not for everybody but everybody can do it.