Your Most Impactful Work Probably Isn't Your Most Popular
Think about piece of art that has had the most impact on you. Think about the artist. Was that thing their most popular work?
My guess is probably not.
There's a funny thing I'm starting to realize. As artists, we want what we make and the things we say to have an impact on the world, on people. We want what we do to matter. Popularity metrics are an easy way to give us some idea of the impact we are having. This thing was seen by a lot of people so it must have a large effect. This thing no one paid attention to, so it must have done nothing.
That's a nice simple picture. But it's dead wrong.
Well, for me at least.
See, it all depends on what you're going for.
By definition, something that's popular has to appeal to a broad range of people.
To go wide and have an effect on a large number of people, the effect you have on them needs to be a shallow one.
If you want to affect someone on a deep level, you can't expect a large audience.
And well, that's why most artists do both.
They'll make the smash radio hit that goes wide and gets millions of people bopping their head.
And then they make the quiet B side that only the true fans listen to and swear are the artists best work.
There's nothing wrong with that model. I'm not here to tell you to forget about the popular part of work that tickles the fancy of many people. I'm not here to say you should only focus on the weird intimate stuff that only you like because there's one person out their who you'll help understand themselves in a deeper way.
No.
But.
I am here to remind you that your most impactful work isn't your most popular. I just don't want you to get confused along the way and forget to make the stuff that really goes deep into the souls of a few people.
You are Love.
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