3 ms·

Conventional thinking now says to NOT FOLLOW YOUR PASSION (time's have changed it seems.) I always thought no but then I remember what it was like when I tried

Conventional thinking now says to NOT FOLLOW YOUR PASSION (time's have changed it seems.) I always thought no but then I remember what it was like when I tried to leave home and got paid very little with my working class job. I had to live in one of the roughest parts of the city. My wife is from a poor country too so she's also keen on our daughter being solvent. The chances of her making a decent living from art are close to zero. Some alum came back to present her work at my daughters school, as part of her presentation she mentioned that she works two jobs as a waitress and barista and does her art around that; she's 25 years old..... We're a family that have lived in multiple countries and now run two very successful businesses. It would be odd if our daughter became a struggling artists who no options beyond living in a trash part of a working class town. I have never tried to steer her away from art but as she's getting older I can see that she'll likely ask us to pay for a 6-figure degree in what is effectively a hobby. I want her to be happy but I worry that this world isn't an easy place if you're broke. You don't get to make your own choices, someone else does. We've also told all three of our kids that they can forget sitting around and doing nothing while they wait for their inheritance (as suggested by my youngest son). Both boys are now studying (one economics with an internship at EY and one has just started comp sci). We live a fairly full and busy life with lots of international travel. We always invested heavily in our kids education hoping that will pay off in making them successful, responsible and independent adults. I'd love for one of the kids to take over our consulting firm but if that doesn't happen then I will sell the company and use that to fund a nice retirement. I don't believe in intergenerational wealth and I think inheritance tax should be close to 100%. I appreciate my kids my not like the same things that I do but they have a clear choice, use their elite education to launch themselves into being financially free otherwise follow a hobby / passion and take a gamble on living in an area where you can't walk home safely. I've been in both situations and I know which one I prefer. side note: it would be cool if she made it as an artists though and lived a fulfilling life. I'm just clueless when it comes to the art world and how to not be poor. Maybe it's different in the US but the UK is a fucking depressing place if you're at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder.

supercheetah 6y ago
It's depressing here too. LA/Hollywood has a reputation for it's enormous homeless population, and some blame the local government policies, and that's certainly played a role, and could definitely do better, but I think there's a large portion of hopeful migrants who just couldn't make it work as an artist/actor/etc. That said, I think the internet has made it possible for many of them to find an audience that they wouldn't have had access to before, and eke out a living. They don't become mega rich and famous, and I think we have fewer superstars these days, but a lot more of these semi-famous people finding their audience. Patreon has been doing a lot to foster that kind of thing.
- eatYourFood 6y ago
  I feel bad for saying this too but I can't even imagine my daughter going from a family of education and business success to having to beg for money on patreon so she can continue to make clay dragons. She's about to start 6th form at one of the top schools in the country - so many doors are open to her right now.

supercheetah 6y ago

It's depressing here too. LA/Hollywood has a reputation for it's enormous homeless population, and some blame the local government policies, and that's certainly played a role, and could definitely do better, but I think there's a large portion of hopeful migrants who just couldn't make it work as an artist/actor/etc. That said, I think the internet has made it possible for many of them to find an audience that they wouldn't have had access to before, and eke out a living. They don't become mega rich and famous, and I think we have fewer superstars these days, but a lot more of these semi-famous people finding their audience. Patreon has been doing a lot to foster that kind of thing.

eatYourFood 6y ago
I feel bad for saying this too but I can't even imagine my daughter going from a family of education and business success to having to beg for money on patreon so she can continue to make clay dragons. She's about to start 6th form at one of the top schools in the country - so many doors are open to her right now.