Choose your corporate job wisely
My corporate job is in the medical field. I am an hourly paid phlebotomist. I also get paid mileage checks to travel to and from different clinics in the Austin region.
When I first started Reibert-Anthony Studio, I thought having this corporate job was holding me back, it was a keeping me from my full potential as a creative.
I was wrong.
Took me a while to figure this out and many mistakes before I realized that my corporate job allows me an irreplicable peace of mind. It allows me to create without the pressure of having to make an income from my creativity.
I realize that not all creatives have this flexibility.
I recently listened to an episode from the podcast You are a Storyteller, hosted by Jesse Bryan and Brian McDonald. The name of the episode was “How to keep going after getting shot down.” In this episode they discuss Brian’s experience in the comic and film industry.
At around 25 minutes into the episode Brian makes the comment that” he didn’t know how to do anything else” and that was the reason he kept pitching and writing.
This idea of not giving up after a rejection because you feel you have no other skill is not a realistic option for everybody.
For me, the reason I don’t give up on pursuing a creative career is because I have a corporate job to fall back on.
I do not think all corporate jobs are fit for someone trying to grow their creative business so I have a list of three important offerings that a corporate job should be giving you to be able to achieve balance in your creative pursuit.
Paid time off
a. We all have those days that nothing needs to get done. A day for us to know we can still get paid for our 8-hour shift but we were actually working on a new creative project.
2. At least 5% match towards 401K
a. Retiring at 65 is a reasonable back up plan. Not ideal (especially in this reality) but it’s a good back up plan. Might as well have the corporation you work for invest a little for you.
3. Overtime pay
a. Salary pays is overrated. Your time is valuable. Getting paid time and half after working 40 hours in a week is a great benefit of hourly pay.
I am grateful for my job as a phlebotomist because it allows just the right amount of flexibility for me to improve my creative skills.
Getting your foot in to a job in the medical field does not require too much experience. Consider applying for Patient Specialist Services or Medical Assistant positions.
Curious to know what other offerings you might look for in a corporate job. Let me know in the comments.
Peace out,
Reiberto Montiel Perez
