Do you find yourself collecting books, courses, and information about how to succeed as an artist, but rarely putting any of it into practice? Are you comfortable discussing creative theories and marketing strategies, but hesitant to build that website, launch that podcast, or release that album? Perhaps you consider yourself knowledgeable about artistic success while secretly wondering why that knowledge hasn't translated into tangible results.
In this episode of Creativity Excitement Emotion, David shares a candid, car-recorded exploration of the critical difference between knowing and doing in creative careers.
Distinguishing between what we truly know through experience versus what we merely "know about" intellectually, he challenges artists to move beyond the comfort of theoretical debates and into the revealing territory of implementation.
From his three-part framework for artistic success to a surprising story about a reviewer who claimed to "know it all" while implementing nothing, this episode offers both a wake-up call and a practical pathway for transforming intellectual understanding into experiential wisdom.
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Highlights:
00:17 – Capturing a car-recording episode
00:55 – Intellectual rightness
03:04 – Getting it together, getting it done, getting it out there
06:05 – Digging in the mud
08:40 – Synthesizing information to create your unique approach
10:09 – Talking about things vs. doing things
11:16 – Accurate thinking
12:46 – Input is key but it can’t stop there
14:20 – Know, know about, beliefs
17:46 – What’s most useful about this episode
18:10 – Not doing what you already “know” to do
Summary:
In this unfiltered car-recorded episode, David cuts through philosophical debates and intellectual posturing to address a fundamental issue in artistic development: the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Drawing distinctions between knowing, knowing about, and believing, he challenges artists to move beyond endless debate and into the transformative realm of experimentation and implementation.
The rawness of the recording—captured during errands to preserve insights that might otherwise be lost—serves as a living demonstration of his core message: taking imperfect action trumps waiting for perfect conditions.
Key Themes & Takeaways
The crucial difference between intellectual understanding and experiential learning
How endless debate and theorizing becomes a substitute for meaningful action
The three-part framework of "getting it together, getting it done, and getting it out there"
The self-deception that occurs when artists claim knowledge they haven't applied
The dangerous comfort of remaining in theory rather than facing the vulnerability of practice
The misleading influence of educational systems that reward information retention over application
The Purpose Beyond Philosophy
David begins by establishing his position in relation to theoretical debates, drawing clear boundaries around his mission and approach:
Clarifying that his mission is finding practical tools that help artists, not philosophical arguments
Distinguishing himself from those who enjoy "intellectualizing" and debating for its own sake
Emphasizing his role as someone who "digs in the mud" of personal development to bring back "gold nuggets" for artists
Highlighting the three fundamental areas he focuses on: mindset/psychology, productivity/effectiveness, and marketing/promotion
Acknowledging the interconnected nature of these three areas while maintaining their distinct functions
Creating context for why some successful artists may not need additional development in these areas