Are all Businesspeople Artists?

Art and business are often seen as two radically different fields that appear on the surface to have very little in common with each other. Art is for the romantic while business is for the realist. Art is a dreamer’s occupation and business is for the hard-nosed adherent to the facts of life. This artificial mental barrier may not be true as we think for art and business are integrally tied to the ability to see possibilities.  

There are obvious connections between the two once we start digging into the nitty gritty of their existence. For example, in marketing business requires the use of art to create stories, messages, and themes. It would be difficult to attract new customers in an atmosphere of marketing fatigue unless you are willing to do something unique. Most of us remember the really creative commercials that take into consideration visual artistic design. 

Let us move a little deeper into the use of art and business for product development. Successful business are able to convert products and services to new forms that generate higher value on the market. Art allows one to visualize something new, explore a previous unknown form, or ponder improvements while understanding how people will view them. Without a level of creativity these new products and services will never enter the conceptual stage. 

At an even deeper level we can find an association between theory and creativity. All theory is based on imaginary models that are tested for validity. The ability to visual how different components work together and interact in theory is similar to understanding how the varying colors work together to create an entire picture. Finding, formalizing and testing is all mental play that can generate great products like electricity or airplanes. 

There are differences between art and business but these are surface differences. Art is exploration of human experience while business seeks to reinforce that experience. It is difficult to sell products if you do not have a clear understanding of how self-identity influences the type of products people purchase and the underlining human experience that influence motivations. 

As a business person you may not view yourself as an artist. However, you are the maker and the creator. The better you are at your craft the more likely you are to sell that ability on the market. You must be able to see the options and opportunities through your abstract thinking to make strategic decisions. Failure to see new possibilities, build new products, and generate new sources of revenue means the eventual collapse of your business. 

Type of Art: music, painting, sketching, mechanical drawing, photography, acting, dancing, etc…