It’s My Life
What it really means to build a successful creative business on your own damn terms.
There’s a whole choir of so-called experts out there screaming what success should look like for creatives.
More sales. Bigger stages. Glossier feeds. Louder applause.
But here’s the thing they never admit: They’re grading your success using someone else’s rubric. And you’re not here to play a role in someone else’s production.
Two musicians can both crush it in their craft. One selling out stadiums, the other playing to a packed living room every week with a loyal crew who sings every word. Different dreams. Same fire.
Same goes for you.
So why are you still measuring your success against someone else’s highlight reel?
I’ve done it, too. Bent myself into a thousand shapes trying to match what “works.” I’ve followed advice that sounded smart but felt like sandpaper on my soul. And yeah, I got some wins. But it never felt like mine.
Then Bon Jovi's “It’s My Life” hit differently one day. That anthem wasn’t just an earworm. It was a wake-up call.
I’m Frankie. You’re Frankie. We all are. And we don’t need permission to do it our way.
So let’s lay it down. Here’s what doing it your way looks like:
- Success is self-defined. If it lights you up that’s reason enough.
- Failure isn’t fatal. It’s feedback. Build from it.
- Your values outrank their volume. Even if they’ve got a mic you’ve got the message.
- Your circle matters. Find the ones who get it. Keep them close.
- Your creativity is sacred. Protect it from the algorithms, the comparison traps, and the well-meaning “shoulds.”
It’s about getting clear on what you actually want and building a business that fits like your favorite leather jacket: bold, broken-in, and fully yours.
Frank Sinatra sang about this back in the ‘60s. Written by Paul Anka, but popularized by Sinatra, “My Way” has become an anthem for individuality and an inspiration for living a life without regret.
Let’s stop chasing someone else’s blueprint. Let’s build what actually fits.
You don’t need to get louder. You just need to get real.
And I’m here for it.
Reflective Prompt No. 1
How does your definition of success clash with the mainstream version your industry glorifies?
Reflective Prompt No. 2
What moment in your creative journey made you realize, “This isn’t working for me anymore”?
Reflective Prompt No. 3
What’s one small move you can make this week that feels undeniably you?
Jon Bon Jovi speaks about this idea of being true to ourselves in this clip I found through Oprah’s Masterclass.
What it really means to build a successful creative business on your own damn terms.
There’s a whole choir of so-called experts out there screaming what success should look like for creatives.
More sales. Bigger stages. Glossier feeds. Louder applause.
But here’s the thing they never admit: They’re grading your success using someone else’s rubric. And you’re not here to play a role in someone else’s production.
Two musicians can both crush it in their craft. One selling out stadiums, the other playing to a packed living room every week with a loyal crew who sings every word. Different dreams. Same fire.
Same goes for you.
So why are you still measuring your success against someone else’s highlight reel?
I’ve done it, too. Bent myself into a thousand shapes trying to match what “works.” I’ve followed advice that sounded smart but felt like sandpaper on my soul. And yeah, I got some wins. But it never felt like mine.
Then Bon Jovi's “It’s My Life” hit differently one day. That anthem wasn’t just an earworm. It was a wake-up call.
I’m Frankie. You’re Frankie. We all are. And we don’t need permission to do it our way.
So let’s lay it down. Here’s what doing it your way looks like:
- Success is self-defined. If it lights you up that’s reason enough.
- Failure isn’t fatal. It’s feedback. Build from it.
- Your values outrank their volume. Even if they’ve got a mic you’ve got the message.
- Your circle matters. Find the ones who get it. Keep them close.
- Your creativity is sacred. Protect it from the algorithms, the comparison traps, and the well-meaning “shoulds.”
It’s about getting clear on what you actually want and building a business that fits like your favorite leather jacket: bold, broken-in, and fully yours.
Frank Sinatra sang about this back in the ‘60s. Written by Paul Anka, but popularized by Sinatra, “My Way” has become an anthem for individuality and an inspiration for living a life without regret.
Let’s stop chasing someone else’s blueprint. Let’s build what actually fits.
You don’t need to get louder. You just need to get real.
And I’m here for it.
Reflective Prompt No. 1
How does your definition of success clash with the mainstream version your industry glorifies?
Reflective Prompt No. 2
What moment in your creative journey made you realize, “This isn’t working for me anymore”?
Reflective Prompt No. 3
What’s one small move you can make this week that feels undeniably you?
Jon Bon Jovi speaks about this idea of being true to ourselves in this clip I found through Oprah’s Masterclass.
being yourself gives your fans permission to be themselves.
— Andrea Hubbert
Skip the fluff. Say what you mean.
Get on the damn list.
No watered-down advice. No polished-to-death content.
Just bold insights for those ready to say what they really
mean and get paid for it.
The ones who get it? They’re already on the damn list!