The 3 Brains of an Artist
You and I as artists and writers have to have three brains.
The first is our artist’s brain. That’s the part that writes or sings or dances. The part that invokes the Muse. It’s our “instrument.” It composes the music, bangs out the comedy routines, comes up with the idea for the iPhone or the self-driving taxicab.
The second brain is our anti-Resistance brain. That’s the part of our psyche that has learned how to handle our emotions while we’re using the first brain (above.)
The anti-Resistance brain fights off distraction, overcomes procrastination, continues to work despite self-doubt, fear, laziness, superficiality. It’s our Pro vs Amateur brain. It keeps us moving forward against all odds and adversity.
Then there’s our entrepreneurial brain. I’ve put this third behind the other two but in many ways it’s at least as important.
If we are writers, actors, photographers, filmmakers, we are entrepreneurs. We are in business, and we have to think like businesspeople.
We have to know how to make a deadline, how to conduct ourselves in a meeting with financial people. We have to have a sense of the marketplace. We have to teach ourselves self-sufficiency. We have to be comfortable without an external structure. We have to learn how to trust our instincts when others doubt us or seek to undermine us (or flat-out ignore us.)
We are not hobbyists.
We are not artistes starving in a garret.
We are the Steve Jobs of our own creative enterprise. We have to be our own champion and our own best friend.
Artist = entrepreneur.
DO THE WORK
Steve shows you the predictable Resistance points that every writer hits in a work-in-progress and then shows you how to deal with each one of these sticking points. This book shows you how to keep going with your work.
THE AUTHENTIC SWING
A short book about the writing of a first novel: for Steve, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Having failed with three earlier attempts at novels, here's how Steve finally succeeded.
NOBODY WANTS TO READ YOUR SH*T
Steve shares his "lessons learned" from the trenches of the five different writing careers—advertising, screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction, and self-help. This is tradecraft. An MFA in Writing in 197 pages.
TURNING PRO
Amateurs have amateur habits. Pros have pro habits. When we turn pro, we give up the comfortable life but we find our power. Steve answers the question, "How do we overcome Resistance?"
Thank you so much dear Steve.
I can understand the importance of the first two brains, and from these I am more powerful at the artist brain and less at the anti-Resitance brain as far as I can tell. Those waves inside are so immense, causes for exploration, but even act as distractors.
The third brain is interesting because it is standing on the bridge built between our first two brains and it leads to the acknowledgment of our efforts and vision.
Ah, and if I was a kind of God I would put one more brain in the humans: the philosophical. To be able to see infinity’s boundaries in this small, fragile but potentially beautiful life. And with that I don’t mean travelling , it’s something even one in a garage could achieve, like the cynics, like Diogenes, as far as I can feel.
P.s. I remembered what Brian Tracy said: “Your greatest weakness holds you behind more than your greatest gift/strength pushes you forward.”
“Yes, step aside, you are blocking the sunlight”. Diogenes said to Alexander the Great when asked if there was anything he could do for him. A healthy reminder that the small things matter. Titles don’t. Continue writing and creating, Tolis! I struggle with the 3rd mindset because it feels phony to me when I must market my music. Perhaps that is Resistance talking!
Kate, that IS resistance. It’s as if you have created a beautiful meal. Now to find the excitement of inviting people to partake!
Ah, my dear Kate. The marketing, the commercial. You have a side in you, a self that/who doesn’t want to compromise. It doesn’t want to sell, it wants to share, it wants to give freely your creative energies and creations. And that is the virgin part, the most valuable part in terms of quality of creation, I can feel. Because, although money is crucial what is more crucial is the reason our work is created for. The struggle, the failure, the unknown, what we want to give from our deep places – these are our essences and those money would perhaps capture them and make them their slaves. I might be wrong, there can be a great power in combining creativity with money, I just don’t know.
Maybe give it to someone else to do that stuff? mr. Rohn said, what you can’t do give it to somebody else to do it for you. I’ll do the same when the book is out – in my case the problem is that the commercial world around books must be large and full of snakes, while I don’t even have a clue what to do, and it will take years to learn that. Not the best way to promote our creations ourselves. I read a classic book from decaeds ago before about 5 years, on selling your book. The author was terryfying: he would analyse all the market of books, but he always reminded that there’s no way we can hhandle that, we must have an agent, a helper, someone who knows the field. Even the best gun can be of little use to the hands that don’t have a clue how to use it (talking about complex machineries now).
So a double edged sword the money.
Steven,
I’ve been thinking along these lines quite a bit recently. The Power of 3, an ongoing project of mine, only works when all 3 ‘elements’ work towards the same goal at the same time for the same purpose.
So well said!
We are all of that.
Thank you Steve.
I really love it when my anti-resistance brain kicks in. I lean into myself and feel invincible. Haha! Thanks for the reminder.
Working on that third brain. For me, it’s the hardest. Thanks, Steve. Wishing all a week of progress.
Prior to becoming a published Author I owned my own company so that part of my brain as far as being an entrepreneur never seems to shut off! Lol! With that being said, it is the number one topic I talk about with other authors who want mentoring or advice who are in this career or who are in a particular stage of their writing career and that is they have to look and approach it always from a business stand point and to remember they are the commodity and to think of their work as a big portion of that commodity and if so how would they move and grow that commodity, market that commodity, manage that commodity and so forth.
No, they may not have a huge ‘Brick and mortar’ type of company, but you are the ‘brick and mortar’ you’re building your empire in the sense by building your writing name, that is your brick-and-mortar, just as you have Steven Pressfield, J.K. Rawling, Stephen King or myself and my non-profit L.C. Young and IAMGEOH INC. Your author’s name is your brick and mortar, know your worth build it and stand on it and invest in yourself. Great topic too many times authors feel they just need to write and do not realize we are categorized under entertainment, our work may one day be on Netflix, Hallmark, or on the big screen, that is big business. We have to set ourselves up to even receive that type of conversation.
Writer’s want to be recognized but don’t always realize the journey. They see those who to them are at the top of their writing career but have no idea of their writing journey or how long or hard they have had to work to achieve their writing and creative goals. I always remind writers applaud those who have received their ‘writing flowers’ perse of accolades, for it has been a journey as they should well know and should be valued for, they themselves know full well how hard a writer must work, how dedicated a writer must be not to mention focused and relentless as well to reach that point for peers and others to recognize and want to award. This should be inspiring.
This email was different from the others that I normally receive from you but I think maybe the most important. As an artist, a singer songwriter and someone that records what I write for both mine and others enjoyment, the third brain is very important as it tells us and needs to reinforce to us just how important what we are doing is and that yes you are right, to tell us that it is a business, as too often we forget this.
We do forget as we are constantly told “it’s only a hobby” and “it’s not like its a real job, now is it?” and even though we can make money from playing etc we are brow beaten into believing what they say – so going back to what you wrote we need that “third” brain to keep us in check by reminding us it is a business and treat it as such so we can progress forward.
Now third brain are you listening???
Many thank and keep the emails coming.
Leigh
Exactly this. Perfectly articulated (as always). I think the third part is more difficult to fall in love with but it’s an integral part of the whole enterprise.
I love that line, “we are the Steve Jobs of our own creative enterprise.” if only I could slip on a Jobs hat, an instantly read his masterful mind.
Thank you Steve for – once again – taking the sugar off the artistic pill
I worked as a sales manager for over 25 years, and when I retired, I believed, I hoped, I would never have to sell another thing as long as I lived. When I published my first novel in 2023 (at 70 years old) I had this notion (false) that others would propel, market and promote my work to stardom. I believed my work as an author was done.
Resistance doing what I love (writing and the creative process) is one thing. But resistance in engaging in something I don’t particularly like to do has me reeling in revolt. As always your reality check into the artistic process, my artistic process, is self revealing. I hate it. But I love that you flush resistance like a bird dog spewing pheasants from a thorny bush. Then I get a clear shot to shoot them.
Thank you Steve.
Tom Wood
This is really smart. I appreciate the POV. It gives me a new way to think about this. Thank you!
Three brains.
Tri-brain.
Try.
Art.
As an aspirant researcher, I needed to read this: “If we are writers, actors, photographers, filmmakers, we are entrepreneurs. We are in business, and we have to think like businesspeople.” Thanks a lot.
Preach. A bit of business acumen is often what separated talented artists who never get there from successful artists. Gotta have some hustle.
Amen. Now approaching 89, and just starting kidney dialysis, I need to reengage my brain and get back to putting ball point to paper.
Excellent. ty
Seems like most agree that third brain is the toughest. Can anyone recommend a book or source on artist/entrepreneur? I worked a day job in retail. I always despised the marketing aspect. Any resources on marketing done with class and ethics? Anyone? I could use some help with this. Thanks.
Hi Jackie, I don’t have a specific resource but I’ll share my point of view. I agree with Steve about our three brains and the professionalism we have to bring to our work and I think our anti-Resistance brain has to work with both our artist and entrepreneur brains to keep us going, but I think we need to keep the first and third brains and their activities separate. Our anti-Resistance brain gives us discipline but the two other brains, at least mine anyway, have to function separately.
Some of my creative work I know will eventually go out into the world and some of it is private, for myself. But I approach the creation of those different projects, the process, in the same way and this is paramount. I think about process and product separately. When a piece is finished, the product is what I focus on as an entrepreneur. This is sometimes hard because we feel, we know that part of ourselves is in what we create. But just as we learn to put a forcefield around our creative selves, we have to put a forcefield of anti-Resistance around the products of our creativity. And when I put something out in the world, I don’t think so much about ‘marketability’ but rather about sharing a gift and reciprocity. I know this won’t be a popular idea within our capitalist environment, and I don’t disagree with L C Young above, but this is how I have to approach this side of things in order to put what I do out there.
I greatly value the gifts I am given through my creative work. I humbly share them with the world but I expect others to respect the gifts I’ve been given and what I contributed in bringing them into the world. I see education as part of my job as an entrepreneur when selling my work, teaching others to value the gifts I’ve been given, teaching them about what creativity is and the processes involved in creativity. And, I put pretty high prices on my work because they are literally one of a kind. They are unique. My writing is different because books are replicable in quantity, though I will be self-publishing to keep creative control. But in both cases, I am giving something to the world that has great value to me so I expect a reciprocal value in return.
My point is, value your process separately, Jackie, and trust that the product of that process has great value. Respect the product of your work and expect others to respect and value it too. Approach any sale of your work in that light and keep your anti-Resistance forcefield up. I hope this helps.
And thanks, Steve, for another valuable insight. My Wednesdays wouldn’t be the same without your wisdom and this space.
Lin,
I thank you for taking the time to respond. Your point of view spoke directly to me.
Without knowing me, you hit upon what I could not put into words.
I will take your words in and use them to share what was given to me to share in a way that feels right for me.
Many thanks for your kind words and wise insight.
Well said! Thanks!!
Thank you for the empowering reminder.
Talking about all these brains, what’s coming to mind is James Fadiman’s book, “Your Symphony of Selves.” He and coauthor Jordan Gruber propose that everyone has multiple selves that are distinct, autonomous, and can come to the forefront in different situations. This multiplicity of selves explains why people behave differently in different contexts (work self, with-buddies self, daddy self), and why internal dialogues (like “arguing with oneself)” are common experiences. I suppose Resistance as a self (self-defeating as it is) fits into this framework.
Happy Wednesday, friends! Enjoying your comments up there.
Wait But Why’s Tim Urban puts it this way: “I met many aspiring artists in my early 20s. Observing their trajectories since then, I’ve learned that long-shot careers in the arts (famous singer, actor, songwriter, filmmaker, etc.) are long shots not because success relies on wild luck or rare genius or insane connections. Success stories pretty reliably happen for people who combine three not-that-remarkable things: solid talent, savvy business sense, 15-20 years of persistent hard work. It’s just that most people only pull off one or two of those things and not all three.”
I’ve started to count the time I spend on business-y things as just as valid as the time I spend writing. A compelling pitch is also a work of art!
Thanks for insight, Maureen. Love the Tim Urban relate. After several years of working on my project —which I started after a 30+ year career— I just finished a 3-day fast-track small business seminar. I’ve been avoiding the business aspect for too long—didn’t feel my art was ready for prime time—but it’s finally time. And, I start working for my first client today! Well, actually, they’re my first from several years ago. Now they’re back because I set them up so well the first time. Optimistic this will lead to more clients and bring me home from the odyssey I’ve been on since corporate…
Congratulations! That’s exciting. Keep us posted!
Compartmentalization, the skill to navigate between the three & the discernment to be recognize when & where to be applying said function—Spot on, Steve-O!
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Understanding the three brains of an artist—instinctive, emotional, and analytical—has transformed how I approach creativity. I’ve learned to trust my gut, explore feelings through my work, and step back to refine with logic. Balancing these mindsets helps me create with depth, intention, and a sense of personal truth.
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Really enjoyed this breakdown of the creative process—especially the idea of balancing inspiration with discipline. It’s like browsing the Chili’s menu at https://chilimenuprices.com — you’ve got endless flavorful choices (your artist brain), but you still need to decide and commit (your anti-Resistance brain). Without both, you’re just stuck at the table, hungry and undecided.
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This resonates so deeply—especially the idea of needing three brains. As a creative myself, I’ve often felt the tug-of-war between inspiration and discipline, and the constant push to think like an entrepreneur. That shift—from hobbyist to professional, from artist to CEO of your own craft—is a game-changer.
In my journey as a filmmaker and reviewer, I’ve found that embracing the entrepreneurial mindset is what truly makes the work sustainable. For anyone exploring how these ideas show up in movies and storytelling, I often write about such creative parallels at https://ssrmovies.media. Thanks for the reminder that real creativity isn’t just inspiration—it’s intention, resilience, and smart strategy.
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