Judge the Work, Not the Network

Like Sisyphus forever pushing his boulder uphill, James and Pat have been circling around the topic of creative grants and residencies for many months. In this segment, we discuss an insight shared by writer Joe Ponepinto—the creative force behind the Beyond Craft Substack—who suggested that grant committees should judge the work, not the network. This pithy, six-word mantra set the fevered minds of the Gifted Underachievers into motion and opened up new insights about a more merit-based selection process for grants, residencies, and just about everything else.Questions for Listeners:How would you define a merit-based appreciation of creative work?Buy us a Coffee and Win a BookHere in the GU Clubhouse, we’ve gleaned and gathered incredible wisdom from our creative guests, whom we fondly call the Gifted Achievers. We’re putting this wisdom into a series of handy guides so listeners can study how to make a good living doing what you love. Click the coffee cup below and you’re on the list! The first 20 coffee angels will get a free guide!For Further Exploration:Artistic Merit vs Success as a Measure of Creative Work: https://lifestyle.sustainability-directory.com/area/artistic-merit-versus-success/Hard Truths for Poor Artists: Merit is a Trap: Five Criteria for Judging Art: Thanks for listening to Gifted Underachievers! This post is public so feel free to share it.If you’re not already a subscriber, we’d love to have you in the GU Clubhouse! Always free, no spam, unsubscribe any time. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com