Survivorship Bias

We've all heard successful creators complain that younger hopefuls "just don't want to do the hard work." They disregard the complicated nature of achieving their status and dismiss aspiring novices on the basis of one single factor. Survivorship bias is undoubtedly a result of flawed reasoning. ...But is it bad advice?Brad and Dave discuss survivorship bias in the creative community and its impact on success. They acknowledge that survivorship bias exists but argue that it is not the sole determinant of success. They emphasize the importance of hard work, honing skills, and making adjustments based on feedback. They also discuss external factors that can impact a creative career, such as personal circumstances and societal biases. The hosts share their own experiences and offer advice for aspiring creators. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the importance of perseverance and being consistent in order to achieve success in comics.Also, they also address the question of working below one's artistic skill level and offer advice on finding a style that balances speed and quality. The hosts then share their thoughts on the transition from traditional to digital art, including the benefits and drawbacks of each. Finally, they discuss the value of selling original art and the potential challenges of leaving a legacy through physical artwork.ON TODAY'S SHOWSurvival biasWorking below your artistic skill levelLeaving original art in favor of digitalCHAPTERS00:00:00Introduction: Dumpster Pools in Philadelphia00:05:37Chapter 1: Understanding Survivorship Bias00:13:06Chapter 2: The Importance of Hard Work and Skill Development00:22:52Chapter 4: Challenging Survivorship Bias and Acknowledging Others' Struggles00:26:57Chapter 5: Advice for Aspiring Creators: Listen, Learn, and Adapt00:31:03Perseverance and Consistency00:34:31Working Below Your Skill Level00:46:24Transition to Digital Art00:48:08Selling Original Art00:56:29Leaving a Legacy Through ArtworkTAKEAWAYSSurvivorship bias exists in the creative community, but it is not the only factor that determines success.Hard work, honing skills, and making adjustments based on feedback are crucial for success.External factors, such as personal circumstances and societal biases, can impact a creative career.It is important to be aware of survivorship bias and not dismiss the challenges faced by others.Listening to advice from experienced creators and being open to course corrections can increase the chances of success. Perseverance and consistency are key to achieving success in comics.Finding a balance between speed and quality is important when working below your artistic skill level.Transitioning from traditional to digital art offers benefits in terms of control and quality.Selling original art can be a way to generate income and share your work with others.Leaving a legacy through physical artwork may not always be practical or desired by loved ones. You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.