The problem with creative work is that sometimes by the time people catch on to what’s valuable about what you do, you’re either a) bored to death with it, or b) dead. You can’t go looking for validation from external sources. Once you put your work into the world, you have no control over the way people will react to it.

Ironically, really good work often appears to be effortless. People will say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” They won’t see the years of toil and sweat that you had to put into it.

Not everybody will get it. People will misinterpret you and what you do. They might even call you names or belittle you. So get comfortable with being misunderstood, disparaged, or ignored — the trick is to be too busy doing your work to care.