Burnout is an epidemic impacting the population globally, regardless of any country’s specific political structure. A majority of people have become used to their own exhaustion, but the pain really lies in the lack of energy to support loved ones. How do we help one another’s passions flourish when we are more tired and broke than ever before? I want to explore the way in which we can use our limited energy to encourage the rise in self-made businesses and practices by supporting each other in a way that doesn’t add to our burnout.

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I’ve been wanting to upgrade my website for a while now but I wasn’t sure what it needed. My homepage covers the basics, with links to my different mediums and widgets that express my personality. Then an idea came to my mind, inspired by something I used to put in older blog posts. Each week my blog posts would include a featured artist. 

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Somewhere along the line, I started to prioritize the content of my posts instead of spending as much time adding consistent features. It wasn’t that I became less interested in supporting my friends, just that it took more of my time to create these blog posts. My Song of the Day disappeared, I mean even my readings have become infrequent because of how much time they take. The focus of my blog became simply putting out content, because a lot of time would pass without me posting anything when I knew that writing everything and then adding all of the features would take hours.

As I mulled over what could satisfy my unknown desires in upgrading my website, I thought of a way to achieve both goals. I decided to put “advertisements” of my friends’ passions on my website’s sidebar, exactly where any average paid ad would be.

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Supporting our creative friends is an ongoing process. As I’ve said time and time again, being a creator means allowing yourself to evolve over time. Which means being friends with a creator means allowing them to evolve too, and therefore your support must evolve alongside them. As I first explored the ways in which I could support my friends, I found myself getting personally involved in their process. I spent time writing for my friend Lukas’ company, Algorithmic Global, which didn’t work out. I offered to film videos for my friend Jeni’s store, Madam Soul Vintage, which didn’t work out. I often repost my brother Sawyer’s art which makes him happy so at least something worked out. The point is that sometimes getting too personally involved in the process, whatever that means for your friends’ specific passions, can distort the goal of helping them.

Not only that, but as I said before there are the elements of personal burnout and the inability to financially support them. It only took me a half an hour to put their work on the homepage of my website and it was a completely free way of advertising their work, so I found this to be a step in the right direction. But what comes next? And how can you support your friends with their specific needs?

Due to my feelings towards capitalism and the marketing it has inspired, I am very happy about the way in which things are going these days. Amidst all of the physical and emotional consequences of the pandemic, we all watched as people took the time to make their art or create their businesses. It is this passionate philosophy of mine that inspired the friends-only advertisement sidebar. When I worked with Algorithmic Global, I struggled while navigating the concepts behind marketing. I insisted that one day advertisements would be created entirely by local artists, from murals painted on walls to videographers capturing commercials exclusively in their area. It was a nice idea but it didn’t make our clients more money to simply dream of an ideal world. Luckily, I find myself capable of embracing this philosophy as more and more people become creators. My new sidebar is the perfect example; I could probably make a couple bucks letting Google run ads on my website, or I can use the space to benefit my friends which naturally benefits me.

There are a few obvious ways of supporting our friends, like reposting their work on social media or writing their business a review, but I find that the most compelling method is using our own creations. I remember when a friend and coworker of mine invited me to an event she was leading about Juneteenth. At our coffee shop, we host events called courageous conversations where any barista can speak about a topic important to them in order to inform others about it. It was a simple invitation but I didn’t want to show up empty-handed. So the day before the event, I spent a couple of hours painting a wildlife scene with trees and animals native to Africa. I cut apart a bag of our company’s Kenyan coffee and incorporated it into the painting. At the event, we put the painting up while she explained the importance of Juneteenth to us. This wasn’t about brownie points or validation, it was just a gesture of support using a skill I specialized in.

Regardless of what kind of creator your friend is, your own creative abilities can support them in infinitely unique ways. From filming a video for their business to helping them build a website. Whether you write a blog post about their art or draw them a logo. It could be as simple as making them a card full of kind words or advertising their passions wherever you can. By supporting them in a way that fits into your creative needs, you avoid additional burnout and do so without needing your wallet. Of course, it’s also more meaningful because you made it yourself.

I am inspired by the rise of self-made creators. Inspiration that invokes my desire to further the inspiration to others. One day our art will be inseparable, unknown where one creator begins and the other ends. This is the world I daydream about when I’m forced to witness uninspired marketing and greedy corporations thriving. What can you do today that will lay the foundation for this ideal world of endless creative growth?