Don’t buy the boat (rent it)

Buying the boat (or the cinema camera, or the camper van) might not be worth it. If you pay full price, but don’t use it that much, you’ll probably pay way more per use than you would if you just rented it when you wanted it. 

Why do we buy things, then not use them? Because feelings wear off quick. We imagine ourselves feeling a certain way once we have something. Then we discover that we don’t feel that different. 

In a sense, this is what we do with the Creative Consistency Challenge. To solve for the problem of thinking we want a new artistic identity but quitting after we make an indefinite commitment, we essentially “rent” an identity for a short period of time to see how it affects our lives. It’s not a purchase. We’re not changing everything about ourselves to make it work. We’re just seeing how it fits, getting what we can out of the rental period until it’s over. 

This helps us make more educated decisions. 

Of course, with boats, cameras, and camper vans, if you use it enough, it makes sense to purchase eventually. It’s more cost effective, and it allows you to achieve a deeper understanding. It’s the same way with creative consistency. Maybe after trying one creative challenge, you discover something isn’t for you long-term. But maybe after trying another challenge, you see another one is for you. So, slowly, you work to buy that identity.