The Thriving Artist: Make Over $100,000 per Year as an Artist. Cover art by Mark Simon and Travis Blaise.

Earlier this year I spoke with a man who had been a highly paid attorney for over 30 years. He hated his life. He was an artist at heart, but denied his calling to get a "real job." When I met him, he had just quit his practice to pursue his art. He said it was the first time in 30 years he was truly happy. His wife agreed that he was a much different person. A better person.

He spent 30 years of hating what he did and being generally miserable the entire time. He was so busy with his "career" that he didn't have time for his art. Don't let this happen to you. Don't wake up in 30 years and realize that you wasted your life. Let your career be an extension of your artistic leanings.

I remember when I was working in advertising. One of the gigs that came across my desk was to draw truck tires. Did drawing those tires mean I was selling out? How in the hell does drawing truck tires mean you sold out?

I was spending my day drawing. I got paid to perfect my craft. Whether it's a truck tire or the Mona Lisa, it's art and I got to create every day.

Pretending that your artistic integrity won't allow you to "draw truck tires" is just an excuse. A lame excuse.

If you're an artist who prefers to say "Would you like fries with that?", that doesn't make you a real artist. It makes you lazy!

Mark Simon is co-founder of www.SellYourTvConceptNow.com and owns Animatics & Storyboards, Inc. His Thriving Artist: Make Over $100,000 Per Year as an Artist three CD audio set offers insider secrets for artists who want to achieve greater success. Lean how to earn 25% more money without doing more work, about three career mistakes most artists make, negotiating and much more. Mark may be reached at MarkSimonBooks@yahoo.com.