IMHO you have to seperate what is happening financially from what is happening artistically.
Your financial position should be a set of numbers on a bit of paper (or a spreadsheet) that has today, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years etc laid out. All of the emotion should be removed. You should be looking at it as if you were being paid to advise someone else in your position. It should answer the question at which point does your outgoings stop eating into your savings (I assume you have a reason for saving in the first place). If your savings are propping your business up until it’s viable (whatever that means financially to you) then you are not in control anymore. Once your money runs out then your business aspirations are dead regardless of your sense of authenticity.
I am going to suggest that your sense of authenticity does not come from making stained glass windows. It comes from the act of creating mixed with a sense of agency and control. The stained glass is a vehicle that allows you to experience a set of emotions that you are bundling up into the word “authentic.” Is this truly the ONLY way you will ever feel what you have labeled as authentic? I am suggesting that authenticity should not be used as a primary criteria for choosing to start a business.
I suspect you are also quite aware of the coming labor disruption due to AI and robotics. Ask yourself what will put you into a “position of economic power” should the disruption start knocking on your door. What happens if you simply cannot work?
My thoughts come from 25 years of self employment in 3 business sectors, manufacturing, music education and retail.
I really appreciate you taking the time to write this and the various perspectives in the note
I guess it’s the first time in my professional career where I am proud and excited to talk about my work, that’s the ‘authenticity’ I speak of
I also worked in a digital consulting world, I used AI all day everyday, which I started to realize that my job was not secure. I made this switch BECAUSE I thought bringing things to life in the physical world would avoid the incoming AI disruption
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