Amanda Hutagalung

A passage from reading “Jerry Saltz’s 33 Rules for Being an Artist” by Jerry Saltz that stands out to me the most would be Lesson 21: Define Success. It hits differently when Saltz frames success as “time” rather than money or happiness. A lot of people view success with fame, wealth, or recognition, but Saltz simplifies it to something much more raw and practical. Basically he says that if you have time to do your work, then you’re successful. That’s it. No romanticized illusions, unsolicited advice, no sugarcoating.

As I was reading through each lesson, I appreciated how brutally honest he is about the struggle. He acknowledges that for most artists, the reality is working full-time, feeling trapped, and dealing with frustration, resentment, loneliness and envy. That’s something many people look over when they talk about “following your passion.” The struggle isn’t just a short phase, it can last for years. But at the same time, he offers a practical path forward: slowly carving out more time, whether by cutting work hours or finding a job that aligns with art.

His perspective of success stands out because it’s not delusional. He doesn’t say, “Just believe in yourself, and everything will work out.” He acknowledges that most artists won’t be making a living off their work immediately or ever really. But he also suggests that you can still find success by being resourceful, sneaky, and persistent enough to create more time for your craft.

I think that’s why this passage resonates with me. It’s comforting in a way when he says it’s normal to feel stuck, to struggle, and even to feel depressed about not having enough time. But rather than letting that define failure, he frames success as the ability to make time. It’s realistic, but also hopeful in its own way.