Sarah Clarity Studios

Defining Success

No matter who you are, you have a definition of what will make you feel successful.

Instead of going for what we know is popular opinion here, let’s take a minute to consider, “what makes me feel successful? When do I feel like the biggest success?”

Don’t be surprised if it isn’t “I want a million likes.”

If it’s, “I like making my friend crack up in the middle of our morning meetings,” then you found it.

When you are creating your IP, you will find that sometimes our IPs are not public. They are private. We give it to the girl we like. We give it to the boy we like on Valentine’s Day. Mom and Dad get it for Christmas.

When it comes to a personal IP that never becomes published online or even as a game or a movie, a TV show or a book…there are many definitions of success.

Mom said, “I’m proud of you!”

Dad said, “Excellent!”

My sister shrieked for 2 minutes straight, it was so scary!

My brother kept it for years and embarrassed me at my wedding by telling everyone about it!

My grandma thinks it’s the cleverest thing.

Grandpa howled and laughed for days!

When you think of what you love, you need to remember, a success to you might be something that’s above.

It may have nothing to do with social media or being covered by the press.

So my IP creators who are here! Tell me true. What is your definition of success for your personal IP today? Write it down! Put it up by your desk or on top of your sketchbook!

Do you want to make your partner proud? Well the path to that success for you will be different than getting allowed on national TV. Just remember that.

When it comes to a public IP, well, many of you already know — the rules are completely different.

“Personally, I would love to do a scarier IP, you know? Horror-esque? But our fans really like the light stuff, so we gotta keep it light, feel-good, funny. That’s the way we have to go.”

“We actually prefer to keep the scares on the down-low, even though we technically are considered to be part of the horror genre. In fact, we prefer not to go the way most horror franchises have gone, because they feel too gimmicky, and after my 10 year old had nightmares for a year, I decided it’s too much, even the horror-lite that we have for our kids these days. The whole point is to help kids to be brave, you know? You are brave even through the creepy-scary stuff. Yeah.”

“I got into this IP by accident, and now I’m the co-founder! Ahhhh!!! I love it. We are all about action here, and we do a little bit of character-development, but it really falls under character design. Yeah, we don’t do super deep stuff, though our fans do tons of fanfics that suggest otherwise! As much as we want to make the story stronger, we are all about the action in-game and on the screen.”

What’s a success for a public IP? The audience you are aiming for. The numbers you are aiming for. The money you are aiming to make.

Can you be humble with a modest success? Absolutely.

Can you be humble with a smashing success? Yes you can.

The thing is, was that what you were aiming for?

If no, you are not done. You have defined success for not only yourself, but your IP, and that is not a joke. Please make sure that if you still agree with your definition of success, that you aim to reach it in the future.

“I’d say if we double our fanbase, we’d be a success.”

“If we can make 10 times the money, Sarah. Then we’d rock!”

“If I can get families to watch this IP for our older franchise, I’d say we’re made.”

“You know, it sounds funny, but if I could get my best friend, who’s the CEO of the company next door, to play this game for a weekend, I’d say we win.”

“I’ll only play my best friend’s game after we meet our quota, Sarah. Then I can celebrate my success with that addicting game!”

Know your definition of success.

Write it down. Carry it with you. Put it where you see it all the time.

You could be 2 people on the same team in the same company, and your definitions of success could be wildly different.

Remember, success doesn’t mean happiness. That’s a different topic on a different page! But it is important to define what success is to you, especially when on the market, there is nothing but echoes of what people long ago said success should be.

You define your success. That’s the key.