We work in the business of making art.

Sometimes it gets tricky. Pure art is not supposed to have a commercial goal. And a lot of us on the creative side of advertising think of ourselves as pure artists. Yet, our work wouldn’t exist without the commercial goals we tie to it. It can make your head spin when you’re in the trenches, writing and designing things purely for love of the game, all while someone is tallying up results to rationalize the power of your work.

It makes a lot more sense when you think of it through the lens of professional sports.

Here are some ways that being a professional artist is like playing basketball.

If stats are your main concern, you will go insane.

If it’s been a while since you’ve played, your timing will feel a little off.

You’re sore when you’re pushing yourself, but the good kind of sore.

If you push too hard, you’ll get hurt.

At some point, you’ll get hurt.

Great players come back stronger from injury.

The head coach is the most important player on the team.

If you get hit going hard to the rack, you’ll be shy next time you’re in the lane.

The best players are fearless, but still minimize risk.

You don’t lose; you don’t win. Your team loses; your team wins.

You will have a prime and the fall from your prime will suck.

Your teammates will turn on you if you never help them score.

If a talented backup is brought in behind a washed-up veteran, he’ll play better.

Writers crumble when they don’t take care of their brain, like a center with bad knees.

Psychological health to a writer is as important as physical health to a basketball player.

You might win a lot of money for a half-court shot, but you won’t make a career.