What happens when you reach your creative peak? What follows? Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the New York Times best-selling memoir “Eat, Pray, Love” was forced to consider that very question once her book soared to national acclaim. It stayed on the best-seller list for 187 weeks.

 

How do you top that? Search for inspiration and keep doing what you are passionate about. In her February 2009 Ted Talk “Your Elusive Creative Genius,” Gilbert talked about the expectations set by wild success and how she continued to create more after it. Day by day she persists, doing the things she loves, just like the 12 Barnone tenants. Each day they sprint headlong at their chosen craft, chipping away and making a name for themselves.

 

Makers at Barnone represent a myriad of fields including farming, brewing, cooking and woodworking. There’s something awe-inspiring about watching a professional work his or her craft. For this reason, journalist Malcolm Gladwell set out to discover what distinguishes success from mediocrity. The result: the 10,000-hour rule defined in “Outliers.”

 

He said it takes 10,000 hours for a person to become a master in his or her craft. At Barnone, each tenant works tirelessly – meeting, then exceeding those 10,000 hours. They do it because they are passionate and dedicated to being the best. Not every day has an “Eat, Pray, Love” moment. There are endless struggles, shortfalls and failures, but the breakthrough moments of success make it all worth it in the end.

 

Work spaces at Barnone are intentionally open. Passersby are given a raw, unedited peek at the creative process and daily sweat equity required to pursue perfection in their chosen craft. Come draw inspiration from the makers and watch them earn their 10,000 hours.

 

By guest writer

Domenico Nicosia