All my big mistakes are when I try to second-guess or please an audience. My work is always stronger when I get very selfish about it.
What I like to do is try to make a difference with the work I do.
I do some kind of work, whether writing or painting or recording, on a daily basis. And it's so essential that when I'm involved in the actual process, my so-called 'real life' becomes almost incidental, which becomes worrying.
I'm rather kind of old school, thinking that when an artist does his work, it's no longer his... I just see what people make of it.
If it works, it's out of date.