--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What can I tell you I continue to be…" description: "\"What can I tell you I continue to be creative, but have only been commercially successful outside of the U.S.\" — Holly Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/holly-johnson-31980_be-creative_what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-cre_1739231.jpg" --- # What can I tell you I continue to be creative, but have… ![“What can I tell you I continue to be creative, but have only been commercially successful outside of the U.S.” quote by Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/holly-johnson-31980_be-creative_what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-cre_1739231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/holly-johnson-31980_be-creative_what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-cre_1739231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/holly-johnson-31980_be-creative_what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-cre_1739231.jpg) > “What can I tell you I continue to be creative, but have only been commercially successful outside of the U.S.” [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative drive persists despite limited commercial success outside one's home market, highlighting intrinsic motivation. **In simple terms:** Creativity continues even without global fame. Key Takeaway Focus on artistic fulfillment over external metrics. Themes creativity motivation success culture artisticintegrity Mood determined hopeful Type musical inspirational When to use this quote - writing music - international touring - marketing strategies Key Concepts sociology economics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What defines success for you personally? - How can you expand your audience without compromising art? A Different Perspective Commercial success may still be needed for financial stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [I don't repeat myself and I don't look back because everything is hard work and the only way forward is to continue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbaland/i-don-t-repeat-myself-and-i-don-t-look-back-because-everything-is/) [Timbaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timbaland/) > [I want people to continue to be creative and to value creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/i-want-people-to-continue-to-be-creative-and-to-value-creativity/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [I find some collections to be more vibrant than others, but the designers who last are those who are able to continue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-menkes/i-find-some-collections-to-be-more-vibrant-than-others-but-the/) [Suzy Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-menkes/) > [I like the idea that people hear my stuff, and if it's commercially successful, that's a good sign that it's being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-like-the-idea-that-people-hear-my-stuff-and-if-it-s-commercially/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Working in a hugely, commercially successful film benefits everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taapsee-pannu/working-in-a-hugely-commercially-successful-film-benefits-everyone/) [Taapsee Pannu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taapsee-pannu/) > [When you make music, and even if it's commercially successful, it doesn't mean that it's going to hold up. It takes time to sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/when-you-make-music-and-even-if-it-s-commercially-successful-it-doesn/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [The movies I made early on may not have been great, but they were all commercially successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/the-movies-i-made-early-on-may-not-have-been-great-but-they-were-all/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I was working with Bill Graham management at the time and it was obvious to everyone concerned that albums like Open Fire, while they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-montrose/i-was-working-with-bill-graham-management-at-the-time-and-it-was/) [Ronnie Montrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-montrose/) > [I've definitely become more commercially successful. I think everything has changed over the past two years. People seem to take me seriously now as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-ve-definitely-become-more-commercially-successful-i-think/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [All the music that I've made in the past I've believed in. I think some of it has been more commercially successful than others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sanborn/all-the-music-that-i-ve-made-in-the-past-i-ve-believed-in-i-think/) [David Sanborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sanborn/) > [I didn't become a commercially successful artist by design, and actually I think that commercially successful just means, if you analyse it, that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-didn-t-become-a-commercially-successful-artist-by-design-and/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [I am very aware now that music is a business, but there is also a way to go about making music that is true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-montrose/i-am-very-aware-now-that-music-is-a-business-but-there-is-also-a-way/) [Ronnie Montrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-montrose/) > [I wouldn't think a blues album would be that commercially successful, but I don't really care. I'd do it for the love of blues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mcvie/i-wouldn-t-think-a-blues-album-would-be-that-commercially-successful/) [Christine McVie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mcvie/) > [You want to be commercially successful and critically acclaimed. But the truth is, there's only a few Bruce Springsteens and Paul McCartneys out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buble/you-want-to-be-commercially-successful-and-critically-acclaimed-but/) [Michael Buble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buble/) > [I have cut four albums so far, and all of them have been trendsetters and commercially successful. I believe that once you start taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/i-have-cut-four-albums-so-far-and-all-of-them-have-been-trendsetters/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) ## More by Holly Johnson > [This hype word bothers me though It always sounds like an accusation, what does it mean, advertising, column inches in the press? Bands themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/this-hype-word-bothers-me-though-it-always-sounds-like-an-accusation/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [Writing is a creatively rewarding occupation but for me very time consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/writing-is-a-creatively-rewarding-occupation-but-for-me-very-time/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [One U.S. hit single and a hit T Shirt in 1985 does not a celebrity make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/one-u-s-hit-single-and-a-hit-t-shirt-in-1985-does-not-a-celebrity-make/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [We have such a high drop-out rate from musicians, said the head of the college. He was right - I dropped out before I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/we-have-such-a-high-drop-out-rate-from-musicians-said-the-head-of-the/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [I always saw being in a band a full time job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/i-always-saw-being-in-a-band-a-full-time-job/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [I think the main thing you have to remember when going into the post-season is to stay relaxed. All of the energy and excitement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/i-think-the-main-thing-you-have-to-remember-when-going-into-the-post/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [I am financing the recording myself. So I have no big names to drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/i-am-financing-the-recording-myself-so-i-have-no-big-names-to-drop/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [Let's face it I am not Joan Collins or Boy George.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/let-s-face-it-i-am-not-joan-collins-or-boy-george/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [I wanted to make the kind of records that I heard in the discos that I danced in at that time. Funky, electronic sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/i-wanted-to-make-the-kind-of-records-that-i-heard-in-the-discos-that/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [To see a player dunk in women's college basketball is just amazing. It's great to see that the game has reached that level now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/to-see-a-player-dunk-in-women-s-college-basketball-is-just-amazing-it/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [I feel I have to live a little longer before I write a sequel to my auto biography which covers my experiences up until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/i-feel-i-have-to-live-a-little-longer-before-i-write-a-sequel-to-my/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [Although we were The Spice Girls of 1984 in Europe, My work has never been widely promoted in the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/although-we-were-the-spice-girls-of-1984-in-europe-my-work-has-never/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [The great thing was my teammates really set some great screens to get me open. I just went out there and played basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/the-great-thing-was-my-teammates-really-set-some-great-screens-to-get/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [I always saw myself as a multi media artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/i-always-saw-myself-as-a-multi-media-artist/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [I think it's been the topic of conversation for every one... If the U.S. is hit again, how are we going to handle it?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/i-think-it-s-been-the-topic-of-conversation-for-every-one-if-the-u-s/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) [Explore all 16 Holly Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) ## More Be creative quotes > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [To be creative means to connect. It's to abolish the gap between the body, the mind and the soul, between science and art, between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/to-be-creative-means-to-connect-it-s-to-abolish-the-gap-between-the/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [Attempt to be creative for the joy it brings… Select something like music, dance, sculpture, or poetry. Being creative will help you enjoy life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/attempt-to-be-creative-for-the-joy-it-brings-select-something-like/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > ['Born This Way' is shaping up to be creative ecstasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/born-this-way-is-shaping-up-to-be-creative-ecstasy/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [Women need a space to be creative -- creativity thrives in solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sark/women-need-a-space-to-be-creative-creativity-thrives-in-solitude/) [Sark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sark/) > [Held in the palms of thousands of disgruntled people over the centuries have been ideas worth millions - if they only had taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hayes/held-in-the-palms-of-thousands-of-disgruntled-people-over-the/) Robert M. Hayes > [To lose your everyday life of surfing and being creative on waves, enjoying the ocean - that's scary to me. It was essential to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-hamilton/to-lose-your-everyday-life-of-surfing-and-being-creative-on-waves/) [Bethany Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-hamilton/) > [Trusting people to be creative and constructive when given more freedom does not imply an overly optimistic belief in the perfectibility of human nature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/trusting-people-to-be-creative-and-constructive-when-given-more/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [I do like to be creative and I'm very lucky that I've been given different areas in which I'm able to do that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-brien/i-do-like-to-be-creative-and-i-m-very-lucky-that-i-ve-been-given/) [Richard O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-brien/) > [I miss the city Bret and I live in, Wellington. It's a good place to be creative, in the same way New York is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemaine-clement/i-miss-the-city-bret-and-i-live-in-wellington-it-s-a-good-place-to-be/) [Jemaine Clement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemaine-clement/) > [I do explore the emotion every once in a while. I'd like to think you don't stop being creative once you get happy. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-do-explore-the-emotion-every-once-in-a-while-i-d-like-to-think-you/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I stopped doing comics because I found the pressure really high to nail it every time. It's really difficult to be creative all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beaton/i-stopped-doing-comics-because-i-found-the-pressure-really-high-to/) [Kate Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beaton/) > [If you never venture outside the box, you will probably not be creative. But if you never get inside the box, you will certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-peterson/if-you-never-venture-outside-the-box-you-will-probably-not-be/) [Christopher Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-peterson/) > [I got into acting because I wanted to act and I love acting. That's my true north: to be creative and to be challenged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/i-got-into-acting-because-i-wanted-to-act-and-i-love-acting-that-s-my/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [ I don't know that Brandy \[Burre\] would ever categorize herself as being trapped, but I felt like I saw her being trapped. When she's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-don-t-know-that-brandy-burre-would-ever-categorize-herself-as-being/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) Browse all 489 Be creative quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What can I tell you I continue to be creative, but have only been commercially successful outside of the U.S.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Holly Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-creative-but-have-only-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be creative" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-creative-but-have-only-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/holly-johnson-31980_be-creative_what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-cre_1739231.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/holly-johnson-31980_be-creative_what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-cre_1739231.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/holly-johnson-31980_be-creative_what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-cre_1739231.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What can I tell you I continue to be creative, but have only been commercially successful outside of the U.S.” — Holly Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Holly Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What can I tell you I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-creative-but-have-only-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/what-can-i-tell-you-i-continue-to-be-creative-but-have-only-been/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```