I have been a professional artist all my adult life, with the exception of a few years of my misspent youth when I wore a military uniform. Along the way I fought with my own principles until I read Mihaly Cziksentmihaily's FLOW. Then I realized it wasn't a battle after all. I had done it just about right. Here is a version of my personal flow chart. (I have been a designer and writer during my career - designer, art director, creative director, copywriter and general creative department, studio owner and whatever you choose to call the roles.)