Addendum:

I DO think it's a good idea to "make the art you want to get hired to make"

but I also think it's important to know that being practical isn't giving up or sacrificing your passion. It's just a different path. https://twitter.com/Justinoaksford/status/1280366760617598976

It's not my place to tell you your priorities. I know for me, survival is a priority, and so my advice always is pushing some form of pragmatism. My advice tends towards "this is how you can survive and be happy while still working towards your longer term goals.

It's stepping-stone advice. There's no one magic way, of course. If you're a person who *wants* to climb the cliff face instead of taking the hiking trail, you should! But everyone should know both that the hiking trail exists at all, and that the cliff is in fact riskier\\harder.

And also that frankly a lot of the most venerated folks in our industry have done a mix of both. Some start climbing, then hike, some hike, then climb, then go back to hiking. Your life changes and your priorities will change, too