This might be obvious, but I also think these points highlight the importance of an unstoppable passion for your work. One will never get through all the self promotion stuff that is less interesting than the actual ceating unless you can connect it with the orignal sparm that brought you to your work in the first place.
You're spot on there! After years of relentlessly perfecting you're creative outlet, It's exciting to get back on the learning curve of pushing you're material out there. It's that very same excitement which ultimately leads to productivity and successful promotion.