A time for growth. Yep, personal, financial, and business. Now that I've got a grasp of what's held me back over the years and I've taken a good hard look at where it is that I want to go, I've decided that it's time to jump feet first into the mix.
It's a really good feeling when you finally realize just how good you are a what you do. Conceited? Not a bit. I fully understand that I'm still very much a student of my Art and have so much that I can learn, and so many great Artists that I can learn from. I don't take anything for granted. It never hurts to have a healthy sense of accomplishment in what you're capable of though.
I'm finally in a head space where I feel like I can move forward in my career and with my business. I know what I want and I'm making up for lost time in figuring out how to get it. I mean, come on, we're never too old to stop learning, right? We're never far enough ahead of the game to take a break and let the rest of our industry catch up. I'm finally starting to grasp the concept of working smarter instead of working harder.
It is time for growth. It's time to be what it is that I've always wanted to be. It is time to realize that I'm capable of it and I'm deserving of it. It's never too late to start growing.
Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Fuel for the Muse, or a mental roadblock in the making?
As Artists we sometimes rely on our pasts and past experiences to fuel the creative drive of our Art, but what if those past experiences are holding us back as well?
For me, this was really brought home over the last few weeks. Since as early as I can remember I've been an anxious kind of guy, and over the years it's caused me some problems and it's held me back from doing some of the things that I really want to do with my life.
It's a tough thing to admit, sometimes, that the very experiences that shape who we are may have, in some way, damaged us as well.
If pressed, most of us would agree that we Artist types are a sensitive lot from the get go. We're brooding, quiet, and reclusive as well as creative. Some folks are better able to push that side down and get on with their dreams than other. Those of us that aren't that fortunate tend toward booze or drugs, or for some of us (my hand reluctantly held high), we end up with emotional or mental problems. Anxiety, in my case.
The important thing is to recognize when things like this become a road block to our success and take the necessary steps to change it, whether it's a 12 step program or my, once daily, dose of medication. I've known too many good Artists lost along the way because they couldn't overcome their obstacles. I'm glad I had the kind of support that allowed me to put myself first and take the steps I needed to to get the help I needed.
It's not selfish to put your own interests and ambitions first. That's the lesson that I learned from this situation.
For me, this was really brought home over the last few weeks. Since as early as I can remember I've been an anxious kind of guy, and over the years it's caused me some problems and it's held me back from doing some of the things that I really want to do with my life.
It's a tough thing to admit, sometimes, that the very experiences that shape who we are may have, in some way, damaged us as well.
If pressed, most of us would agree that we Artist types are a sensitive lot from the get go. We're brooding, quiet, and reclusive as well as creative. Some folks are better able to push that side down and get on with their dreams than other. Those of us that aren't that fortunate tend toward booze or drugs, or for some of us (my hand reluctantly held high), we end up with emotional or mental problems. Anxiety, in my case.
The important thing is to recognize when things like this become a road block to our success and take the necessary steps to change it, whether it's a 12 step program or my, once daily, dose of medication. I've known too many good Artists lost along the way because they couldn't overcome their obstacles. I'm glad I had the kind of support that allowed me to put myself first and take the steps I needed to to get the help I needed.
It's not selfish to put your own interests and ambitions first. That's the lesson that I learned from this situation.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Less talk, more action
You know, sometimes the hardest part of being an artist, in this day and age, is that it's so easy to get caught up in the promotion, marketing, blogging, and talking about what we do that we sometimes forget to do it. Make art that is.
For the do-it-yourselfers, there is a lot to do ourselves and if we're not careful we can end up chasing the wrong rabbit. I mean, it's great that we learn how to market the art that we make, in fact, it's a necessity. Have you ever caught yourself relating more to marketers than artists though? I know I have. That's why I've taken the last couple of weeks off from, not just this blog, but most all of my non art related pursuits. It's part of the self evaluation process I talked about a while back.
What am i doing right? What am I doing wrong? What's working and what's not? Am I digging myself into a hole or am I getting done the things that are important. I mean, the last thing I want to do is look up one morning and realize that I don't have anything to market.
Yep, sometimes it's good to just shut up and plug in the guitar, set up the easel, wet the clay, or fire up the forge. You know, whatever it is you do to express your inner god or goddess. Your tribute to the Muse. Your own unique view of the world and it's inhabitants.
It's important to talk about what we do, but it's soooooo much more important to just do it.
Later,
For the do-it-yourselfers, there is a lot to do ourselves and if we're not careful we can end up chasing the wrong rabbit. I mean, it's great that we learn how to market the art that we make, in fact, it's a necessity. Have you ever caught yourself relating more to marketers than artists though? I know I have. That's why I've taken the last couple of weeks off from, not just this blog, but most all of my non art related pursuits. It's part of the self evaluation process I talked about a while back.
What am i doing right? What am I doing wrong? What's working and what's not? Am I digging myself into a hole or am I getting done the things that are important. I mean, the last thing I want to do is look up one morning and realize that I don't have anything to market.
Yep, sometimes it's good to just shut up and plug in the guitar, set up the easel, wet the clay, or fire up the forge. You know, whatever it is you do to express your inner god or goddess. Your tribute to the Muse. Your own unique view of the world and it's inhabitants.
It's important to talk about what we do, but it's soooooo much more important to just do it.
Later,
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Get clear!
Last post I mentioned having a clear vision of where you're going in your race toward success, but I wanted to kind of revisit that again. It's a hard thing to get that vision and hold onto it, in fact I struggle with it daily. So I thought I'd mention some of the little tactics we use around here to keep it in the forefront of our minds.
1. Our Mentor board. We have a spot in the studio here where we've placed pictures of all of our favorite Producers, and if we get stuck on something, we just wonder out loud what would Quincy Jones do?
2. For Christmas a couple years back Dana made a box of cards for me. The cards are a series of ideas, tactics, and tricks created by Brian Eno. His thing is that if you don't know which way to go, just pull a card and do whatever it says, even if it means scrapping the last two days worth of work. What this does is makes us remember that it's the process that is important, not the destination.
3. We use lots of photos. We hang them on the bulletin board in the studio to remind us of the great times we've had along the way, which in turn reminds us of why we're doing what we're doing.
4. We've framed up copies of all of our releases, you know, like Gold Records, to remind us of our successes and our passion for making great music.
5. This one is my favorite. Dana wrote and printed out a mock Rolling Stone interview with her at the height of her success. Nothing like just looking up at the bulletin board and reading about how you're already where you want to be, and the wonderful things you're able to accomplish with your success.
It's our imaginations, as artists, that separate us from the average joe at the grocery store. Use that imagination, get clear about who you are and where you're going, and see your future. Just remember to have fun along the way.
1. Our Mentor board. We have a spot in the studio here where we've placed pictures of all of our favorite Producers, and if we get stuck on something, we just wonder out loud what would Quincy Jones do?
2. For Christmas a couple years back Dana made a box of cards for me. The cards are a series of ideas, tactics, and tricks created by Brian Eno. His thing is that if you don't know which way to go, just pull a card and do whatever it says, even if it means scrapping the last two days worth of work. What this does is makes us remember that it's the process that is important, not the destination.
3. We use lots of photos. We hang them on the bulletin board in the studio to remind us of the great times we've had along the way, which in turn reminds us of why we're doing what we're doing.
4. We've framed up copies of all of our releases, you know, like Gold Records, to remind us of our successes and our passion for making great music.
5. This one is my favorite. Dana wrote and printed out a mock Rolling Stone interview with her at the height of her success. Nothing like just looking up at the bulletin board and reading about how you're already where you want to be, and the wonderful things you're able to accomplish with your success.
It's our imaginations, as artists, that separate us from the average joe at the grocery store. Use that imagination, get clear about who you are and where you're going, and see your future. Just remember to have fun along the way.
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