Yearly Archives: 2014

How To: Motivate Yourself

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imageHow To: Motivate Yourself

Sometimes one of the most difficult things about working for yourself or running a creative business can be staying motivated. We’ve all been there, waking up in the morning and all you want to do is roll over and go back to sleep for a little while. Or perhaps you’ve been working on a project that seems to be going nowhere, so you don’t even feel like starting or trying to continue. Whatever the case may be, there are a few tricks that I learned that help me stay in my creative groove, and feeling motivated to do my best and keep working.

Remember why you started to begin with. Try to step back and look at the bigger picture. There was a time when this was everything you wanted, are you able to recall what that felt like? Does this project still excite you or make you feel fulfilled when you finish part of it? Does it still make you happy?  If the answer is yes then try to remember how great you will feel looking at (or listening to) the final product. Always remember though, if something just isn’t fun or make you happy anymore it might not be worth it to continue!

Utilize the internet. Don’t just sit there and surf the web all day, but use it as a tool to your advantage. Use it to get inspired and feel motivated again. I like to use sites like Pinterest and Etsy to browse other artist’s work to see what other people doing similar things as me are up to. Often times an image will resonate with me and strike that yearning desire to create back into my system. Soundcloud or YouTube is also great for this if you are a musician or producer.

Clear your mind. Sometimes our brains are too cluttered to work. Take a few minutes to sit in silence and meditate or go outside for a walk, if you need to get your thoughts out, journal with a nice cup of tea. Find the ritual that works for you to clear your mind and get a fresh start. Whatever your routine may be, make it a moment of reflection to recenter and recommit yourself to your vision.

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Fundamentals of Making it Happen

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20140301-151725.jpgWe’ve all been there before, you get a great idea and talk about how awesome it could be if you organized this or that event, collaborated on a project or how badly you want to release your next album, but then for some reason nothing actually happens and said “awesome project” never actually gets completed or even started. This becomes kind of redundant after a while and you begin to wonder if anything will ever actually get done, and it can become very discouraging which can prevent you from even trying in the first place. In my experience there are a few tips to consider when starting a new project.

Tips for making it happen:

  • Fully brainstorm the idea or project from start to finish. Envision what it will be like when it’s completed. Draw, write, or sketch out as much detail as you can in order to get a full picture of your vision. Sometimes it helps to work backwards from what your completed goal would look like; imagine it already finished and write down what that would be with as much detail as possible. (If it’s a song, imagine what it sounds like before you even start.)
  • Plan out the stepping stones. Write out the steps necessary to take in order to reach your goals. This means breaking up your larger goals into smaller chunks to make it actually doable and less daunting of a project, which will keep you from becoming overwhelmed and tempted to give up.
  • Just do it. Eventually you just have to go for it. There’s a point when you’ve done as much planning as you can, and have to start filling out the content of your project. If you have a nice complete outline, you will have an easier time filling in the gaps. Once you have that completed outline and have brainstormed your ideas, it’s time to take that leap of faith and take the first step necessary in the direction of your goal.

Why “Failing” is Necessary For Success

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DSCN4514Learn From Your Mistakes
It’s normal to make mistakes, it can even been seen as a good thing if you are able to learn from your personal mistakes and make changes based on the lessons you’ve learned. Hopefully you are aware enough to admit when you are wrong or when a business idea or plan isn’t working out. Often times those who are so scared of making a mistake are actually holding themselves back from doing what they really want to, because they are too scared to even start or try.

Writing Prompt: make a list of some of the mistakes you’ve made that might be bringing you down, and then how you’ve learned from them in order to not do similar things in the future. How have these things made you the person you are today? How have they helped you progress and grow? Are you able to re-frame these things to see them in a more positive light?

Learn From Others
Save yourself some time and learn from other people’s errors. Do your research and you will probably find numerous articles and information on the web about people trying to do similar things as yourself and find out what didn’t work for them. You can also look around your own life and observe those close to you, not to say to judge people, but just be aware of the mistakes your friends and family are making that have seemed to cause them strife, and try to avoid doing those things yourself.

Fail & Start Again as Quickly as Possible
Once you have failed, you are in the best place to try again. Get the bad ideas out and over with, cut your losses, and figure out a new plan. Don’t stay dredging it out in one specific idea just because you committed yourself to it when it obviously isn’t working.  Eventually you will be able to see each “mistake” as an opportunity, rather than some terrible thing that happened, to grow and start fresh again with some new ideas!

“I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work”  (Thomas Edison)

Know Your Value

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On Knowing Your Value

A big part of making the step into self-employment and starting your own business in general is knowing what you’re worth. All too often I see artists and aspiring creatives pricing their work and their skills for much less than they are worth. Pricing your work and figuring out what to charge for a certain project can be one of the most difficult aspects of the self employed artist. Underpricing your work is not only harmful to yourself, but it also negatively affects the market because it lowers the value of the work around you. If you keep your pricing at a healthy rate with maybe just a slight competitive edge, it raises the value of the artist’s community as a whole.

Tips for pricing and knowing the value of your work:

  • Account for cost of materials as well as overhead. Know how much your supplies cost, what your overhead is such as rent, utilities, the gas it takes to get to the post office, how much it will cost to ship, and how much the packaging and shipping materials cost per item.
  • Be realistic about how long it took you to make something and charge for your time to be a liveable wage. This includes brainstorming the idea as well as the actual production time. Don’t discount your time because you love to do something. If you are an artist, the community as a whole needs you to be an important component to our modern day culture, don’t act like what you do isn’t important to society because art is a huge part of innovation and helping people to think outside the box, and therefore create change and progress in all aspects of our society.
  • Know your value at wholesale and retail prices. If you are selling a product or small runs or artwork, you want to be able to approach small businesses and boutiques that will want to sell your items at higher prices than what they bought them for.  The general rule is that wholesale is half of retail, so take your numbers from the previous two tips, and that is your wholesale price, multiply that by two, and that is your retail price. Don’t sell yourself short.

This topic can go on and on, but these are the basics, and remember, it’s not about being greedy or finding fame, it’s about being able to create change in your community by offering creative and innovative services.  It’s important to build growth in your own community so that it can have living and working artists that contribute to society as a whole.  So on that note, let’s make 2014 and the coming years the New Renaissance! Keep working, growing, becoming inspired, and finding new solutions to our communities’ issues.

// Staying Focused //

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dream catcherIt is very easy in this day of booming technology to get distracted while we are trying to create or when we are supposed to be working in our studio or on our creative business ventures. I found a few tips that help me keep my projects on track and my mind on the tasks at hand.

  • Eliminate Distractions

I like to turn off my WiFi connection when I’m recording new music because not only does it boost my processing speed, but also every time I try to click on that little Internet Icon, it prevents me from getting lost in the vastness of the world wide web. It also gives me a little visual cue of “oh right, I turned that off for a reason, I’m supposed to be working on this other thing right now.”

  • Develop Self Awareness

Those who know me know I can seem a little spacey at times. I’m a dreamer, I day dream a lot through out the day and I’m sure while it has helped me immensely with developing new ideas, it’s important to be aware of where your mind is and be able to snap back to reality and the project in front of you in an instant. Maintaining focus and a mindfulness for the present moment is like training your brain as if it were a muscle. This is a difficult skill to learn, but gets easier over time the more you practice at it. The trick is to develop a self awareness that allows you to notice when you are drifting off into dreamland.  Once you are able to recognize when you aren’t staying in the moment, it’s possible to re-direct your thinking back to your productivity.

  • Don’t Force It

Know when it is not the right time. If you are just not in the right zone or frame of mind, chances are the things you create won’t turn out to reflect your vision. Sometimes you can jog this by taking a walk or stretching for a bit, but by all means take a night off and use it for something else like brain storming or meeting up with your friends or colleagues to discuss your next projects.   There is a healthy balance in pushing yourself and your creations, and maintaining a lifestyle that allows you to stay uplifted and take time to enjoy the finer things in life – such as friendships, long walks with your dog, thrift shopping & perfume sample collecting. ; )

Taking Yourself to the Next Level

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brainstormingAfter a while when we’ve been living the same lives day after day, hoping for the next opportunity to arise, our lives can start to feel a bit like that movie Groundhog Day. This can make one feel stagnant and like they’re just not getting anywhere with their goals. The problem is that this is the point where many people simply give up. “Well I’ve plateaued, maybe this isn’t my thing.”  In reality, this is the time to push forward even harder and keep persevering. This is the time to put pen to paper and brainstorm the next steps.

  • Ask yourself these questions.

Where can I expand? What skills can I improve? Is there something I can turn this into that may not be expected? Where are my connections? Is there an area I have not yet tapped into yet? Sometimes a little brain storming about our ideas and goals can be the jump start we need to inspire and motivate ourselves again to make the next step. So what’s your next step?

  • Realize that just having goals is not the point.

Only having an idea of what your goals are keeps you at a distance from them in a way.  Truly reaching your goals just means living out your vision on a daily basis and taking the steps necessary to making them solid. Instead of thinking about them as “goals” as a final destination, think about it as an ongoing evolving process that is malleable and can change at any time.  If you have an idea, just go for it, do what you can today to make it real.

Writing prompts: What is your process? How do you feel like you’ve evolved your business idea or project since you started it? How do you feel like you can improve upon your process?

  • Quality Content

Content can mean numerous different things, whether it’s articles on your blog, inventory to showcase in your online store, art or design pieces in your portfolio, content is basically *the* most important thing to function as a business.  It is extremely important to already have quality content or inventory to back up what you will be describing yourself as to people.  Creating quality content is probably the most time consuming step, but it is also one of the most enjoyable.

  • Make it professional.

The difference of whether you have a hobby or have a profession is completely up to you.  There is often a long period of time from starting your venture and when you actually start making money off of it.  If it’s something you love to do you’ll probably be doing it whether or not you make money off of it. Go for things you are passionate about, and then when you have some content built up, start functioning as though you are already a successful venture.  Get business cards, have a graphic designer make a logo for you, print out postcards and start distributing them around your community.  Develop a presence in social media and in your community to let people know what you are up to!

How to Get the Most Out of Your Creative Work

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creative space“Creative work” has always seemed like an oxymoron to me. There is a fine line between solely going with the flow, and trying to wrangle out creative ideas on a regimented schedule.  Making visual art or music has to come naturally to me, or it seems too forced and we can often tell when ideas don’t arrive organically. Something that helps me pump out creative work on a regular basis is making sure the conditions of my environment are conductive for creative thought.

Five Tips on How to Do it::

  • Get organized
It’s not necessary to have a big mess in order to be a creative type, often times our mess works against us and our flow.  Having supplies stocked, tools where you can find them, and a dedicated space or surface to create your art helps you go right into your flow without having to look through everything every time you need to find something.
  • Make it inviting / inspiring
Make your creative space a place you want to be in.  I personally love multicolored changing lights to put me in the zone, and a bulletin board on the wall for snippits of favorite images or sketches of upcoming series.  Decorate your walls with art by your favorite artists or designers, or with art you make yourself.  Having visual cues around you to remind you of your vision and goals will help create an inspiring atmosphere.
  • Take Care of Yourself
This seems like it shouldn’t need to be said, right? But you’d be surprised how many aspiring creative people, myself included, that take this area of life for granted.  All that stuff you need to do for regular life maintenance, really needs to get done. This includes household chores, eating well, exercising, drinking water, and getting enough sleep, also throw in some relaxation time and bubble baths or meditation. Keeping all of the basics in check will help you create an environment conductive to productivity and keeping your mind clear and ready to create!
  • Dedicate Yourself and Your Time
Have set blocks of time that you can dedicate yourself to achieving your goals.  Do whatever it takes to follow through.  Set an alarm on your phone to remind you if necessary.  I like to have ongoing lists of the next small steps I need to take to get achieve my goals, that way when I am getting back to my creative zone, I know exactly what needs to be done and very little time is spent wondering what to do next.
  • Perfection is Not the Goal
Perfectionism is a great way to never finish anything. Aim for your “personal best” instead.  I like to make something as best that I possibly can, but at some point you just have to stop and the piece has to be completed. Knowing when something is “done” can be one of the hardest things to learn, but if you know that you’ve given it your best there isn’t anything else you can do. Plus, your “best” will become better with time and practice.

Using Your Day Job to Your Advantage

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workspaceStuck at a desk all day, no window, tiny cubicle, I know firsthand as a creative person with ideas of entrepreneurship how excruciating it can be.  There are the projects at home waiting for me, the blocks of wood to carve, the prints to produce, the music to record, the album art to make, the freelance logo design to complete, the list goes on and on…how will I make it through the day? Well, this is when patience becomes one of your most useful tools and also keeping in mind that your job can be your greatest asset to help get your start up off the ground.

Let’s face it, it takes money to make money, having a full time job for a while and saving whatever you can to put towards your business idea can be your greatest asset.  Just because you have a great idea and a business plan that you know can work doesn’t mean you should quit your job immediately.  Have a plan, know where you’re going, know your numbers.  How much will you need to save up in order to keep your business running for three to six months, for a year?  In the meantime, read the below tips to help put your best foot forward on your entrepreneurial journey.

Three Main Tips::

  • Make Lists.

Use any spare moments that you may have at your workplace to write down things that need to get done, and what evenings or weekends you think you will be able to achieve which project.  As someone with multiple projects going on at any given moment in time, it’s important for me to really plan out what I’m doing each day and knowing what direction I’m heading in. Jotting down ideas when I get them or remember that there’s something I need to do, keeps my mind clear of them while I’m working, which then allows me to focus and give my full attention to my day job.

  • Take Breaks.

Take time during the day to stretch and clear your mind.  It can be stressful holding down a full time job while having creative projects in the back of your mind, but taking a few moments to yourself to take a quick walk or get some fresh air will help keep you centered and your mind focused on the task at hand.

  • Stay Flexible.

Even if you’ve planned to do something for a certain project, there may be times when other projects have a more time sensitive task that needs to get done that requires you to put off other things for a little while to focus on just that.  Being able to redirect focus consistently without turning to procrastination is an important skill to develop.  In other words, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.  The skill that you were working on yesterday may not be the service that a client is requesting tomorrow.  Staying polished and informed in all of your skillsets (and you should have more than one) will be the most beneficial to your personal success.

Sweet Solitude::: How to Embrace it

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20140223-135432.jpgSometimes we find ourselves in an unexpected place, a gap almost between where we were and where we are going, thus giving us plentiful time spent alone to do what we wish with.  The initial urge may be to panic, but this automatic thinking which can be quite negative and hold us back from what we truly want to be doing.  If you moved to a new town or city you may know exactly the feeling, or perhaps you’ve graduated college and everyone seems to be going their separate ways.  Don’t fret, this is actually a beautifully magical time in life where all opportunities are open to you. This is the perfect time for your creative work to blossom, that start up to unfold, those merely abstract ideas to become concrete.

  • Use time alone to create.

Finding your creative self is a process, and it takes hours and hours of real work and effort and often times these hours are spent diligently working in the solitude of our own homes.  Any creative person will probably tell you that their most influential work was created while buried in the depths of their own minds.

  • This doesn’t mean to become a hermit.

It’s important to step outside of one’s comfort zone every once in a while.  Don’t become so comfortable in solitude that you don’t feel the need to socialize or get out of the house every once in a while.  Solitude is great for the content producing portion of your creative endeavors, but go out and talk about the work that you’re doing every once in a while so people still know you exist. ; )

  • Retreat inward.

Being comfortable with being alone is important to your well being.  Use solitude as a tool and you will become your own best friend and truly understand yourself.  Take time to journal, meditate, exercise (I like yoga and jogging), take care of your surroundings and fuel yourself with the best foods, some of the healthiest foods and ways to cook can also be the cheapest.  Having solitude is a great time to experience peacefulness through reading or other joys, and start doing and learning more about things you are passionate about.

  • Greet the world again with a new mindset.

After you have spent plentiful time to yourself embracing all that solitude has to offer, you will probably start meeting new people again eventually whatever your situation.  This gives you the perfect opportunity to greet the world with a new mindset and new approach to living life with a more informed point of view and developed sense of self, and that is definitely something to celebrate!

Studio Build Out // Art Loft

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Studio Project:: Art Loft Build Out

I’ve been lucky enough to find a great space here in Sheboygan to use as my make shift studio for a while (plus rent is way cheaper than in MKE which is a huge plus for now), a one bedroom with upstairs open loft area which I knew would be converted into my all purpose art room. I’ve been affectionately referring to it as “the Art Loft,” and have been slowly building it to fit my needs.. though I’m still using folding portable tables I have a huge corner desk to lay out my work and set my monitors for music production, and have converted an area into a dance/yoga/rehearsal space with portable hardwood squares and a few mirrors to accent the space. Plus it’s always good to check your form every once in a while especially for exercises like yoga and ballet. I trained pretty heavily in dance throughout my school years so I knew that laying down a hard floor surface eventually in my 100% carpeted apartment was a huge must for me. I eventually purchased a portable barre and color changing lights to complete the space, and I couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out!