Tackle your excuses; learn from the best

Last blog of the month. Art fair is over and there are things to mull over and decisions to make about next steps.

Preparing for the next creative session

Still have to properly sort out my room and clear space for the next batch of work. I have two part-completed armatures for new sculptures and a bunch of scribbled notes about what I want to do with future paintings.

The Shopify/PrintSpace app is more or less set up. I’m writing descriptions of the pieces (just factual statements are not good it seems!) and reading up all the Ts&Cs that should be on there. Bit confusing when some of what I sell will be direct from me and some via PrintSpace.

I’ve built up some discounts from Cass Art so got some satin varnish for the acrylic paintings and fixative, as I want to start working in soft pastels again.

I want to do some smaller square pieces – both abstract and dance related, so I picked up a couple of multi packs to play on as well.

Oh and I’ve finally managed to get on Instagram! Holy mackerel. Only took five attempts. Looks like the bug that disabled not-yet accounts for violating T&Cs (!) has been fixed.

Have also been catching up on books that I haven’t had time to read until now.

What’s Your Excuse…for not Succeeding as an Artist by Deborah Henry-Pollard

Love the title having been full of excuses myself over the years!

It’s not a huge read – 126 pages – but it covers pretty much everything; fears, mindset, ideas, other people, knowledge, logistics, finances and time. By the time you’ve read the usual suspects and considered all the ways to tackle them which are provided, you really don’t have much wriggle room to avoid getting on with things.

It’s a very practical, sensible book. Deborah is a creative coach so it comes from her clients’ experiences hence it’s very rooted in real issues and solutions. No ‘rah-rah you can do it’; just a real awareness about what holds us back and a multitude of gentle, non-scary options for tackling each area.

I read through all the chapter headings and sub headings and thought, this is essentially 98% about self confidence isn't it? There are people (oh, so lucky people) who just wouldn’t need this book. Why are they different?

I’ve come across those who have never wasted a second worrying about or putting off what they wanted to do or doubting whether they could do it. They decide what they want, take some action and learn along the way. They just do it (yeah Nike). And mistakes are made. Sometimes really costly mistakes and errors of judgement, but they just keep going.

So it seems to me, the most valuable thing we can instil in children is self-confidence and belief in their potential to achieve. But not just because “you’re awesome”.

Teach them that success takes research, time, effort, testing, learning from mistakes and a big chunk of experience. In other words, sooner or later you have to stop learning about how to do something and just have a go. And never undermine their interests, even if you don't get it.

I never had any encouragement and grew up convinced I wasn’t a capable individual, but I’ve recently been a regular consumer of podcasts/interviews. Some of the best stuff has been Tom Bilyeu’s Impact Theory. Don’t know half his guests but crikey, they have an attitude to getting things done which is tremendous. And many started out in really bad circumstances, or hauled themselves back from immense setbacks.

But binge watching these interviews provides a steady drip drip of positive examples into your mind. It does actually start to sink in that the only thing that makes some people thrive and others just hide, is their attitude to life. Not how clever they are, not how insanely talented, but how tenacious, focused and uncompromising they are on what they want to achieve.

High achievement doesn’t automatically come from the inherent abilities you have. It comes from what you pursue with diligence, regardless of any inborn skills you may ‘lack’.

They will develop as you move forward.

They will remain dormant if you stay where you are.

The talented but lazy, will rarely reach the heights of the determined grafter. I saw that often when I coached gymnastics years ago.

I enjoyed reading this book and found many nuggets to ponder on. I was also surprised to find I was often thinking “no, I’m ok with that one” – but I didn’t used to be. Impact Theory has had an impact.

Final word this week – the daughter of the house where I rent my space, spent a few days in Dubai a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it…and wondered if it was possible to get a job there.

The plane will have taken off by now – the application, interview and job offer was smooth as silk. Now that’s what I call manifesting your reality!