Perfect Success

This Post is by Keith Bond, Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews.  Find out how you can be a guest author.

Congratulations!  Your art business is perfect!   

The caveat:  your business is perfect in its ability to bring you the success that you now enjoy.  For some of you this may be a compliment.  If you are happy with where you are, continue to do those things.  They are working.  You have perfect success.  For those of you who are not satisfied with your current level of success and wish to see your career grow, this is a wake-up call.  I include myself among you.  I too wish to attain a higher level of success.   

So, what can be done? 

To elaborate on what I wrote above: your business is perfectly organized and managed to bring you the precise success that you currently have.  This means that the things you are currently doing are resulting in your current level of success.  If you continue to do the same things, you will continue to have the same level of success.  So if you want more, something must change.  For some, the changes may be drastic.  But for most, the course of action is summed up in this simple truth:  the gap between mediocrity and success is often bridged by small and simple changes.  Yet the changes need to be the right changes. 

The difficult question is: 'What are the right changes?'  Sorry, I don't have 'The Answer'.  But whatever the answer is, it falls within one of three possible categories.  1.  Your art needs improvement.  2.  Your business practices need improvement.  3.  A combination of both.   So that narrows it down. 

Your Art Needs Improvement 

Every true artist recognizes the need to constantly improve, but you also need to recognize when you are good enough.  Take an honest look at your work.  Be truthful.  Seek advice from someone who knows art and can be truthful with you.  Don't ask your mom.  Her job is to tell you it's great!  But is your work really good enough?  This is a tough thing to do.  Sometimes it's painful.  Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves, but sometimes we should be more realistic with ourselves. 

If you realize that you do need to improve, do what is necessary.  Take a workshop. Take classes.  Make time to pursue perfecting your craft.  Create art every day.  Don't rush into it expecting immediate results.  Don't look for short cuts or formulaic solutions.  Improvement is a slow and steady course.   Be diligent.  

Your Business Practices Need Improvement 

Let's assume your art is good enough (of course it is!).  Then you must take a good hard look at your business and marketing.  Consider all the wonderful advice you have received from Clint, Lori, and others who have written on Fine Art Views.  There is a lot of great advice from others as well.  Alyson Stanfield's I'd Rather Be in the Studio! Is a must have resource.   279 Days to Overnight Success by Chris Guillebeau is another worthy read for establishing your on-line presence.  There are many more resources.  I won't list them here, but Clint has linked to many of them over the years. 

Yes, there is a lot of great advice.  What have you tried?  Perhaps the better question is: what haven't you tried yet?  It is true that not everything will work for everyone.  But there are things that will work for you.  Be open to new ideas that may be out of your comfort zone.  They may be the key, the missing link.  Also realize that it takes constant steady action to build your success.  It won't happen overnight.  As Chris Guillebeau explained, it took him 279 days of hard work.  For some it may take longer.  

Also realize that those small simple changes need to occur periodically over the course of your career.  You should regularly reevaluate what you are doing and assess what areas can be improved upon.   Remember, you are creative.  That is why you are an artist.  Use your creativity in your business and marketing practices as well (but don't be too creative in your accounting!). 

A Combination of Both 

This is self explanatory.  Concentrate on both.  Even if you are 'good enough' as an artist right now, there is always the need to improve.  This is where I place myself.   

The key is to do it now.  Don't delay.  The sooner you take your career into your own hands, the sooner you will achieve the desired success.  It won't happen in a day or two, but it will happen if you make it happen.  It is up to you.  Your gallery won't make it happen.  Your mom won't make it happen.  Your mentor won't make it happen.  Only you can!  Your success (or mine) may never be 'perfect', but you can work towards it.  Start now and enjoy the journey. 

Sincerely,