If you are like me and have the perpetual ADD that accompanies many daily corporate type jobs, then you probably spend a good amount of time day dreaming of doing what you really want to do with your life.
Hey, over here, I don’t want to lose you on this. I am an artist dude and actually care about what you want to do. I can only hope you will reciprocate.
Bare with me on this, I am doing this for me more than anything but figured I am not alone. So here goes.
- Rome was not built in a day! Sure, some great sketches of buildings, aqueducts, and fall toga fashions may have been drawn up but the actual execution and follow through was more than one person getting excited about the sculpture they are working on. It really comes down to vision, right? I know, I know, we all have a vision of sorts but if you take a hard look at it you will notice it is floating on air. We must build a foundation for which our vision will stand!
- We don’t have time to plan! Really? So when you are lounging and reading the graphic novel you borrowed or watching “Zoolander” for the umpteenth time you can’t really find the time to plan? Let’s face it, planning sucks for many of us; it’s boring, uninteresting, it is not your strength. Well, guess what neither was your “space work” or your ability to launch into an interpretive dance of Queen’s “We Are the Champions” but that never stopped you. You have to try, right?
- I don’t know where to start or how to do it? Jeez, if only there was a way to search for information on how to create a business plan? Where could I look for that? Maybe tweet the question? Nah, no one would bother. Or perhaps a google search or heck maybe even asking people who are in the business you want to enter? Suck it up buttercup and ask for help. Use your resources.
- Artists aren’t serious? Karate chop to the gloin! This is a huge problem. How many artists out there get asked the question “what do you really do for a living”? Why? Because it’s fun? Because not everyone can do what you do? You can’t change perception about your career unless you treat it as such. We must get real with this my people. Reminds me of an old saying “My job finances my journey, it is not my journey.” That is the sacrifice but don’t let that keep you down. Keep at it.
- Not enough people care about the Arts! I refuse to believe that and if I did believe it I still wouldn’t believe it. Look, we don’t have to live in New York, Chicago, L.A. or any other major city. We don’t have to live in a city at all. I happen to live in one of the poorest rural counties in the country and I find people with a like mind all the time. We have to reach out and make ourselves available and yes, vulnerable. The risk is worth it.
*karate chop!* Nicely said, Ken. You should branch into motivational kick-in-the-butt speaking