My 2022 Greatest Hits!
I was featured in the New York Times! This is one of those cases where just looking at the other experts included, I realize how far I have come and how accomplished I am.
Five Takeaways From 2022
Don't do it for clout or fame - and don't sacrifice your ethics to make a dollar. I don't know how to say it any clearer than that. There are loads of people willing to cut corners, underpay employees, steal from other artists, all that stuff. If you're willing to do those things I don't know how you're still following my writings. But if you're NOT willing to do those things, I am here to give you encouragement!
Un-Squash Yourself
The problem with the whole pickle is - like I shared last Tuesday - if you grow up hearing enough of this stuff it can really affect you. I'm forty-five now and I am still painfully peeling off layers of self-doubt and confusion. I've been known to seek validation in the wrong places.
How To Handle Clients Who Won’t Pay, Part 2
Entrepreneurs with poor boundaries end up being owed money often. It's stressful for them, of course. Inevitably they post to Facebook or socials, and complain. And then they get comments that are basically scorched earth strategy. Scorched earth strategy like: take down the website you built them! Threaten them with a lawyer! Tell them you're keeping their deposit and selling the artpiece to someone else! Something like that. That's the first place people go. Level up the aggression. That'll do it!
How To Handle Clients Who Won’t Pay, Part 1
This isn't a strategy post about how to get paid. (I've taught many a class on this!) This is a pre-strategy post, on how to get your mind right about this kind of situation. Because again: if you're regularly having these problems, you need to change things with your business infrastructure. I'd need to ask you a series of questions about your operations, in order to figure out where you're going wrong.
“Your Worst Customers Create Your Best Policies”, Part 2
I'll bet you can't stump me with a client problem. If you're having them, you're probably not communicating your process and your Policies thoroughly and clearly. You also may not be delivering what you promise - or what the client might reasonably expect. You either kept things vague, or you wrote overly-wordy Policies. The former means you left things open to interpretation (and that won't work in your favor). The latter means that since you didn't focus (and write a tight, brief Policies clause) - you encouraged your clients not to focus, either.
“Your Worst Customers Create Your Best Policies”, Part 1
In my experience, entrepreneurs who continuously complain about clients (or entrepreneurs who have the same problems with their clients, over and over) usually have some salient issue they are avoiding. Maybe they don't want to do their bookkeeping properly - they're intimidated or suspicious. Maybe they're still trying to prove Mummy or Daddy (or their ex) wrong, instead of turning inward to their OWN needs and impediments. Maybe they want to be Liked - or they want popularity, Followers or clout more than they want to run a sustainable business. Who knows!
My Top Ten Freedoms As A Creative Entrepreneur
Last Saturday I took an excursion to Olympia with my oldest son, just because we wanted a roadtrip and some noodles. End of story. I didn't have to ask, I didn't have to worry about my schedule. I knew I had the time and knew I wanted the trip. I didn't have to "make up" work when I got home. I've programmed my life with a lot of fuck-off time. This is lovely for snack attacks and beach days and goof-offs - but it's also *indispensable* for supporting my partner's career, for getting our sons to campus or to doctor's appointments, for running errands, for taking our cat in for cancer surgery! There is a little bit of juggling now and then but my partner and I know there's always time we can make for the things we need.
Remember To Horse Around, Or Risk Perishing
When I get scared it can be really tempting to think I don't have time to play, it is wrong for me to experience Joy, it's wrong for me to be silly or give myself rest or recreation. I feel that dark cloud encroaching in my head and I am just so scared. Soon I'm telling myself a story I'm some kind of Cosmic Victim - the Universe is out to get me. I never say it in those terms because I know someone would argue me out of that. But that's what I'm believing, that's how scared I can get.
Protocol: How It Can Help
I know it doesn't sound that sexy to be consistent, predictable and honorable. But I think it pays off more than taking great photos. I think it pays off more than doing giveaways or collaborations.