Making Forward Progress in My Art Career
Structures #57 ©2006 33"x 66"
Putting out Fires
In a recent post titled Managing Urgencies Seth Godin writes:
Do you have a plan?
A long or medium term plan for your brand or your blog or your career or your project?
You can have grand visions for remodeling your house or getting in shape, but if there’s a fire in the kitchen, you drop everything and put it out. What choice do you have? The problem, of course, is that most organizations are on fire, most of the time.
In my post a few days ago about getting things done I talked about how excited I was to be making progress on projects that previously were ignored due to lack of urgency of the project.
This had become my default behavior:
Add up enough urgencies and you don’t get a fire, you get a career. A career putting out fires never leads to the goal you had in mind all along.
Last year I entered a bunch of juried shows instead of working on some bigger projects that require more effort and will take longer to yield results. Juried shows are easy, fill out a form and send off a CD and some money and there is illusion of progress when the acceptance letter arrives.
Stagnating in the Fire
Problem is these shows don’t do much for my career anymore. In the beginning they were great. They were the big goal and they got me what I was after, a resume filled with quality shows to give me the foundation for bigger things.
Thing is I’ve been doing this for 10 years – my resume is plenty long with lots of juried shows – they no longer provide much value and they are starting to look like they are my career and not just the initial step forward.
The past few months I paid the price of having entered all those shows putting out fires of the resulting acceptances. Doing paperwork, packaging and shipping work.
No time was left to work on the bigger projects like completing the redesign of my website, sending out my first studio newsletter (a project that has been on hold for over a year as it is never urgent) or lining up gallery representation. Things I’ve clearly identified as important for moving me forward.
Small Steps to Move Forward
As I said a few days ago. No More!
Basically I’m doing exactly what Seth mentions here:
I guess the trick is to make the long term items even more urgent than today’s emergencies. Break them into steps and give them deadlines.
I’ve identified the big projects that will propel my art career forward in a big way and now I’m defining the next steps that need to be taken to create my new reality. When I look at my next actions list I want to look at actions that are simple and easily doable. Things like:
- Determine List of Newsletter Articles
- Write Introduction to Newsletter
- Select template for new website
- Create header for new website
I don’t put ‘write newsletter’ on the list as that’s just too overwhelming and I won’t ever get to it.
Deadlines
In addition to the small steps I’m also setting deadlines as Seth mentions. Now I’ll make one of those goals public as it’s fast approaching and I’m committed to making that goal.
My first studio newsletter will be sent by March 31. I’ve already made some nice progress on the project and am excited about it. [sneak preview: I'm making 3 new aceos (artist cards) inspired by 3 pieces from my Markings series. These will be available to my subscribers via my newsletter].
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Structures #57
I posted an image of Structures #57 in this post a year+ ago but the color was off. I recently got this piece back from the art center where it was on display and rephotographed it. These are more accurate colors.
I love the blue thread over the red fabric in the surface stitching of this piece. Actually I just love the entire thing. A few years back I said I didn't use much red, now I'm finding I'm using it more and more and really love the results. Maybe Cathy Kleeman's influence, she uses red often and well.
Are you putting out fires?
Posted by Lisa in: Being an Artist
Tagged: goals, newsletter, Priorities, Seth Godin, structures series
Actually I’m trying to prevent forest fires before they start. I’ve realized that the way things are going I’m headed towards a perfect storm in Aug-Sept. 08, so I’m trying to cut out the dead wood now.
Don’t you find reds hard to photograph?
WOW. Not only did your post completely resonate Lisa, then there was Pam’s comment — and my calendar seems to be on course with hers. Perhaps we can get a price break on some of those big airlifts of water — nope, the planning thing it must be. I had some real insights and made great progress with Alyson’s ABP, and I know you will as well.
Thanks for another post with substance! I don’t have fires. I do have small flames that I pay too much attention to.
David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” is in my Amazon shopping cart.
I operate by putting out small fires all day, week and month long and I hate operating like this. I would prefer to be prepared and operate with Zen like calmness.
I can not wait to see your ACEO’s ,so glad I am on the mailing list!
Oh Seth, you know how to say it. Yeah, I often feel that my art career is more akin to a fire marshal. Every six months I try to strip away all the tasks that are merely urgent — or worse, the ones that aren’t urgent, but feel like they are. (I’m looking at you competition entries!). I’m good for a few months, then slowly the little worries start creeping back in. Must. Remain. Focused!
Pam – yes! Reds can be a real challenge to photograph! Great to see you this weekend!
Susie – here’s to you having to fires in your studio!
Kim – I hope you enjoy GTD
Cynthia – I would love some Zen like calmness also – I find a moment or 2 each day.
Jen – thanks!
Er – um – Daniel – um – Seth? :):):)