Anyone running a small business knows that we are required to do all of the same things that larger businesses do... ourselves. Just because I'm not a large corporation does not mean that I can neglect all of the things that those larger organizations must do to be successful. I have to create products, market, sell, keep records, pay taxes, budget time and resources... and ultimately make a profit. I have to be an accountant, and a photographer, and a sales executive, and a craftsman, and a writer, public speaker, and risk analyst. I have to do it all.
The idea that I can back away from my responsibilities because I may fail seems inconceivable to me. If I believed that, then I would never create art. I am a better artist today than I was five years ago. If I were to abstain from painting until I was really good at it, I would never get better.
So what if I extend myself to various platforms at the same time. As long as I do not burn myself out, what does it matter if I am not the best blogger or podcaster out there? I can see at a glance that I am a much better today than I was when I began. So no, I do not seriously consider that I'm hurting my business by not being the best at anything.
Which brings me to creating business goals and objectives. I'm not claiming that I will always meet every goal, or even that every objective we create is achievable. However, the process of creating an actionable plan for our business, one that we can use to evaluate and to measure our success, is hugely important. And that's why we have always spent time at the start of every new year to forge a set of goals and measurable objectives for our art business. We carve out time to host a Goals Retreat, where we go somewhere that is not home, and not the studio, and dedicate uninterrupted attention to evaluating the previous year, and making a plan for the year to come.
To me the most important thing to remember when I'm creating business goals and objectives, is that they are MY goals and objectives. I have every right to change them, ignore them, or fail at them. I can never assume that a failure of a goal or objective is a personal failure, or even a business failure. Don't ever allow self sabotage.
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“Art Life with John & Bogdan” is a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels. We want to discuss what we’re learning, what we’ve experienced, and whom we’ve met in our journey of running a freelance creative business. John Bishop is a visual artist living in Houston, Texas. His work is largely abstract, and explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Bogdan is a videographer and fine art photographer who constantly seeks to stretch the boundaries of traditional photographic work, with the added flare of his artistic eye. Both artists’ work can be seen online, or at their studios at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards Street, in Houston.
John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com
Bogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com
Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/
John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart
Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com
