I was very different when I transitioned from an artist to an artist-entrepreneur. After two decades as a working artist, lots have changed, not just in me but also the landscape of business has transformed so dramatically. Business improves people because it pushes us to look beyond our knowledge and educate ourselves further. After all, if we don't, our company may not be sustainable. And a failed business is not on anyone's wish list. You know that saying, "When you stop growing, you start dying," by William S. Burroughs. That is so true. If you are not learning, you are on autopilot; doing the same thing for your business despite the changes around you will eventually kill your business. So if you are thinking of making your art into a business, look at these thirteen characteristics, and see if you can identify with them. If you don't, it doesn't mean you are doomed; it just means adopting a few of the following traits could help you nurture success.
Here is the list I put together. I didn't have all 13 of these attributes when I first started. I got four at best on the list, and that was it. The rest came later. 1. Passionate; Adequate Art Skills Supported by a Huge Passion for Art When I started my art career, I had been sporadically painting for 3-4 years, but I had enough skill to make my art sellable. Most importantly, I had a passion for art. I was consistently improving my craft and making better art as I went. And inadvertently, my art sales improve. 2. Courageous I started my business with the desire to have a creative business, something that lights me up every day. Courage was just a by-product that I needed because of my deep passion for designing the life that I wanted. I knew that if I didn't plunge into creating an art business, I would be stuck in an uninspiring career, complaining about it every day. So yes, it was scary to quit my job and go for my passion, but I couldn’t waste another day doing something I intensely disliked. It takes courage to decide, but once you commit, your courage will teach you the rest. Do not let the unknown intimidate your decision-making. 3. Tenacious This characteristic is essential; for two decades, I went through 3 recessions and a few political and natural disasters, including the pandemic, but I am still here. The reason why is because I have learned that no matter how tricky business is, you got to have a positive ability to bounce back from hardship or failure. 4. Professionalism A professional attitude and good work ethic are a must; the way you conduct your business has to be of a certain standard, such as reliability, discretion, customer relationship, and democracy. If you build your business with integrity, honesty, and responsibility, your business will be sustainable. And that goes with customer relations as well; this one I learned from the hospitality industry, the customer is everything. But since then, I have also known that customer is not always right, and when a customer abuses their right, it is time for you to set them on the correct path but do it with professionalism and integrity. 5. Creative I started the business with the desire to create daily, but once I started selling my art, I realized that the marketing and selling of my art are equally as essential. Treat your art and marketing as an even field. Without one or the other, your business will not be a business. You need both to survive; that means you got to educate yourself in your pursuit and be the best artist, marketer, and salesperson to your best ability. 6. Learnaholic If you desire to learn consistently and are willing to try new things to improve your business and your art skill, you will create a flourishing and sustainable brand. 7. ProductiveTime management is massive on my list. I was horrible at time management when I was young. I dreamt a lot and got nothing done because of lousy goal setting and time management. Since an art business is multi-faceted, you are the maker, marketer, and salesperson. If you cannot manage your time efficiently, your business will stand at a standstill. Again this is something you can learn, so if you are not good at time management, wait for my goal-setting workshop; it will be an eye opener. 8. Patiently Committed I rolled Commitment and Patience together because they need to simultaneously exist. Are you willing to commit to a long term pursuit and be patient for the result? And what are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your goal? When I started my business, I had to sacrifice quite a bit; first, I didn't have much money to begin with, and secondly, I wanted to have a successful business, so I knew I had to sacrifice for the long term gain. I did not travel abroad for six years, which was hard for my gypsy personality, but once I built momentum and security around my business, I packed my backpack, bought a ticket to South East Asia! 9. Resourceful Learn to manage your money to have enough to sustain and grow. You don't need to be a chartered accountant to run your business but it's important to know the basics of business accounting. Understanding the input and output of your income would greatly help you manage your business properly. Here is a tip; Always keep your expenses down and your revenue high. Invest only in things that will help you to have the best gain. Remember to pay yourself first; when that is not possible, you only have a hobby. 10. Problem Solver The ability to solve problems is a must in entrepreneurship. Do not be overwhelmed when business problems arise because they will. Learning to assess your situation quickly and find solutions is part of owning a business. The best way to do this is by breaking the problem down, writing a list of things that could solve it, and working at it one at a time. Schedule them, so they get done; once you complete your tasks, your problem is solved! 11. Motivator When you work for someone, your boss motivates you either by fear of rewards, so when you work for yourself, you most likely won't deploy fear as one of your methods, but you can use results as your motivation. And perhaps a little reward can do the trick as well. Motivation is the will to do well and succeed in your business. As an entrepreneur, you must push yourself to overcome challenges and stay focus. One of my best ways to do this is by measuring results; when I see something that I am doing is getting traction and results, that motivates me to do more of what works. To stop being overwhelmed, break your big goals into small manageable ones, and tackle the small ones first; once you accomplish those, your big plan is completed. Rewarding yourself is another way to motivate yourself, perhaps give yourself a long weekend off to relax and chill at a spa, etc. For me, it's adventure travel; my backpack is usually packed. :) 12. Networker You can't underestimate the art of networking. No one can stand alone; it is impossible. When I started my art journey, I joined art societies, volunteered my time, and networked. Networking made my beginning journey so much easier because I had the support of my industry peers. That has led me to more business and gallery representation, art shows, and interviews with prestigious magazines and newspapers. Networking is underestimated as a business practice; the more you do, the faster your business will grow because a company grows faster when there is human connection. 13. Visionary Vision is another essential characteristic; creativity for your art is not enough; you have the vision to grow your business. For example, what plans do you have for your business future, a year or five years from now? A vision is the result of where your art business goal is, the big picture. Your dream must be grand but manageable; it has to fuel your drive and effort to want more. Conclusion So that’s my list, it is not impossible to achieve because it is a process. And as you manage your business and take the necessary steps, you will learn to see and do things differently. Eventually these insightful characteristics will become you. The key ingredient of being a successful artist-entrepreneur is the desire to be one. If you need help building your art business, come join my free FB Group and participate with like-minded artists and start making your art into a viable art business. With Creative Joy, Ting
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Ting YuenI am an artist and art marketing strategist that is passionate about creating meaningful art and courses that inspire your life, business and home. Archives
September 2024
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