Doesn’t it seem like only a few days ago, we were welcoming the New Year with bright ideas about how to make 2017 the best year ever? In case you haven’t been as successful in this area as you would like, in this article I offer some ideas to help you get back on track.
What comes to mind as you imagine your biggest dreams and wishes? What goal(s) will have the biggest impact now on your art career? If you’re having a problem deciding which goals to pursue, here are some ideas:
- Build stronger professional relationships
- Increase my art sales volume by __ percent
- Improve my art business skills
- Grow my email list to 10 new subscribers a week.
- Get into a gallery
- Become a better blog writer
- Develop a new series of artwork
- Improve my physical health, vitality, and creative passion
- Expand my reputation to an international scale
How to Manage Your Goal-Attaining Efforts
- Choose goals that are manageable. Decide what you can accomplish in the time you have available on a daily and weekly basis. Be realistic; otherwise, you may get overwhelmed and discouraged and abort your goals.
- List the benefits of your goals. Decide to view your primary career objectives as positive and enjoyable experiences that will generate many rewards including wellbeing and empowerment.
- Challenge yourself. Choose goals that will take you outside your comfort zone but not so difficult that you’ll dread working on them. The idea is to push yourself further but enjoy the process and look forward to it.
- Keep your goals in plain sight. Write your goals and activities in a journal or computer file and keep it updated daily. Also, apply visual reminders about your goals on your phone, bulletin board or mirror.
- Develop a support system. If you accomplish more when you have a buddy, coach, or support group, get that system in place for when you have to face the roughest challenges and rejections.
- Create backup plans. Develop contingency plans to adjust to the ebb and flow that naturally occur in life. As outside interferences arise, give yourself permission to put less effort into your goal on some days and more on others.
- Manage time wisely. Select a primary dedicated time slot for working on your goal and a secondary time option. This way, if you miss the earlier time, such as early morning, you’ll be sure to work on the project later on in the day no matter what.
- Avoid the Perils of the Two P’s. Perfectionism and procrastination are stall progress and success. Replace striving for perfectionism with striving to do better. Pay attention to when and why you are procrastinating, and solve the issue once and for all.
- Reward yourself. When you achieve an aspect of your goal, no matter how small the accomplishment may appear, take time to congratulate yourself. Enjoy the benefits of having attained your objective.
- Forge ahead with positive enthusiasm. Creating art career goals can be adventurous, creative and rewarding. Every day you get another opportunity delve into your deepest desires and formulate new ways to bring them to fruition. Stay positive. If one plan doesn’t work, try another.
Renée Phillips, The Artrepreneur Coach, helps artists achieve their fullest potential in consultations and coaching. She offers art-business articles and e-Books on www.renee-phillips.com. As founder/director of Manhattan Arts International, www.manhattanarts.com, she promotes artists in curated art programs and online exhibitions. She is also the founder/editor of The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS, www.healing-power-of-art.org.
