There is no absolute truth in business. Nobody knows the future. The only thing you can have is faith that what you present to the world will be rewarded with the ability to keep going. One foot in front of the other. But it cannot be done in a vacuum. You need to have dialogue with everyone and everything. Dialogue beyond words. You need to listen to reason and ignore naysayers with equal conviction. Allow your intuition, not your ego, to guide you to your truth and how you choose to portray that truth in your art and your business. The goal is to be able to say, “This is the way we do it.” without apology or hubris.
If you permit yourself, authentic communication will determine what you rely on and will give you the ability to define and ever evolve your message. Marcy Blum wrote a terrific post yesterday about the art of salesmanship and the importance of energy and enthusiasm to anything you do. I am talking about taking it a step further – to know that dialogue infuses passion and can define all that you are as an artist and creative business. It allows you to be in the moment and still be able to shape your future.
I attended my sister-in-law’s funeral on Wednesday. She was in her early 40’s and leaves behind my step-brother and her two boys, 12 and 15. The funeral home was overflowing and grief visceral. The eulogies spoke to the daughter, wife, mother, sister and friend that she is. The words were what they were, but the moments when words could not come spoke volumes.
We all die. The sadness of death has to be juxtaposed with the the joy of being alive, to live and love well and to go forward. Art communicates beyond words, expresses all that we are and hope to be. Art is life and, more importantly, love. Artists are the gatekeepers of our humanity. They are its stewards and its guardians. Turning your art into a business only increases your responsibility as an artist.
Listen and communicate beyond the literal, actually feel what surrounds you and allow others to feel you as you express your art. You might not choose to believe it, but this dialogue is what you are really selling and what your clients most want from you and your creative business.
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Wow, thank you for a very powerful post Sean. This one really resonated with me.
It seems since we had our consultation, there have been so many signs about what you and I talked about that reinforced your message that day to me, including this post.
I have listened to you and my heart and my intuition and it has truly has brought me closer to be able to understand and express myself and the art of what I do to others. And they are listening:)
Thank you Sean for this very heart-felt post. I can tell this was a difficult post for you to write in the wake of the loss to your family.
T.
Sean I’m so sorry to read about your loss, my heart goes out to you and your families! It’s amazing how every time I read your posts I wonder what personal experience transpired that week to provoke the topic – because your art is taking your experiences and giving others the gift of learning from the other side. And halfway through this post clearly I see where today’s love and passion comes from. Thanks for sharing with us!
Sean, as always I am amazed by your voice of authenticity, integrity and hard-earned wisdom. I love your messages, and today’s in particular. “Art communicates beyond words” – I remember being struck by the statement Art is the voice of our soul. You captured that truth so brilliantly today.
Thank you for always expressing the positive, even in sadness.
Thank you for embracing pain and seeing in it – inspiration.
Thank you for your continued work to teach and inspire. Wow! Your words have served to further confirm the passion that God has placed in me! I appreciate you!
Your voice expressed a message that came from your heart. Your being is “Beautiful”……you fill me with pride….I am honored to be your Mother
Dear Sean,
My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Thank you for your inspiring words and outlook on life, love & business – really puts everything into relative importance and forces me to step back and look at the ‘big picture.’ I continue to find direction in all your guidance; your message always resinates so deeply with me – sometimes I forget you’re not writing directly to me:)
Very Best,
Amanda