Clearing The Pipes

April 4, 2016

Until you know exactly what it feels like to be true to your art and the essence of your creative business, no change will be effective. You have to strip away the gunk in the pipes before you can talk about what water needs to flow through it. The gunk are all those things that […]

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Add A Zero

March 10, 2016

What does it mean to be fearless? To be confident in your gifts as an artist? Capable of transforming those who commission you and your creative business to do just that? Add a zero. What happens then? For most of you, the narrative of impossibility takes over. “I could never get that much.” My clients […]

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It’s Not About You. Or Is It?

March 1, 2016

As he is wont to do, Seth Godin wrote a great post a few days ago about what triggers trust. I love the two issues he sees: The trustworthy person or organization that fails to understand or take action on the symbols and mysteries that actually lead to trust, and as a result, fails to make […]

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The Power of Story

February 25, 2016

Bill Baker defines storytelling as “an exchange of meaning shared from one person to another for a purpose.” “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.” Hemingway’s (supposedly) shortest story. It means something to you because of your life experience and what you imagine it to be. For most, it speaks of tragedy. Some, however, may just […]

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From Fertilizer Comes Flowers

February 17, 2016

Overcoming adversity is the testament every successful person on the planet shares. Until you get knocked down, you have no idea what it is to get back up. Such is the beauty of life. However, that is not my focus today. Instead, I am writing about when the new version of you, your art and […]

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Commissions

February 2, 2016

I spoke this morning on Periscope about commissions in creative business; specifically non-transparent commissions. The topic is such a hot button, I thought I would also write about it again here. I have long been out there saying how much I am against commissions where the client is unaware of the practice and has to […]

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What Are You Worried About?

January 26, 2016

Here comes that time of year again. 2016 looks good but the proverbial phone is not ringing enough. Money is running low –   holiday hangover, taxes coming due, deposits spent. Water is rising and you worry you are going to drown. After all, that prime date, time for the plum project, pending business deal are […]

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What Happens When Your Clients Are Morons?

January 20, 2016

Here is the thing.  For the most part, clients of creative businesses are smart.  Really really smart.  They have made their way enough in the world to be able to afford the services of a creative business.  Yes, there are varying degrees, but the ability to hire a creative business is evidence of success – […]

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Desire

January 13, 2016

So you run a creative business.  However you came to the decision, just hanging out your shingle is enough to show your willingness, your gumption to go your own way.  The question then is how deep does your desire go?  Mike Tyson is really well known for saying that everyone has a plan until they […]

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What Matters?

January 8, 2016

A New Year.  Transition into hope.  The prayer to leave behind what is broken, nourish what breathes life.  Answers to both are there if only we choose to look.  The beauty always comes in the unexpected, the unknowable, unforeseen moments that define us.  Gratefulness is the ability to relish the moments without distinction or judgment.  […]

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