Comments on: I lost my business mojo http://smlacyart.com/i-lost-my-business-mojo/ Sarah Marie Lacy is an artist who paints moody landscapes and delicate figures in oils and acrylics. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:46:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bej http://smlacyart.com/i-lost-my-business-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-743 bej Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:43:04 +0000 http://www.smlacyart.com/blog/?p=894#comment-743 As a writer, I find that I don't market and create at the same time. (And since most of what I write is poetry, I can't expect to live on it!--which is different from your situation.) I focus on writing for a while and then on the admin business side of it. When things are going well, these flow into one another from one day to the next. But at other times I focus on just one side. Also, getting a "day job" to support myself ALWAYS takes more time and energy than I think it will! But for me, a day job is a necessity right now, and I also find it a source of rich material and learning. Good luck sorting all of these issues out. Moving is a HUGE deal. I have moved a lot over the past 20 years and I noticed that it usually takes me 3 months to settle in and a good 6 months before my writing gets flowing again. Maybe you have an adjustment period too? I hope these comments help somehow. I enjoy reading your blog and can empathize with some of your struggles. All the best! As a writer, I find that I don’t market and create at the same time. (And since most of what I write is poetry, I can’t expect to live on it!–which is different from your situation.) I focus on writing for a while and then on the admin business side of it. When things are going well, these flow into one another from one day to the next. But at other times I focus on just one side. Also, getting a “day job” to support myself ALWAYS takes more time and energy than I think it will! But for me, a day job is a necessity right now, and I also find it a source of rich material and learning. Good luck sorting all of these issues out. Moving is a HUGE deal. I have moved a lot over the past 20 years and I noticed that it usually takes me 3 months to settle in and a good 6 months before my writing gets flowing again. Maybe you have an adjustment period too? I hope these comments help somehow. I enjoy reading your blog and can empathize with some of your struggles. All the best!

]]> By: JoVE http://smlacyart.com/i-lost-my-business-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-742 JoVE Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:13:57 +0000 http://www.smlacyart.com/blog/?p=894#comment-742 You've had a lot of change recently. And you were really really tired. Go read some of your blog posts when you first got that job. You were TIRED. So maybe you are just taking some much needed time to adjust. You are getting back into painting gently and experimentally and that is feeling good. At some point (soon, probably) I bet you'll get back into running your own business, gently, experimenting with things. And I bet that'll be good, too. Because you won't be desparate and scared. You'll have the paycheque as a cushion. You've got time. You can be here where you are for a bit. You’ve had a lot of change recently. And you were really really tired. Go read some of your blog posts when you first got that job. You were TIRED.

So maybe you are just taking some much needed time to adjust. You are getting back into painting gently and experimentally and that is feeling good.

At some point (soon, probably) I bet you’ll get back into running your own business, gently, experimenting with things.

And I bet that’ll be good, too. Because you won’t be desparate and scared. You’ll have the paycheque as a cushion.

You’ve got time. You can be here where you are for a bit.

]]> By: Sarah Lacy http://smlacyart.com/i-lost-my-business-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-741 Sarah Lacy Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:13:33 +0000 http://www.smlacyart.com/blog/?p=894#comment-741 @Wormy - I like the idea of a fallow period. It's much more comforting than "I've lost my get up and go". Will attempt to be patient with myself, although that's easier said than done ;-) @Diana - Lurkers and commenters are both welcome here ! (Confession - I'm a lurker too.) It's actually not the lack of selling that's got me down - I've sold more this year than ever before. It's like my motivation to try and sell just got up and left when I wasn't looking. It's completely bizarre. But at the same time, maybe my lack of sales the past month has been at least partially because of the economy so I can remind myself of that at least and cut myself some slack :) I always remind myself that the pieces that are still here are the ones whose perfect owners haven't found them yet ;) @Wormy – I like the idea of a fallow period. It’s much more comforting than “I’ve lost my get up and go”. Will attempt to be patient with myself, although that’s easier said than done ;-)

@Diana – Lurkers and commenters are both welcome here ! (Confession – I’m a lurker too.)

It’s actually not the lack of selling that’s got me down – I’ve sold more this year than ever before. It’s like my motivation to try and sell just got up and left when I wasn’t looking. It’s completely bizarre.

But at the same time, maybe my lack of sales the past month has been at least partially because of the economy so I can remind myself of that at least and cut myself some slack :)

I always remind myself that the pieces that are still here are the ones whose perfect owners haven’t found them yet ;)

]]> By: Diana http://smlacyart.com/i-lost-my-business-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-740 Diana Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:08:31 +0000 http://www.smlacyart.com/blog/?p=894#comment-740 Hi Sarah, I'm a reader of yours but a bit of a lurker, sorry. Would it be rude of me to point out that our current economic downturn has taken the spice out of selling for a lot of us? I know I can only take so much rejection, and when artwork starts to take over my studio and the walls of my home instead of selling, I get dispirited. In fact, just today I was thinking I should put it all out of sight! Because walking by these pieces that were such a joy to create, these pieces that haven't found homes yet, that's kind of sad. I hope we are able to return to a normal marketplace for art in the near future. I don't know how long I can maintain my motivation for my own small business with so little interest in the marketplace. I'm so glad this hasn't dampened your interest in painting for its own sake! .-= Diana´s last blog ..<a href="http://mosaicmoods.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/la-vida-es-dulce-life-is-sweet/" rel="nofollow">La Vida es Dulce (Life is Sweet)</a> =-. Hi Sarah,
I’m a reader of yours but a bit of a lurker, sorry.

Would it be rude of me to point out that our current economic downturn has taken the spice out of selling for a lot of us?

I know I can only take so much rejection, and when artwork starts to take over my studio and the walls of my home instead of selling, I get dispirited.

In fact, just today I was thinking I should put it all out of sight! Because walking by these pieces that were such a joy to create, these pieces that haven’t found homes yet, that’s kind of sad.

I hope we are able to return to a normal marketplace for art in the near future. I don’t know how long I can maintain my motivation for my own small business with so little interest in the marketplace.

I’m so glad this hasn’t dampened your interest in painting for its own sake!
.-= Diana´s last blog ..La Vida es Dulce (Life is Sweet) =-.

]]> By: Wormy http://smlacyart.com/i-lost-my-business-mojo/comment-page-1/#comment-739 Wormy Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:13:20 +0000 http://www.smlacyart.com/blog/?p=894#comment-739 Oh, hard! Yuck! First off, this requires tea and chocolate cake and toffee. Yum, toffee. I think I know where you're coming from at the moment because what you describe here seems similar to what I've been going through in a slightly different way. I feel a little like a rabbit stuck in the headlights, startled, blinded, panicking and knowing I need to make a move but not being able to. Whilst I'm not suggesting this is what you're feeling, I've been experiencing an apathy to dealing with this and that is what I identify with. I sat down today to write about it because I was all jittery today and needed to sort it out in my head. I realised that first off I need to be kind to myself about this, then I need to be really sure about what it is I want out of this situation rather than what I think is expected for me to want. It sounds to me (and feel free to take this with a pinch of salt) that earning money has let you explore the art, taken the pressure off your art having to earn and therefore conform to a "standard", but there is also a part of you that was hugely empowered by running your business and that gently you'll reconcile being able to play with art and play in business. In the mean time, you've got your rent covered. Sounds like a fallow season to me, with a bit of replenishing going on after the move, settling in and down, saying good bye to the beginnings of your new adventure and ensuring you've got enough inside before continuing in your new direction. If you're used to pushing on ahead like crazy, these times can drive you nuts. Oh sweets - lots of hugs and warm wishes. xx .-= Wormy´s last blog ..<a href="http://thesecretlifeofwormhill.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/you%E2%80%99re-invited/" rel="nofollow">You’re Invited!</a> =-. Oh, hard! Yuck! First off, this requires tea and chocolate cake and toffee. Yum, toffee.

I think I know where you’re coming from at the moment because what you describe here seems similar to what I’ve been going through in a slightly different way.

I feel a little like a rabbit stuck in the headlights, startled, blinded, panicking and knowing I need to make a move but not being able to.

Whilst I’m not suggesting this is what you’re feeling, I’ve been experiencing an apathy to dealing with this and that is what I identify with.

I sat down today to write about it because I was all jittery today and needed to sort it out in my head. I realised that first off I need to be kind to myself about this, then I need to be really sure about what it is I want out of this situation rather than what I think is expected for me to want.

It sounds to me (and feel free to take this with a pinch of salt) that earning money has let you explore the art, taken the pressure off your art having to earn and therefore conform to a “standard”, but there is also a part of you that was hugely empowered by running your business and that gently you’ll reconcile being able to play with art and play in business. In the mean time, you’ve got your rent covered.

Sounds like a fallow season to me, with a bit of replenishing going on after the move, settling in and down, saying good bye to the beginnings of your new adventure and ensuring you’ve got enough inside before continuing in your new direction. If you’re used to pushing on ahead like crazy, these times can drive you nuts.

Oh sweets – lots of hugs and warm wishes.
xx
.-= Wormy´s last blog ..You’re Invited! =-.

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