Quote of the Day: You’re not gonna get it cuz you want it; you’re gonna get it cuz you planned it. Mr. Taj Mahal, blues-rock musician (His website is full of rhythm.)
School’s out for summer for my boys. School is in session for their Mama. I applied for and was accepted to a class through the Five Wings Arts Council called The Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists. This class is provided free of charge to me, the artist, through a grant. (The Artist Development Project is provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, in partnership with the Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota, Springboard for the Arts and Creative Capital. This activity is made possible, in part, by funding from the the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.)
The instructor got us thinking about our five year plan in our business as artists. If you plan your goals the same way you plan for a trip – routes, estimated times of departure and arrival, stops along the way, clear about the destination – you will reach that goal, and you’ll be able to stay focused. She had us visualize our ideal day as an artist, and start filling out charts and plans. I couldn’t answer them all that night. I need to think about a few of them. Plus, I was too interested in the discussion and all the great new artists I met! I’m fulfilling my longing to be part of an artist community.
Who’s climbing that ladder with me?
Journaling Prompt: What’s your five year plan? Write down five things you can do in the next six months to get you further along your journey. (We did this, signed it, and sealed it in a envelope. I imagine it will come back to me in six months so I can assess my progress.)
Cute pic. Congrats on your acceptance and good luck with your plan. 🙂
A nice goal, to be moving up that symbolic ladder! I think that putting goals and schedules down on paper gives them an authenticity that we then live up to. Good luck with the class, it sounds really motivating!
I agree…cool pic!! What an exciting opportunity for you and it will be so fun to watch your goals and dreams come true! I think you will appreciate this little story: I was recently talking with my 14 yr old daughter about some life choices, etc. She stated that she is afraid to tell people the truth when they ask her what she wants to do when she grows up. I asked her why? She said, because they would give her a look, like yah, right. So, I asked her, what percentage of adults that she interacts with are “living their dream”–she replied maybe about 2-5%–I replied–BINGO!! My advise to her–NEVER, EVER STOP DREAMING!
I am so excited to be able to share with her the steps you are taking in making your dream’s come true!
Congrats! Keep Climbing the ladder to your dreams/passion/success…
Clara.
Hey, Thanks! It looks like I have many friends climbing with me. Climb on!
Congrats, Mary! Love your enthusiasm (it’s contagious, thank you!!) And that laddar is too cool for words — we’re right there behind you, go, Mary, go! (Cute pic!)
How cool! In five years, I’d love to have a publishing contract!!!
I want to see you at the top, girlfriend! That sounds like a very smart class. We all need to think about where we want to be in five years.
I’m comin’ inch by inch!
That sounds like a great course. Arts and business don’t seem to go together, but they really do, for survival’s sake!
I love the idea of your journaling prompts. It really made me think about my plans. Thanks!
I can see you all dreaming and climbing. Here we go, foot up, step down, make a plan, keep moving forward!
Congrats on your course.
I need to get my lazy butt out of bed earlier.
Plans help us to focus. So, good on you – your envelope is sealed and waiting for you months down the road:))
Mary, this sounds absolutely perfect for you. I’m quite envious, but in a good way. It’s well-timed, and I know you have a partner there to join you in the journey. What could be better? I look forward to the nuggets I’ll glean from your learning. Enjoy!
Oooh, I like this idea. My goal? To start sending out stuff for publication instead of tweaking it forever.
Way to go Mary!!
How exciting. I wish you the best.
and I just want to be more disciplined this summer to find time away to keep writing so I can start submitting .
Thta’s a really great idea! Summer is tough to do any climbing but I’ll be do some majoring steppin’ come fall. 🙂
How wonderful for you! And, I agree .. we need to have a plan, but we also need to allow wiggle room and forgive ourselves if we don’t meet all of the time goals. This business of writing takes foooorrrreeevvver!
Mary, thanks for stopping by. Yes, you’re an ‘original’, a treasured original. I remember the time frame when you clicked to Follow. Like a kid at Christmas I practically yelled for my hub to come see, I had a real Follower (not that close friends and family aren’t Followers, but you know what I mean). At the point where you entered my life, I was very discouraged about my blog, didn’t see much point in writing into a vaccuum, for people are people and need feed-back of some type.
So, from the bottom of my heart, I really, really want you to write and publish that book. You’ve got it in you. I know you do. Hugs!
VERY cool post!
LOVE your five-year plan.
But right now I am struggling to make a five-hour plan.
SO good to be back to this blog!!!
P
good for you! that is way exciting. what a neat way to accomplish your goals!
Mary,
what a wonderful experience! I’m so glad there’s a vibrant artist’s community near you and that you’re getting involved in it! Best of luck climbing that ladder 🙂
Jen