School of Creative Business - Creative Entrepreneurship

Living a Creative Thought Provoking Life - Strategy #1: Use Wasted Time

Strategy #1: Use Wasted Time

We all waste time in some way another, but even wasted time can be productive. Now I am not advocating that we don't need some R&R. OMG- we need that just to recharge from a busy day, but what I am saying here is that when we have wasted time, we should fill up the time with productive or pleasurable activities.

As discussed in Attributes of Creative Type, we tend to jump around from one thing to the next, and we can sometimes get irritated because we didn't get to fully enjoy the creative release. So instead of sitting on that sofa clicking through the channels or being mad at yourself for not enjoying the moment, take a few minutes at the end of our day to think back over your day and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.

You  can start by asking yourself these questions:

• When did I do my worst thinking today?
• When did I do my best thinking?
• What was on my mind today?
• Did I figure out a problem I been working  on or thinking about?
• Did I allow any negative thinking to irritate me?
• If I had to repeat today, what would I do differently? Why?
• Did I do anything to further my long-term goals?
• Did I act in accordance with my own expressed values and beliefs?
• If I spend everyday this way for 10 years, would I have accomplished something worthy of that time?

Take a few moments with each question. Record your response. Look or listen to what you have said and as time goes on you will begin to notice a pattern in your creative thinking. The key is to celebrate what you are doing good and get rid/change what is not working for you.

The 9 Strategies to Living a Creative Thought Provoking Life have been established to get you going in the right direction. Take Action and Make Your Biggest and Brightest Dreams Come True!!

Tomorrow's Post

 Creative Thinking: An Artist's Everyday Life -  Video Journal entry of me sharing with you guys my experience with Strategy #1 - Use Wasted Time.

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Until Tomorrow -Peace & More Love,

 

9 Strategies for Living a More Creative Thought Provoking Life

Hey Everyone,

This week I want to begin with sharing with you guys strategies I''ve learned as a student in the I  doctoral program  from Argosy University. In my research I located an article detailing 9 Strategies of Critical Thinking in Everyday Life from the The Critical Thinking Community.

Well I began thinking that a lot of the strategies in this article could also be applied to artists who are looking for ways to Live a More Creative Thought Provoking Life.

So with that said, I began putting together a 9 series post and video journal on Living A More Creative Thought Provoking Life and my personal video journal on Creative Thinking: An Artist's Everyday Life.

 

The 9 Strategies to Living a More Creative Thought Provoking Life series will include:

Strategy 1. Use Wasted Time

Strategy 2. A Problem a Day

Strategy 3. Internalize Intellectual Standards

Strategy 4. Reshape Your Character

Strategy 5. Deal with Your Egocentrism

Strategy 6. Redefine the Way You See Things

Strategy 7. Get in touch with Your Emotions

Strategy 8. Analyze Group Influences on Your Life

Strategy 9. Wrap Up

 

Here is How it Will Go:

I will post 1 strategy a day. A video about my artist experience as I live through each strategy will be posted the following day, Totaling up to 18 days of Living a More Creative Thought Provoking Life. 

During this process I hope everyone will share their thoughts about these strategies and also about my video journals. (Just remember, I'm an Artist and I'm sensitivity about my sh*t - Ekyra Badu).

What will You Need:

First : You will need to read as many post as you can. I totally understand we get busy, but the good thing about these 9 strategies- they aren't time sensitivity. So you can work through them anytime of the day or week.

Second:Just like I will do, You will need to document your thoughts. This can be done in a journal, sketch book, note cards, voice recorder or thru- video. The important thing is that you start to analyze and assess  your creative thinking processes.

Third: Share your thoughts with the rest of us. You don't have to share the actual journal entries, but we would love to hear what you've learn in the process, so we too can learn with you.

9 Strategies to Living a Creative Thought Provoking Life Series Will Start...

This Tuesday. So that you will not miss one post or video Subscribe to this Blog  (if you haven't already). See You Then.

Peace & More Love,  

 

Living a Creative Thought Provoking Life Blog & Video Series Begins May 17th

Hey guys, Beginning May 17th I'm running a blog and video series on "Living a Creative Thought Provoking Life".

The blog and video series is based on the teachings of critical thinking and how to apply critical thinking strategies to our everyday artistic lives.

More information on this series is on its way. So Subscribe- if you have not already done so- to receive the latest posting of the "Living a Creative Thought Provoking Life" - blog and video series.

See you then,

  

Art Marketing Tip - Create Company Vision

Do you have a vision for your creative business?

Can you picture where you want to be in 5, 10 or 20 years? The beauty of establishing a vision for the future of your creative business is that it's all yours. You can make it as big or small as you want. Establishing your vision gives you a focal point that you can refer to whenever there are business planning considerations.

When considering your vision for your creative business, remove the potential obstacles. Your ultimate vision is the equivalent of a dream and the biggest goal you what to achieve. If money were no object, what would your business look like?

Spend some time thinking about your vision for your creative business. Then commit your vision to paper. It might be as simple as a few sentences, or might dig deeper an outline multiple goals.

Create a Vision Board

Christine Kane does a wonderful job explaining what a vision board is and why create one. Click here to read more on creating vision boards.

To Inspire You

Check out a few vision boards from Flickr-

1. Goddess Dreambook / Vision Board: Entrepreneurship, 2. 2010 vision board (Brynn), 3. Vision Board 2007/#1, 4. Vision Board for 2010 - Day 21/365

How to Add a Photo to Your Blog Comments

Have you ever wondered how others folks photos show up with comments left on your blog? Well I found the solution to the problem. It's Gravatar. Check out the video below to get started.

 

 

Kelly Rae Roberts:Tips & Tricks To Help Your Creative Business Soar E- Course

I am so excited to inform you guys that Kelly Rae Roberts has developed an E-Course on how to start and maintain your creative business. If you are unaware of Kelly Rae Roberts, she is a great artist who has proven to be very successful at what she does. Read more about Kelly Rae Roberts here.

To learn more about Flying Lessons: Tips & Tricks to Help Your Creative Business Soar Click Here.

Classes Start May 30th. And the cost of the 5 Week Course is less than $100- that's $20 per week. What a Deal. I am signing up today.

What I learned as an Artist from the Purple Cow by Seth Godin

I'm reading the Purple Cow : Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin and I've found that much of the information in his book has been very useful in thinking of ways to transform my art business into something remarkable. I too believe that the Purple Cow could help you as an artist transform your business. 

Below is a list 19 things I've learned as an artist from reading the Purple Cow, I hope what I've learned is helpful to you as well.

1.    Instead of using the newest and greatest gadgets to make better artwork- reinvest in the old tools of the trade to make a new dramatic take on the original.

 

2.    People no longer interested on what I'm are currently doing- then take projects and reinvent them into learning something new.

 

3.    Create something that will catch  the attention of many. Put the new creation through- an "idea-virus" analysis: Will people love it?, Will they share it with friends?, Could the new creation be considered a fad?, and Does it having staying power?

 

4.   My artwork shouldn’t carter to the masses. They should only cater to the customers I choose.

 

5.    Create artwork that only appeals to one specific market. Try to dominate it- Do what others artist like myself aren't.

 

6.    Brainstorm ways to be different than other artist in my field. Choose one thing and incorporate it into my artist business.

 

7.    Measure what’s working and want isn’t working. Then make changes. If I can measure it,  then I can improve it.

 

8.    Creating good art isn’t good enough. Strive for creating remarkable art! Playing it safe isn't good enough. I have to take a few risk to make something good into great!

 

9. I should have 20% of my customers email address. And then start creating products that will be super special for only them. (Subscribe by emailto receive creative business solutions for your art business.)

 

10.   Create collectible versions of my artwork. Think of artwork in sets, as trade items, and gift sets.

 

11.   Take a breaks often. Take a few days or months to rest. And later return to the drawing board with new high energy.

 

12.   Create a slogan that’s true, consistent and worth passing on to others.

 

13.   Create a business card that will sell me as an artist. I created my first set on Moo.

 

14.    Make sure my email link works and when I'm contacted quickly respond with a nice note.  

 

15.  Learn more things outside of art, learn Excel or an accounting software.

 

16.   Learn from the best in my field.  Learn how they became successful and try to model their behavior into my own art business. 

 

17.   Immerse myself into discussion boards, social networking groups of people who love the things I create. It is a great way to learn from those who buy art.

18. Make a product that's cooler, more trendy and edgy, then other artist.  And price it 30% lesser.

19. The act of making something custom is in itself is remarkable. Share this remarkable feeling service with others who appreciate customize items.

Love Links: Business Resources for the Creative Professional

Love Links time! Sending out a few links that I thought was very helpful for any creative professional. Check them out for yourself. Happy Clicking.
 

20 Questions Buyers Are Asking About Your Product - Need to know what others are saying about your product, learn here from this post, what buyers are actual wanting and needing.

Marketing or Sales? The Big Companies Do Both. Learn how the pros do both marketing and sales. Advice from this post will put you in the right direction.

Share Your Craft this was a very inspiring post about sharing your craft with others. Check out the video that followers the post,

10 Things to Consider Before Starting Your Indie Business - the title says it all. Great insight from Stephanie Fizer. She also offers an ecourse on creating a successful indie business.

How to Market Your Etsy Shop with MailChimp - this is a 36 page guide that is geared toward an online store on Etsy, but the information in this is so wonderful and can be used for any online or brick and motar shop.

BigHugeLabs- I just love this site. It is a great way to create fun calendar screen savers, movie posters from a favorite photo. Go ahead and have some fun creating unique photo projects.

March's Creative Business Resource Love Links

Happy March.

Creative Business Resource Love Links for the month of March are all about ways to promote your business. These creative resources are really good jump starters. Click on a few and see for yourself what these links have to offer. Happy Clicking.

How to Make a Tutorial - If you have ever thought about sharing a few of your artist techniques, then this link will help you create informative tutorials for your blog readers.

How to Make a Button for Your Website - ok this one is good. If you want to promote yourself outside of your blog, then you' re going to need a button to display on a social networking site and other blogs.

Creating a Email Me Button for Your Blog - Would you like to get more emails from your readers, then create a button that will welcome emails.

How to Make a Product Catalog - Are your seeking more exposure for your art products? Then you need to produce a catalog that displays a few of your items. Glitzer Ideasdoes a good job explaining how to create a product catalog.

Five Super Tips for Selling Online is a PDF file prepared by Anda and Vanessa of Etsy.com.

Public Relations for the Independent Designer. We all need to a PR person on our side. But if you are on a tight budget like myself, then you have been doing your own public relations. Check out this PDF file prepared by Grace Bonney of Design *Sponge at designsponge.blogspot.com.

How to Approach Blogs to Write About You - OMG this is the most wonderful creative resource I could have found. You are going to love it.  Modish Biz Tips has done a great job pulling all this information together.

Subscribe 

If you’d like to keep up to date with what’s going on here  please subscribe to Alease Michelle Mixed Media. To keep up with what's happening in my artist career and business subscribe to Studio 2229.  

Great Example of Documenting the Artist Process

Learning to document the process as we are working on our art projects can be time consuming and down right impossible. I have tried my best to document my artist process. but sometimes I get so involved in the actual doing of the artwork, that I forget to take pictures of the steps.

Art of Wyanne, does a great job with documenting her artist process through video. It actually tells story and where her inspiration comes from. By the way, buyers love background information about the art pieces we create.

Check Out Wyanne creative process below.