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Today I’d like to talk to you about the start of my journey of building a business around my art, and some of the resistance and negativity I experienced on the way.
This is a topic very close to heart. Making the right decisions in that context can ENSURE you’ll have the potential to succeed.
Making the wrong decision? You’re done before you even got started.
When I Started My Business…
I started this art thing towards the end of my military service. I actually got started by writing and publishing books independently on Amazon.
That went well and I think it was a combination of skill and LOTS of luck too.
Resistance and Negativity
I encountered A LOT of pushback from family and friends when it came to pursuing a career in art, and building a business around art.
A lot of it was definitely not ill-intended. Many times people have your best interest in mind (or at least that’s what they think).
But you have to understand that they don’t have your vision, wants and needs. They have no idea what makes you happy, or how important something is for you.
People Just Don’t SEE You
A mind-boggling thing I mention in the episode is how – nowhere between 5-17 was I ever “Huh, you’re actually really good at this art thing, maybe you should do something with it!”.
It’s amazing to really think about it this way, as I was doing quit a good job even when I was around 6-7 years old, copying drawings from one of my Dr. Seuss books.
For some reason I was pushed to learn physics and computer engineering. I found those somewhat interesting, but only to a very limited extent.
Again, I can’t really blame anyone for this. Art isn’t the obvious career path, and computers and sciences were and are still on a pedestal.
But I do think the world will be a MUCH better place if people would at least notice others’ gifts and mention something. A simple compliment can go a HUGE way.
The Positive Note & A Word of Warning
Despite the pushback / resistance / negativity / limiting beliefs – my vision was clear enough for me to follow through. These clouds never really blocked it for me.
But I’m afraid SO MANY people don’t have that clarity, or aren’t as positive to see a way. I’m scared people will allow their dreams to slip away due to negative feedback from their environment.
And THAT’S what I want to make sure you avoid.
If you give up – you’re done. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
Conclusion
I know I’ve been all over the place with the TEXT version of the episode. But I want to keep it like that, in it’s raw authentic form.
I hope you got something out of this episode.
Please feel free to let me know – in any of the ways below…
Take care and we’ll talk soon!
— Liron
How to Reach Out
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Hi Liron!
I loved this podcast. So helpful and relevant, and really speaks to the place I am in right now. I started into painting because it was fun and I liked to create and share my work. However, as people have bought my work and asked for commissions, I’ve toyed with the question: “Could this be something that I do full time?” On the one hand, it would be great to do something you love and get paid to do it, but on the other hand, I have times where it feels like work, and I find myself doing commissions I’m not that passionate about. Do you get times where the things you love can become exhausting because you have made them your business? I’m also a little worried that if I was ever to depend mostly (or even for a large part of my income) on art, that the pressure of needing to make ends meet financially would hurt the passion that I have for painting. On the one hand, painting full time or even half-time sounds great, but on the other hand, sometimes I’m scared it would wreck painting for me.
Just wondering whether these are things you go through, and what you have found in your own journey.
Thanks!
Hey Josh, sorry it took me ages to respond! (:
And thank you for the great question.
I think this is a multi-layered question.
I’m personally very selfish, in that I limit the amount of work I do when it comes to things I don’t enjoy or dislike.
I’m very protective of my time, and trying to fill most of it with things I enjoy, or at least things I don’t dislike.
So yes, I don’t do many commissions, and I also make sure to price the ones I do in the right way – to reflect how much that time is worth (so that even if I may not like it as much, the price outweighs that to some degree).
Now, as you say – there is the risk of “ruining” art for you by making it your job. And to be honest – this can happen even by doing art you love.
The pressure can creep in, to paint more, create more, once it’s your work.
I personally NEVER had these doubts in my mind before getting started. I knew this is what I love doing.
Perhaps being naive worked in my favor, as it really never occurred to me that making this a job may influence my enjoyment of it.
On the other hand – it’s still time spent painting and drawing – which I really enjoy!!
And lastly there’s the issue of actual, practical sustainability – can you afford doing it?
Are you at a point when you can take this full time?
I know I haven’t really answered anything, more like opened things up for discussion.
So let me say this – you don’t have to go black & white about this.
Perhaps you do it on the side until it’s very feasible to turn into a full time thing (if it already is disregard this, haha).
And then see how much more you like it than the “real” job.
If it seriously outweighs it for you – maybe going for it is the right move.
I personally COULDN’T work at my job anymore. I knew there’s something else I have to do. It was clear as day for me.
I hope this helps! (: Let me know if you have follow-ups
– Liron
How your English is so nice though it is your second language (my guess)?
I’ve been very heavily exposed to English on TV as a kid (mostly American sitcoms from the 90’s, haha!).
So I had that, plus we learn English in school – which was the perfect combination, because it also gave more structure.
And lastly – I think it’s in my DNA, my dad can speak more than 5 languages, if I recall correctly (: