Creating a prosperous year in 2019 is going to be easy and effortless, if you get your mind prepared for it.
If you are ready to make a shift upward, read this blog post! It will guide you to take a few minutes to write out answers to a few questions, so get ready with pen and paper in hand.
The exercise I’m offering is so simple that you might blow it off, not seeing it’s power. But trust me, when you do it, you’ll generate a subtle shift within that gives you a powerful start for 2019.
Everything begins in the mind first, and then in form later. If you want to up-level your art business in 2019, I’m going to give you a very easy way to prepare for it mentally so that you can then create it into physical reality (form).
I have an exercise for you to do right now. All you need is 10 minutes or less, and it’s fun to do.
This exercise helps you to look back and see what you accomplished in 2018 and then think about what you want in 2019. Looking back before looking forward is a powerful way to button up the current year and prepare for the new one.
When I think about my own accomplishments in 2018, honestly, the first thing that comes to my mind is struggle! I know, that’s terrible, isn’t it?! I was faced with a lot of really hard stuff to do this year, and I constantly felt like I was behind and fighting to keep up.
But, then, I realized that I had a few really awesome things happen. The first was that Drew and I finished his book PAINTING SURFBOARDS AND CHASING WAVES and that was a massive project. The second was that I finally paid off a Visa credit card that I had carried a balance on since the crash of 2008. And the last and best was that I got over my dislike for my own voice and I recorded my book ART MONEY SUCCESS for Audible!
Why do I always feel behind? Maybe it’s a habit of feeling, and I need to reprogram myself to change that. Or, maybe I take on way too much stuff. Or a combination of the two. And maybe you have this habit, too?
But the most important thing to note is this: we have to take time to look at our accomplishments, large and small!
When we take note of our accomplishments, energy shifts and it gives us confidence and a boost in spirit that launches us towards our next big accomplishment.
Please write down answers to the following questions. Writing your answers with pen on paper helps us to think deeper and gives us access to answers that we otherwise might not have.
Studies have shown that people who write things down tend to accomplish more. So, just the act of answering these questions will give you a jump start to a great 2019!
Grab your pen and paper and answer the following:
2018/2019 Wrap Up and Look Forward QUESTIONS
#1: List your top 3 accomplishments in 2018 (big or small, size doesn’t matter)
1.)
2.)
3.)
#2: Name ONE BIG THING that you would like to accomplish in 2019 – something that once you’ve completed it, it will make everything else easier. (For example: a new website, finish a series of artworks, get one big sponsor, sell ten paintings, finish writing a book, etc.)
#3: Describe the number one challenge that you have with completing the ONE BIG THING you wish to accomplish in 2019:
#4: Name ONE THING that you will do first, to get started on your ONE BIG THING that you wish to accomplish in 2019: (For example: look for a web designer, hire a consultant, buy canvas and supplies, contact one company, etc.)
Now that I got you thinking about the ONE BIG THING you will do in 2019, let’s plan on what you will do in the month of December towards that ONE BIG THING!
FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER focus on just one goal; make that one goal the first step you need to take towards your ONE BIG THING in 2019. (You can use the answer to question #4 above as your December goal).
See how easy this is?! Just four questions, and you got clarity on what you want for 2019 and the first thing you need to do to take steps towards making it happen.
It truly is that easy: Clarity + Focus + Action = Success!
What is your ONE BIG THING for 2019? And are you inspired to take action on it now? Please, write it in the comments and share with me! I’d love to know what you have up your sleeve for the new year. I read all of my comments and I’ll be happy to hear from you!
Maria xxoo
I recently made one of my biggest accomplishments this year, coming to Mexico and painting murals in exchange for free accomodation.
Wanting to continue travelling as a lifestyle one of my big goals for 2019 is to partner up with a big sponsor who could use my partner Mark and I’s story and artwork.
Unsure of which companies to go for yet as I spent most of the year attempting to get in contact with hundreds of companies with no luck, so December my sole focus will be strengthening my online persona through storytelling of my art/travel journey, and maybe start vlogging (overcoming my camera fright).
Justine, thanks for sharing! I’ve been watching you and Mark’s travels online. It’s been exciting to see your adventures! Congrats on making that happen. Don’t give up on getting a sponsor – the key is to find a company that will benefit greatly by partnering with you. When you go at it with that perspective and goal, you will find the perfect company for you. Keep working on it and it will happen, I promise! xxoo
Loved this exercise, Maria. My one big thing is to create a comic book. I’ve been wanting to do it for years but this exercise helped me see that 2019 can be the year!
Yes, Ronaldo, 2019 is your year to do it! Why wait, when you can do it now, right?
I am forced to ake my goal to pay off 1 debt. Right now, I have more bills than income and I’ve worked very hard to sell but it hasn’t been working for years, despite being consistent, learning tons and taking action on advice. One plus is that I have sold slightly more on redbubble than last year, but nowhere near enough
Hey Linda, thanks for sharing! It’s a good goal to pay off a debt, because when you focus on paying it off, you will also focus on making sure you spend less on things you don’t have to spend on. It also forces us to be better business people, because we will invest money more wisely. With regards to Redbubble – analyze what is working there and then duplicate it as much as you can.
Enjoyed this exercise Maria. Thank you. So simple and effective.
My 2019 Goal is to expand my business so I am hired as a consultant or workshop provider.
I’d like to book some projects where I can travel, be an Artist In Residence, so I can truly get to know the community and leave a collaborative, lasting, one of a kind mosaic art piece behind they can be proud of.
So appreciate your advocacy for artists, Maria. Happy Holidays!
Betty, thank you for commenting and sharing your One Big Thing! It’s an exciting vision that you have, and very viable. Congrats!
My goal is to get gallery representation in Seattle,WA.
I have no doubt you’ll achieve that, Mark! Do you have a list of galleries that you plan to approach? That would be your first step. Then, start making phone calls!
Hi Maria,
I loved this exercise! I accomplished the goals I set for myself for 2018. Now my One Big Goal for 2019 is to get my artist name & artwork noticed beyond my website. My full-time job doesn’t allow me much time to get out and about; but I expect that to change for 2019!
Thanks for sharing these monthly goal reminders.
Prayerfully, one day I will be commenting on the completion of my future goal of staying at the “Henrietta Hotel” in London. 🤗
Henrietta, thanks for sharing! For 2019, you said you want to get your name & art noticed beyond your website. I have a suggestion for you – get more specific. Be clear about what “get noticed” means. Whom do you want to notice your art? What do you want to happen with that notice? What RESULT do you wish to get from it? Answer these questions next, and you’ll get even more momentum towards it. xxoo
Thank You! Advice well received; soon to be implemented.
Maria,
Loved the exercise. We’ve been talking about this for a while with small action. Since going thru the exercise when are developing on-line classes and establishing on-line consulting art business. Very excited! Thanks for the boost!
It’s so easy to focus on our failings. For so long I’ve assumed that I was failing as an Artist because I have not been making much money at it. Recently I’ve experienced a number of wake up calls in the form of people in my community who express amazement at the growing success of my Art career. This has forced me to change my perspective, and ironically money has started to flow in with that simple change. Our focus becomes our reward. This might sound silly but I think the number one thing I could do in preparation for a wildly successful 2019 is to re read Art Money Success. Only this time instead of reading it from the perspective of a starving Artist fearing failure I’m going to read it as a successful Artist sure of my future.
Wow, I love everything you wrote, Nash! “Our focus becomes our reward.” YES, you’ve got that right! And thanks for reading my book. Again. I totally agree, now that you have had a shift in thinking, re-reading the book will bring to light a few things that you might have skipped over the first time.
I would like to tell you that the answer to question #1 turned out to be pleasantly shocking! I was able to come up with not just three accomplishments this year, but more like a dozen!
I guess once you’re done doing something, it sort of fades away into the background, and you end up feeling like you haven’t done much.
Thank you very much for this exercise in refocusing.
So true, once we’ve done something “it sort of fades away” – so glad you noticed that for yourself and pointed it out to us as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this and for leaving a comment for me. AND, thanks for doing the exercise.
This year I overcame my fear of publishing my work online, and started selling prints. Photography is very tricky, since everybody can take photos nowadays. But I decided to assume that my photos are interesting enough to be purchased, and I must admit this was the hardest part. This year I want to make my online store big enough to support me. I need to take care of my financial situation. first and foremost. When I start making myself a decent salary, I can invest more in my art, travel and expand my reach.
I took your free online course and so far it showed me what I’ve been doing wrong. My dream was to live from my art, and hopefully in 2019 I will do exactly that.
Thanks for taking your time to write these free resources! They help a lot! And they make a good starting point for someone who has no experience in art business.
Thanks Ally, for sharing your experience. It’s so helpful for others who might be feeling the same fears and worries. What I see you doing RIGHT is this: You continue to move forward, taking action on what you want. You keep going – and that’s what it takes. Bravo!
Thank you for this, Maria. I got knocked on my backside last year. My mural lead platform made changes that resulted in few real leads. The developer of my website did a slapdash job and I had to search for a new one. I allowed myself to get distracted from my brand by the poured acrylics craze…probably because I was so frustrated. But then as I read this post of yours and wrote responses, I realized that a lot of good came of it. I found a great website developer and my new site is up and generating newsletter subscribers. I took the focus off the murals and began a series of bird paintings. One of them won 1st place for oils in a competition and the other one I submitted sold even before we finished hanging the show. I’m getting an awesome response on social media every time I post anything about the bird paintings. I’ve got three in progress and fifteen more in the thumbnail idea stage. I fell down hard. It’s true. But I’m back up on my feet. Thank you for being that continued voice that cheers your readers on.
Jan, I’m so glad that you did the exercise and can see all of the things that you accomplished! I can relate to having big things go bad and getting knocked down. Glad that you kept going and you corrected the problems. That’s what leads to success – problem solving. All good business minds know that no matter what biz you’re in, learning how to problem solve is what leads you to the gold. 🙂 PS: Congrats on winning the oil competition!
Last year was the first time I made a business goal list. I wrote down how many pieces and which sizes and prices I needed to sell to equal my target income. It it has been my best year ever! The results were not exactly like I planned but it helped me see exactly what needed to be done to reach my goal. Seeing the list made it seem more obtainable when I could see exactly how I could reach my goal. I am looking forward to doing the same thing for next year!
Also, pumped to hear the audiobook released. Just downloaded it. I checked a few times in the past and am so pumped to start listening right away! Thanks!
Find and connect with my audience, the people who my art touches deeply, who understand the value of it and who are happy to purchase it at its full value.
I forgot to comment on what a helpful exercise this is. Thank you so much!
This has been really useful. I have spent 2018 learning and building my portfolio, but now it is time to take the next step..to be honest I’ve been waiting with held breath, too afraid and too overwhelmed to move, but this exercise has helped focus my attention and give me the clarity I need to start moving forward. Thank you.