.
Last fall I got ill and it lead to feeling depressed. I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression off and on in my life, and I’ve managed it very well holistically. But my husband was concerned and he said “you need to have something really fun to look forward to.”
And he was right. So I decided to do something I’ve always dreamed of. I booked a flight to Spain and I’ll be hiking for three weeks on the Camino de Santiago. I’ve always wanted to do this hike; it’s a pilgrimage that people have been making for literally thousands of years through Spain and France.
The interesting thing is this: as soon as I made the decision and booked that flight, my energy shifted. I got excited. I had something I had to get in shape for (some days you’re hiking 14 miles!). And I’m going with a very good friend who lives in Spain.
The excitement of doing something different changed my energy and helped me to get forward momentum.
I’ll be hiking the Camino May 23 through June 12. I’ll be on a spiritual journey, mostly without internet. But, occasionally I’ll post photos on Instagram, and I invite you to follow me there: https://www.instagram.com/
WORKING TOO HARD, BEING ON THE TREADMILL:
There are periods in our lives that we feel stuck in one place, working too hard, unable to make powerful decisions or make a move forward. Sometimes these periods last for weeks, months or even years.
Drew and I have gone through times where we felt stuck in place with our art business. During the years of 2013 through 2015 many days felt like “groundhog day” to me. We had experienced a death in the family and a few other difficult situations that zapped us. We were selling art and getting by, but we felt totally STUCK IN PLACE. We were not experiencing the growth we wanted. Our energy felt drained.
Then, something shifted. In early 2016, we made the decision to change the way we do things. And by summer of 2016, we were humming and buzzing, making strong sales and big things happen.
The results were this: We landed a new deal which to date has earned us over $100,000 in additional revenues. We nailed down a large licensing deal that we’ve been wanting for years, and we sold more art prints in 2016 then we did in the five years prior, combined.
All this, despite the warning that the economy is taking another dive, that art is selling less and that times are tough.
I’m going to share with you the main things we did that helped us shift the stuck energy and experience a massive growth in our business:
1 – Decided what we want to happen and then made a plan
Deciding what you want versus what you think you can get are two different things. With the help of a our business coach, Tish Ambrose, we took the time to lay out what it is that we really want.
And then, we analyzed what we were doing that held us back, and then made a plan to move towards the things we want.
2 – Committed to change the way we do everything
Over the years, you develop many habits, and some not so great. For us, we have hidden ourselves away in Drew’s studio too much. We had the habit of not reaching out to other people. That hurts your growth, as you cannot grow without others’ help.
We started making the effort to be more social, to make new friends who are interested in the art business and other things we love.
We decided to dress nicer – we’ve always had the “just off the beach” look, but maybe it’s time to grow up just a little!
We became better communicators with our clients and worked on our confidence to be able to nail down large deals that are financially beneficial to us.
And so much more, which I will write about later.
3 – Said NO to things that take us off our path
In the art business, you get pulled in so many directions by others that it is easy to get distracted.
But once you know what you want, and it’s concretely written down, you can say NO to those things that will take your time away from the most important things.
4 – Did something very different
We started trying new sales avenues and analyzing what works and what doesn’t. We went places we normally wouldn’t go. We took some classes and opened our minds to new ideas and concepts. We made friends with new people who introduced us to new ideas.
EASY WAYS TO GET UNSTUCK, TODAY:
One of the easiest ways to get unstuck is to do something that gets your physical and mental energy moving in a way it never has before. A few examples:
Move your body – take daily walks or learn a new sport
Travel – take a trip somewhere different, experience something new
Learn something new – Take a class, learn how to do something you’ve never done before
Hire a Coach – Working with a coach is incredibly powerful, as they will help you get there quicker
Volunteer or Join a Club – Offer your time at networking or charity events, meet new people.
SO HOW ABOUT YOU? Have you been stuck in an area in your life, and if so, how did you get out of it? Share your questions, thoughts and ideas in the comments please!
Thanks,
Maria xxoo
PS: I’m so excited to announce that my new book will be released in less than a month! To get on my pre-launch list, sign up here.
PPS: WHAT HOLDS US BACK – AN INTERVIEW:
I was interviewed for The Thriving Woman Entrepreneur Summit . The Summit’s leader, Dawn Grossart, asked me to share the most common things that hold women back from starting their business.
It’s a short interview but packed full of deep insights.
My interview goes live on May 3rd, so sign up now – http://dawngrossart.com/
After you sign up, you’ll get a free e-copy of my book titled HOW TO START YOUR SPIRITUAL BUSINESS TODAY: 5 Blocks that have been holding you back and how to release them.
