Artrepreneur Success Rule #3/10
Rule #3: Act Like You Work in an Office
Most of us artists are born lacking structure. It’s a great trait when it comes to making interesting work, but a horrible trait when it comes to growing a successful art business. Especially because most of us who create full time are self-employed. The business side of your art is just as important as the art itself. It’s what allows you to support yourself by doing something you love every day.
I’ve noticed that successful creatives find a way to override this natural tendency towards chaos. The way I’ve done this is to pretend I have a corporate job working in an office. I received this advice when I first started freelancing and I credit it with much of my success.
So what does this rule mean? Well first it means working regular hours. Half the battle is showing up. Lucky for me, I used to work a 9-5 office job prior to freelancing. I got used to this schedule. So, when I quit my job, I continued to show up those same hours. And I still do this today. No one is forcing me to get out of bed before noon, but I do. And when I’m working, I’m very regimented about shutting my door and not getting distracted by chores around the house. I constantly have to remind myself that ‘serious artists’ don’t spend the day cleaning. I take an hour lunch break at roughly the same time every day. And at the end of the day, I shut my door. It’s amazing how much can be accomplished by just showing up regularly and filling your time with something productive.
I don’t want you to think I spend the entire day painting. I only paint for 1-2 hours per day on average. The most I’ll paint is 4 hours if I have a deadline. That’s because if I go past 4 hours, my body hurts and my brain is mush. At that point, I stop making my work. When I’m not making art, I’m editing work, managing my inbox, and working on content. That fills much more of my time than the art itself, which is how it should be. In my opinion, aiming for a 30/70 art to business split is a good aspiration.
Pretending I work an office job isn’t just about how much I work, but how I show up for myself. I shower every morning and put on makeup and jewelry. I usually dress comfy, but not so comfy I’d be embarrassed to go to the grocery store or have people stop by. For me, this is critical for my mental health. I find if I don’t get ready in the morning, I get down on myself. Being presentable every day also makes it easier to create content I’m a part of, which is something most artists should be doing. Your fans want to see your face from time to time!
The last piece of this rule is about how I get the work done. Just as I would in an office, I pretend I have a boss who requires deadlines. I’ve noticed that most successful artists have repeat tasks they do every week or month, like writing blog posts, creating subscription content, posting on social media, and sending newsletters. As you all know, I’m usually sharing a Wednesday blog post with the GPS twice a month or a public post twice a month. I try to share a newsletter at the end of the month too. And I also do my GPS video/post once a month. Having a set schedule is important because it allows your fans to become dependent on your content. They know exactly when they’ll receive it and how.
Since having a baby, my schedule has been thrown in disarray because I’m only working part time right now. But that’s important to mention too. Even If you aren’t a full-time artist, these rules still apply. Suppose you can only make art in the evenings after your day job. I would try to show up at the same time every night, maybe for 1-2 hours after dinner. And maybe you can put out a quarterly newsletter. Just do what you can but honor your commitment.
This rule is not about how often you work, but the way in which you do it. It’s about keeping a promise to yourself and your fans. It’s about taking your art as seriously as you would a corporate job, or even a part-time job. It’s about acting like you could get fired at any moment if you don’t show up for yourself.
If you find this rule difficult, you aren’t alone. It’s one of the toughest things. Some hacks are finding little ways to hold yourself accountable. Maybe you post a little video on social media every morning to force yourself to get ready, if that’s something your struggle with. Or maybe you ask your spouse to make sure you work certain hours and then set a timer to not come out of your studio until it goes off. Don’t give up on continuing to work on this rule! With this one, it won’t all happen at once, so little improvements are everything.
The question is, in what ways are you not taking your art as seriously as you would a corporate job? In your answer lies a whole lot of untapped energy you could be throwing at your art business.
Stay tuned for rule #4!