Success is Inevitable

Just over a week ago, I donated my kidney and my son received a kidney.

We are all doing well, and on the mend....and one of the things the boys and I have been doing to pass the time while we are healing is to play Super Mario Bros. on the Switch.

Growing up, I wasn't allowed to have video games, but my friend Erin Richardson was, and when I would sleepover, we'd play the OG Mario until her mom made us go to bed in the wee hours of the morning.

The version of Mario we started playing is called Super Mario 3D. And while it is somewhat similar to the one I grew up playing.... a lot has changed.

And when the kids and I began our journey through the game, there was quite a bit of drama.

We had to get used to the controller and all the different jumps, and powers, and moves that we could use to navigate the worlds.

We had to learn who the enemies were and how to overcome them.

We had to learn what to look for and where the secret clues were for the extra stuff.

As I was watching my boys learn the game, I started thinking about my artists who are building their businesses.  Here are some of my takeaways...

In the early levels, the learning curve was high.

This is not unlike your art business.

We failed...a lot.

We died falling off ledges because we weren't sure how far we could jump or how fast we could run.

We died running into enemies because we didn't foresee the danger.

We missed key objectives and opportunities because we were so focused on keeping ourselves alive.

Over and over again, we had to restart.

And our thoughts became...

This is so hard

I don't now how to do it

I'm not good at this

I keep dying

I'm never going to be able to do this

So often...the same thoughts permeate our art businesses....

"This is so hard."

Of course, this is hard. If it were easy, it would be boring. If it were easy, everyone would do it. If it were easy, there would be nothing to learn...nothing to be proud of...nothing to stretch ourselves on.

"I don't know how to do it."

No, you don't. You've been given a newborn baby with your business. You don't know yet when it needs to sleep, or when it needs to eat, or when it needs to be changed. And that's ok. You'll learn these things through trial and error, through doing, through experience.

"I'm not good at this."

What does being good at this actually mean in your business? So often we compare ourselves to other artists, and where they are in their businesses...and we think they are doing it the right way, and we are doing it the wrong way.

But what if there was no right or wrong way.

What if you were doing it your way.

And what if your way was the perfect way for you.

Our business journey only becomes a problem when we make it mean that we aren't good at it, and we are doing it the wrong way.

"I keep dying"

The way this shows up in our business is...I keep failing.

What if failing wasn't a problem? What if failing was just an accepted and welcomed part of the process of building a business?

I doubt that any video game player who is starting a new game thinks that they will complete the game without dying or failing.

They know going into it, that in order for them to learn and succeed...they will fail a lot. And repeat levels a lot. And battle the bad guy over and over and over again until they master the skills and strategy it takes to beat them.

What if we artists could just accept that in order to be successful in our art businesses, that we will fail.

And will have to do things over and over again until we get good at them....like talking about our work, and handling objections from collectors, and writing emails, and posting on social media.

"I'm never going to be able to do this."

The only reason you would not become successful is if you give up. That's it. Not being successful, not achieving your goals, not having what you want in life is a choice. It's a decision you make to no longer pursue those things. It doesn't just happen to you. It's not a certainty.

You will be able to do this. I promise.

How much discomfort are you willing to feel to get there?

How much time are you willing to invest to get there?

How many times are you willing to fail to get there?

How much embarrassment are you willing to feel?

If you are simply willing to feel all of that and continue moving forward anyway...you will get there.

Because you will learn and grow along the way.

And make adjustments as necessary.

Which will lead to the results you desire.

But here's the thing...

It all comes down to belief.

When you sit down to play a new video game, even in the throws of frustration after dying in the same spot for the 27th time in a row....there is an underlying belief there that it's possible.

That even if you haven't figured it out yet, to quote Mario Forlio... it's figureoutable.

That the video game people wouldn't have created this game without a solution.

What happens so often is artists lose belief in themselves.

They stop believing that they have everything they need to figure it out and go outside of themselves to find examples of success...but end up spiraling out in comparison....or seeking the solution by heading to IG to the artists that appear to be most successful, and mimicking them hoping for similar success.

They stop believing that the art they are making from within will help people...and start second-guessing themselves, adding additional bodies of work, and trying to create "marketable" art so they can use that as evidence that they are good artists.

They stop believing that collectors need their art and turn to discounting and apologizing for their art and the price.

The reason we push through all the discomfort and failure in a video game is that we accept without question that even though it may feel impossible at the moment...the game makers wouldn't have created it without a solution.

And when we deeply believe that there is a solution...that success is possible....we feel certain, and motivated, and determined.

And when we come at our business believing that there is always a solution and success is possible...

We keep trying.

We don't give up.

We seek answers.

We try new things.

We look for clues.

We get curious.

We slow down.

We don't compare ourselves.

We don't criticize ourselves.

We avoid overwhelm.

We accept ourselves.

We remain open to our own unique journey.

And we stay in a HIGH state of belief.

We have no problem going all-in on believing in the outcome of a video game...but don't give ourselves the same credit.

I've never questioned whether or not I'd be a successful artist.

Just like I don't question your success as an artist.

You have everything within you need to be successful and create your art, your business, and the life you want.

You just need to practice believing in yourself, your art, and your collectors. It is everything.

Write these thoughts down...inspired by our video game experience....and keep them close...

"There is always a solution."

"My success is inevitable."

Love, 
Teresa