Empire State in its Glory. Photo by Renee Phillips.

As a career consultant as well as an Artrepreneur myself I have many golden rules that I teach and follow. Many of my clients have told me by just applying a few of them their lives have changed tremendously! Often it just takes a simple change in attitude or behavior, such as changing a habit, to attract a wealth of success and happiness.

I have hundreds of Golden Rules or Keys to Success and if you have read my book Success NOW! For Artists, some of these will look familiar. Here are some of my favorites. They really work!

Create Your Master Plan and Plan Your Destiny
Your choice to be an artist is part of your mission, but what kind of artist do you want to be? What do you want to do with your art? When your mission, values and identity are in harmony, the events in your life move with an effortless momentum and you attract the right people at the right time.

"You want to set a goal that is big enough that in the process of achieving it you become someone worth becoming." ~ Jim Rohn

Set Goals and Make the Commitment
Write your goals on index cards as though they have already been achieved. Make them specific, visual and tangible, in the present tense. Every morning read them with enthusiasm. An example: I have a 1,000 square foot studio with lots of light in the quiet downtown district at a rental fee below $500 a month. Then create the action plans and daily activities that will attract these goals to you. Strive to attain balance among your creative, career and financial goals. I write my priority goals on index cards.

Keep yourself motivated through visual stimulation.
Create a “Dream Book” or photo collage and turn it into reality. Fill it with pictures of your ideal home, spacious studio, dream exhibition or performance space, adventurous foreign lands, heavenly artists’ retreats and other delights that you want to attract into your life. Post your favorite pictures, positive images and inspiring quotes on your studio wall, bathroom mirror, above your desk and easel – places where you will see them everyday.

Hire yourself as the CEO of your career.
Make decisions as an executive would. Delegate those tedious tasks to others. Contact your local high school or college internship department. Interns will work for experience, school credit or a small stipend. They can help you research galleries on the Internet, stretch canvases, prepare mailings, send e-mails and tweets, organize your papers, and type letters.

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become." ~ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Tell Your Story with Passion.
Behind every good art sale is a story about the work and the artist. Most buyers enjoy learning about the artist and their inspiration. They also enjoy sharing that story with others. You are different than any one else on the planet. That which makes you unique is communicated through your art. When you tell your story in words speak and write with enthusiasm, passion and confidence. Those qualities are infectious!

Accept Money as Green Energy not the enemy of creativity.
The more financially independent you become the more freedom, good health, better supplies, studio, and peace of mind you gain to be more inspired and to help others. Associate money with positive and powerful attributes and you will attract more of it.

Permanently erase the three most destructive self-fulfilling prophesies.
Substitute “I’m an artist, not a business person” with “I’m a creative Artrepreneur.”
Substitute “I’m a poor starving artist” with “I create and attract Abundance.”
Substitute “All I need is an agent” with “I am an empowered artist seeking equal and fair partnerships.”

Integrate charitable donations into your marketing plan.
Donate a percentage of your sales to a favorite charity, ideally one that is related to the subject matter of your work. This is one of the best sources of satisfaction as well as self-promotion. Find charities in your community or region through friends, associates and the local newspapers. You can also find lists of charities at:  www.charitynavigator.org or www.nycharities.org. Google (put in your key words and region and ‘nonprofit’ or ‘charity’). Go to charities’ Web sites and see what kind of volunteer opportunities are available. Some programs use working artists as facilitators for multi-week programs. Others have single-day opportunities available.

Protect Yourself.
Never, ever leave your work anywhere without having a signed consignment agreement or contract from the principle owner of the business. (We offer sample contracts in our book Presentation Power Tools for Fine Artists as well as valuable information in our e-Doc “Dealing With Dealers: How to Protect Yourself” with 60 essential questions. It can be sent by email. Visit http://www.manhattanarts.com/ourbooks/e-docs.htm

Increase your income by becoming an art therapist.
In this economy health concerns and services for the elderly are reasons why healing and art are lucrative careers. There are many classes being offered now to be trained as an art therapist and different directions you can pursue. Being an art therapist can increase your income and level of professional satisfaction. You can start your own individual practice or work for a community center, art and healing organization. You can offer individualized sessions or offer group sessions. Resources: Society for the Arts in Healthcare www.thesah.org; National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapy Association www.nccata.org; and American Art Therapy Association www.arttherapy.org

Farm and Feed Your Relationships Daily.
Every successful career has a foundation of strong relationships. Make a practice of building new relationships and taking care of existing ones. Because much of our communication now is impersonal and electronic be among those who connect with others using more personalized methods.

“If you are on the right path you will find that invisible hands are helping.” ~ Joseph Campbell

Be prepared for success.
Never leave the house with a pocketful of business cards. Keep plenty of promotional materials on hand. Update your resume. Maintain your website and/or blog with current art work and news updates. Keep your database updated and in an easy to use format.

“Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” Napoleon Hill

Embrace Your Mistakes and Life's Challenges
Making mistakes means you are taking risks, stretching your boundaries, stepping outside your comfort zone, and ultimately growing. When faced with a challenge invite it as a teacher that will guide you to help you reach your fullest potential.

Create a Video.
Have someone video tape you on a camera or Flip camcorder. It can show you in the process of creating your art or walking around your studio or gallery talking about your art and what inspired you. There are several free sites where you can upload your video. YouTube is one of the most popular. Find more at www.youtubealternative.com

Coming Soon!
Renée Phillips, The Artrepreneur Coach's has a new book coming soon. If you enjoyed these tips you will certainly enjoy...

Artists: Golden Keys to Success
365 Practical & Spiritual Principles to Balance Creative Passion with Personal Power & Prosperity.

You will be able to order this book at a pre-publication price. Learn more. 

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