Mark E Shellshear.

  You can change your future, it is not set, it can be changed. What if you could have anything you wanted, what would you want? Most would say they are not sure, why is that? Here is a better question? What don’t you want to happen? What do you want to avoid? Work out what you don’t want and it is much easier to know what you do want. Do you want sickness, poverty, abandoned, unloved, no sales, unknown? So if you don’t want these things in your life, then you must avoid them. I am sure we all want good health, abundance, family and friends, to be loved, lots of sales, known as a celebrity Artist? Once we know what we want, we then write it out clearly what we want in every area. Now we have to act out the script and make it our reality. We can change our futures if we imagine what we want, turn it into a daily affirmation , write out a script of what to do and then act on that script as if it is already our reality and make it so. The future is not set, s...

  What are the consequences of doing nothing? Of feeling sorry for myself? Of giving responsibility to others? Just waiting to be picked or discovered? No consequences here other than you are safe, comfortable and you are not responsible and you get to blame others. So what are the consequences of taking action? Of having a positive personal attitude? Of taking responsibility and making a difference? Of picking yourself and doing the necessary work? You will have purpose and a reason and the drive to achieve your intended goals. Happiness does not depend on others, it depends on your life having positive purpose, good reasons and clearly defined goals.

  Artists are intelligent creative people and very capable of applying that same creative ability to the business side of their Art and promoting themselves very successfully. Many say that Artists are to sensitive to understand business, that is so wrong, business is a skill and anyone who applies themselves can learn that skill. Artist do not let anyone sell you that myth that you cannot run your own Art business and you cannot do sales and marketing, you can and should control your own destiny, this is your life and your career do not leave it to someone else to control, this is your Art career not theirs. Business is not hard but it takes discipline to stay on top of it. The myth says you are to o sensitive to understand business, the truth is you are more than capable of understanding and running your own successful Art Business.

  Have you ever dealt with an Artist who is great at promising, but not so good at delivering on the promise, but they are very accomplished at making excuses. Collectors will accept excuses for a little while but after being let down a few time they will move on. Promises must be kept and delivered on or you will find you have no Art business. Average is easy to achieve, as is below average, doing a good job is better, but if you want to be a successful Artist you will win if you dramatically exceeded your clients expectations. You deliver more than you promise with your amazing Art. With your follow up and relationship building. With the wonderful sales experience you gave them. Now t hey will talk about you for all the right reason, because you just didn’t fulfil your promises you dramatically exceeded their expectations.

  As Artists in the market place we must be the best we possibly can be. The best paintings we can produce. The best smile we can have. The best greeting we can have. The best explanation of our Art work we can have. Because I really do believe that to get the best results we must be the best we can possibly be. When we make the decision to be the best we possibly can be it effects all we do, our mannerisms, our attitudes and our own happiness and the happiness of people around us. Positive and enthusiastic people are fun to be around and these people get results. It is so easy to be the friendly Artist at the exhibition opening or Art Fair. It is so easy to just chat to strangers who have come to look at your work, smile and just have a friendly chat. If you want the best results, then just be the best you can be, do not compare you self to others, just be your best. By being the best you can be now, you are planting seed into your future and your best harve...

  I am just looking around, thank you. Now we have all said that and if you are showing you r Art or you have a booth at an Art show, most likely when we hear that statement we assume that they will not buy. You cannot assume that, you must be smiling and friendly and very enthusiastic, so say something like. I love it when people come to look around my Art. May I point out two pieces to you. First point out the most expensive piece in your show and say the price and then point out an inexpensive piece, and then say. I will leave you to look around. Then walk away. You complied with their request, but you have also pointed out your best piece and an inexpensive piece and you did it in a friendly caring manner and hopefully they liked you and so will like your work. Doing this gives you a few seconds to sell yourself and give them a comparison of your price points, this is important. The customer has two reactions to your high price point, that seems reasonable...

  Why do people find selling so hard to do? Or having to stand up and give a speech in front of strangers? Or making that video? It’s not because they are so hard to do. It’s because of the internal story that we are constantly telling ourselves, that story the reinforces our fears and becomes the reality we live. If we change the internal story to, I can do that, I am very capable of doing this, then we will see this become the reality we live. The way we think about things will determine if we do something or not do it. Reshape your internal stories to the outcome you want. .