How many times have you gone into your studio and said to yourself…”I don’t feel like painting today”? You want to create but struggle to do so. Sometimes the motivation just isn’t there.
You want to achieve your goals, but for some reason you still procrastinate.
I know the feeling because this is true for me as well.
But here is the truth…if you want to be a successful artist you need to accept the fact that you and only you are in charge…you are the CEO …not anyone else…YOU.
I love to study the strategies of other successful people and then see how I can incorporate those strategies in my life.
Jerry Seinfeld is a comedian who decided to be the best in his field. According to Forbes magazine, Seinfeld’s peak earnings were $267 million dollars in 1998. Yes, that is for one year…no joke!
What is most impressive about Seinfeld is his remarkable consistency in producing great writing.
So what strategy does Jerry Seinfeld use to stop procrastination? What does he do every day that most of us don’t?
Here is one of his strategies that allows him to be amazingly productivity and consistent.
Brad Isaac was a young comedian starting out on the comedy circuit. On night he found himself at the club where Jerry Seinfeld was performing.
After the show Brad went backstage to meet Jerry and ask if he had “any great tips for a young comic.”
He said the way to be a better comic was to create better jokes and the way to create better jokes was to write every day.
He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker. He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day.
“After a few days you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job is to not break the chain.”
You’ll notice that Seinfeld didn’t say a single thing about results.
So, let’s take this strategy and apply it to you, the artist.
Make a goal that will make a difference in your art but one that is simple enough that you can get it done.
Let’s say, you want to create a certain number of paintings in 2018.
It is important to remember that each time you go into the studio it is not to create a masterpiece but your job is to go into your studio and create.
While the majority of artists get demotivated after producing several bad painting in a row you will settle right back into your pattern the next day. Why does this work?
It works because you are taking the focus off creating great paintings each day and you are putting the emphasis on the process instead.
The end results will be your painting will improve drastically.
Each day you will happily take your colored marker (what color are you going to choose?) and mark off that day on your calendar. What fun to have a visual image of your persistence, determination and a strategy that works.
The key here is to not break the chain.
I don’t know about you but I am now inspired to do this for myself.
Anyone want to come along with me?
Next week I will post my goal. Start thinking about what yours will be and let’s do this together.
