Productivity

Yeah, right!  I am supposed to be grocery shopping, working on a couple of projects, cleaning my house (it smells a wee bit funky), and just doing these day to day bits of normal productive life.  I mean, the food situation here at the homestead is just a bit desperate.  You know what I’m doing?  Reading Danny Gregory’s blog.  For all you art journal junkies out there, his books are great and get back to the basics- namely, drawing everyday stuff, stuff from one’s actual life rather than copying the masters, etc.  I personally have a tendency to draw my coffee cups, but occasionally I branch out and draw a room or playground or doing the art projects assigned to the students at school.  I pretend that this is productive, but it is only personally productive; however, it makes daily life just a little more significant.  The only problem is, my coffee is usually cold by the time I get around to actually drinking it!

And hey, figuring the ins and outs of digital imaging doesn’t hurt the “productivity” aspect of my coffee cup “project” either!! 

An aside- new altered Moleskine up on Etsy, with a Henry Miller quote discovered via Danny Gregory, actually…

“Every man, when he gets quiet, when he becomes desperately honest with himself, is capable of uttering profound truths.”  -Henry Miller

When I read Tropic of Cancer in college, I got about halfway through before tossing the book aside; sure, Miller deserved credit for pushing the envelope and widening people’s preconceived notions of what could be considered literature, but I just did not like his writing.  I used the bs approach on my exams and never finished the book or read anything else of Miller’s until I came across a bunch of his quotes in Gregory’s book The Creative License.  I have since revised my opinion of Miller in general; however, does anyone else think maybe revising a novel multiple times to up the filth factor may have been a disservice to his own artistic ability?  Maybe that’s just me…  Maybe my personal affinity for the poetic makes me biased.  But I still like my art beautiful- even filth can be rendered beautifully- Walt Whitman wrote of dirt and worms and it was still amazing. 

However, I once again digress…  Riddle me this:  what’s your favorite book and why?

The Chronicles 2: “Promotions”

Otherwise know as the Etsy forums.  Now, how does this apply to the lack of success?  Most sellers use the forums to their advantage, right?  It makes one more visible, the community offers a crap load of great advice, and also gives the heads up about suspicious buyers (you know the ones:  “I’ll send you a check, write it over, and you give me all your personal info and bank account information so that you can wire me the difference.”  How dumb do these people think we are, really?  I digress…).  The forums can be a great resource and promotion tool, unless you are me.

Unsuccessful Strategy 2:  Promotions, or Procrastinating

Forums on any topic I am remotely interested in are addicting.  I call it research, but really, I get sucked in by anything that strikes me.  If you really want that spectacular failure, make sure to hit up the forums way more than you list.  Do NOT use them for actual business purposes; entertain yourself!!  This is a community of amazing creators- check out every single shop, make sure to book mark your faves, and then, to really come out in the negative, start buying.  I have thus far resisted the urge to purchase, but I am wavering.  I mean, the quirky, unique, and beautiful gifts I could get, not to mention all the stuff I want for myself, could seriously convince me to take out a second mortgage on the house. 

Obsess over the forums.  It will keep you busy for hours- those few quiet hours when you could be working on something important, like the art you are supposed to be making, actual promotions related things like newsletters, tweaking your brand, developing and actually USING your mailing list, research local opportunities to showcase and hawk your product.  And again, lets not forget, MAKING MORE PRODUCT.

BONUS TIPS!

More procrastination techniques:

Take the kids to the pool.

Redesign and rebind your own sketchbook.  I’ll post a pic when its done drying, its pretty!!

Decide now is the time to find and actually use your planner.  This could take hours.

I think the house is calling again!!

Detail the kitchen floor with a toothbrush.

Then detail the car.

Read a lot of books about starting a business.  Call it research.

Read a lot of books on your craft.  Also research.

Switch crafts, then read up on the new one.

Be an absolute perfectionist when it comes to your product.  Strive to be divine. 

Then decide that imperfection would look so much better.  Become an imperfect perfectionist.  This could take so much longer that actual perfection.

Take the kids to the pool again.  Forget the sunscreen.  Spend the rest of the week in agony and unable to move or even put clothes on.

You know that blog you were tweaking?  Keep up the good work!!

More awesome tips tomorrow…  Good Night!!  OH!!  And free shipping to the first five customers, plus 20% off all purchases in June!!  Happy Grand Opening to you from me!  (Unsuccessful tip 3:  put all promotional sales info LAST in the blog)