Take Your Art Career Dreams and Goals Higher With These 8 Steps

Creating art career goals can be adventurous, creative and rewarding. Every day you get another opportunity to delve into your deepest desires and formulate new ways to bring them to fruition. As a mentor for artists helping you achieve your creative, career and financial objectives is one of my favorite activities. In this article you’ll find ways to increase your pleasure while you plan your art career dreams and goals. I have given these exercises to many of my coaching clients and in my group workshops so I know they really work! Have fun as you take your art career dreams and goals higher with these 8 steps!

1. Visualize Your Dreams and Goals

Carl Sandburg said, “Nothing happens unless first a dream.” Write your dreams and goals in bold letters where you can read them daily. Keep a daily journal about them or create a collage or a vision board of the tangible results you want to produce.

Whether you have a full day to work on accomplishing your goals or can only spare one hour a week, it doesn’t matter; Your approach should be the same. Be fully engaged. Eliminate distractions. Focus on priorities.

2. Give Your Goals Concrete Action Steps

After you’ve created a vision of your dreams and goals start making concrete plans to make them flourish in your garden of imagination. You’ll delight in taking those necessary steps that will help you advance your art career because you see the rewards ahead.

Promise yourself to take at least one step forward each day. Decide which actions will have the greatest impact and make a determined effort to follow through.

For example, today you may decide to make the phone call to the exhibition curator. Or, maybe it’s time to write your first E-Newsletter. Or, perhaps there is an art project you have been itching to start. What can you do to begin taking the first step?

3. Reward Yourself!

It’s important to acknowledge and reward yourself for every one of your accomplishments. Celebrate your capabilities to make things happen. Give yourself the proverbial “pat on the back.” Place visual and tangible signs of your accomplishments in view at all times. Frame your awards and letters of acceptances.

Take time to enjoy the sweet taste of success and enjoy the beautiful view of every hill and mountain you have climbed.

4. Ask Important Questions

If you get stuck, start asking yourself questions, such as what do I want to achieve today? What specific task needs to get done today?  How will achieving my goal affect other areas in my life? What are the positive and negative consequences of reaching my aspirations? What resources do I already have, and what additional resources do I need in order to accomplish my goals?

5. Avoid the Perils of the Two P’s

Perfectionism and Procrastination are dangerous traits that block progress and creativity. Remove these barriers once and for all and you’ll achieve a much healthier creative experience.

Replace striving for perfectionism with striving to do better and you’ll avoid tons of frustration. As Salvador Dali said “Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.”  Did you know, when weaving a blanket, an Indian woman leaves a flaw in the weaving of that blanket to let the soul out. Isn’t that remarkable? It’s also very wise.

Pay attention to when you are procrastinating. Find out the root of what’s causing you to do it. Review your priorities, stay focused, keep moving, and stay on course. Periodically throughout the day ask yourself, is what I’m doing now a priority or am I procrastinating and avoiding doing something that is more important?

Read “Release Perfectionism and Celebrate Mistakes in Your Art Career”. Also Read “Is Procrastination Preventing You From Achieving Your Art Career Success?”.

6. Create Short and Long Term Goals Worth Striving For!

Envision big, long term goals that are challenging and inspiring. Ask yourself, what would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? Would you quit your job and become a full-time artist? Would you move to Europe and sculpt huge pieces in marble? Would you open an artists-run cooperative gallery? Would you start an art program, foundation, art school or art organization? Read “Take Small Steps to Achieve Large Art Career Coals: 8 Guidelines”

7. If You Are Trying to Control Too Much Try This Exercise

If you find yourself trying to micro-manage and control everything here is a strategy I use. It really works, so I wanted to share it with you.

Take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns. On the left side write a list of necessary tasks and name it “What I Want to Accomplish Today” such as learn about launching an email campaign. On the right side make a list of “Things I Will Allow the Universe to Do”. This could include such items as “Attract positive allies to my art projects” or “Let my innate creative inspiration flow freely” or “Send appreciative clients/buyers my way”… You’ll be amazed at how much you will attract when you let go of control, plant this affirmation in your subconscious, and trust your beliefs to do the rest.

8. Ask For Help

Many artists succeed faster when they are in a support group with other creative individuals. There are many resources, advisors and services that provide the tools and direction you may need to help you attain your goals. You’ll have no trouble finding them in your community, art groups, in person and online.