I don’t know of a company or corporation that doesn’t have a dress code.  In fact, some positions are known by their dress code or uniform.  It’s part of the branding process.  It isn’t even a business perspective - have you ever seen a man dressed all in black with a white collar and NOT known what he was? (for the atheists, the answer would be “a priest”)

Another advantage of uniforms are that they hold the mystique to others as well as certain behavioral parameters.  Police officers come to mind - there are strict codes for what actions and behaviors are allowed, tolerated or even encouraged depending on whether or not the officer is “on duty”

But there is another side to being in uniform.  And my message today really only applies to those who are true “company” - they may or may not own the business, but they’ve bought into it - all the way. 

And I’m not really addressing workaholics here (besides, that’s a pretty silly term anyway - is there even such a thing as “workahol”?  I think Webster’s needs to get involved with that one.)  What I am talking about are those people who have strong work ethics and morals.  They have a sense of balance and they aren’t afraid to put full value forth to benefit their employer.

Have you ever found it difficult to relax after work?  Do you find yourself gravitating towards business-related tasks as a bad habit of sorts - or as if you’re running on automatic pilot?  Did you notice that you haven’t changed your clothes yet?

This is a psychological condition that affects many who have established a certain momentum in their schedule.  The uniform, the brand, the persona, etc. is also a state of mind that becomes you.  At the risk of being corny, your “work mode” is in many ways a different person altogether.

The solution is to change your clothes - in fact, have certain garb options that fit ONLY into “relaxing clothes”  This habit holds true at the beginning of your day.  If you’re not ready to start work, don’t start dressing the part too soon.  The switch comes on once that last lace or button is done.

The necktie in particular has often been called the “corporate noose” (ever notice the similarities?)  Sometimes that is all it takes to restrict the blood flow and turn off any relaxing thoughts you may ever have for the rest of your shift.

So take a moment to reflect upon your state of mind, your environment, and make the mental note to arrest your unconscious habits.  Once you’ve made the change (literally) you’ll find that you truly have “clocked out for the day.”

 

Tags: advice, balance, business, Life, psychology, Teaching

I come from a very supportive family.  I don’t remember a time when I didn’t feel encouraged.  I never had a conversation with my parents where they tried to convince me to do something “just to pay the bills.”  If anything, my upbringing was of the “American Dream” mentality - “GO! DO IT!  WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?  MAKE IT HAPPEN!”

And there are a lot of success stories who didn’t have such a strong support network and still turn out just fine.

However, there is something remarkable about the transition from childhood to adulthood - particularly just after graduation from college (which I recommend, by the way - in our time, a bachelor’s degree is the equivalent of a high school diploma - pretty soon you’ll need a doctorate to work at McDonald’s!  “You want fries with that?  How about my dissertation?”)

But I digress. 

You’ve graduated.  You’re firmly an adult and ready to tackle the great, big world.  It’s exciting, it’s filled with limitless potential.  You’re ready to relate to everyone on an adult level.  Everything has changed.

For an artist - or any creative person, for that matter - the down side is that everything has changed in the way the rest of society relates to you.  Your family is still there, supporting, loving, cheering for you, but everyone else wants you to constantly “prove yourself”

You need experience to get the good job - isn’t that what college was for?  To learn how to do the job?

You need references to be considered trustworthy - but family doesn’t count.  Aren’t they the ones who know you best?

You have a “probation period” before certain security/benefits/status takes effect - what is this, “buyer’s remorse?” 

You actually have encounters with people trying to tear you down - judging you, hoping you’ll fail.  And they may not be the kind Mom always said “were just jealous”

And when you return to the source of your training/preparation/guidance in college you find that while they were willing to help you get into debt, they aren’t very good at training/preparing/guiding you back out of it.

I’ve never heard of a business artist program in college.

I’ve never encountered a support network for creatives.

I’ve never seen/heard/received career guidance from an art professor (to anyone - not just me) that lead to a legitimate, sustainable opportunity for employment.

It’s a drop-off you didn’t know was there.  Scary!

Your family still loves/believes/encourages you, but if they aren’t creatives, that’s about all they can do.  The rest of the world is firmly set against your failure.

And this is a depressing reality.  Even other artists from supportive backgrounds will undermine your abilities.  Jealousy, contempt, ego, many base emotions abound - as if there were no potential for any success - as if there’s only a very small piece of the pie left and everything else is saturated. 

From what I’ve seen, there’s a lot of room for a lot of talent in this world.

So what is a creative to do?

The first step is to recognize this transition before you’ve emerged from the cocoon - years before.  Prepare yourself for it mentally, spiritually and physically.  Believe in the power and beauty of your abilities.

The second step is to begin networking NOW.  Don’t be afraid to collect reference letters in grade school if you have to.  Long-standing relationships speak volumes.

Next, grill your professors about everything you want to learn.  If they can’t teach you and you can transfer out to another school that will, DO IT.  Many creatives “can’t but teach” - I’ve run into a LOT of art teachers who can’t even draw!

And while you’re in school, LEARN BUSINESS!  The ability to relate to the non-creatives (who usually have the money, by the way) on their level will generate opportunities galore for you.  You’ll be educating them and making them re-define their terms and stereotypes. 

It’s never to late to start these processes.  Do not accept your current station and think of yourself as “too old” OR “too young” to do anything.  You’ll continue to learn until you die.  Don’t “get busy dying!”

When you’re the exception to the rule “about artists”, then you’ll gain trust, loyalty, employ-ability, and success.

Just like Mom and Dad always thought you would.

Tags: advice, Art, direction, help, Life, support, Teaching

Some days you just don’t have “IT”

But what is “IT” anyway?  And where did “IT” go?

Does somebody else have “IT” instead?  Maybe “THEY” have “IT” (and who ARE “THEY” anyway?  “THEY” sure say a lot also, don’t “THEY”?)

At any rate, when you’re an artist - especially one who hopes to support himself and even a family (such as yours truly) to not have “IT” can make the difference between a great day - the best of your life - and a total stream of 4 letter words describing the day.

So, kids and Kidettes of-all-ages, here’s the answer:  “IT” is your inspiration.

“IT” can be called many other things - your passion, your love, your reason for being or doing or living.  And when you’re out of focus or lost perspective on that priority (which again, is relative) you simply aren’t your best self.

Coming back to the artist’s mind - we have to struggle daily - a virtual wrestling match - between 2 natures.  There is the pragmatic side, which is steeped in a strong work ethic and yet can be subject to popular culture and ideas; and then there is the free-spirited side, which asks “why not?” and is allowed to dream.

Conjoin these odd couple roommates with the need to be sensitive to influences and you can appreciate why so many artists seem distracted.  Very few succeed in making eye contact for long.  And it’s not because they mean to be disrespectful, but rather the “wheel” is always turning.

Now let’s make things a little bit more complicated.  Very few artists are good at business.  The strength of the creative mind exists opposite of that which can be analytical in an capacity applicable to legal, accounting, networking, or other suit-and-tie matters.  So to be an Everyman artist, you have to be baby-blue-collar.  Not white, not blue, but somewhere in between.  You have to translate the creative to the non, and the non back to your understanding or vision of greatness.

Overwhelmed yet?  Do you see why so many people do this stuff as “just a hobby?”

The solution to keeping “IT” is to be a bit of one’s own therapist.  The external sensitivity needs to be balanced by internal reflection - in a checklist format:

1) Did I get enough sleep?

2) Did I get quality sleep?

3) Did I have a good breakfast?

4) Did I miss my coffee?

5) Am I wearing comfortable clothes?

6) What’s playing on the radio?

7) Is the sun shining?

And so the list goes on.  You can make your own list, starting with your perfect world.  Be reasonable and not so absolute - such as “if I had a million dollars, I’d be totally happy.”  You have to make a list of things that are within the realm of your illusion of control (again, the pragmatist versus the dreamer) otherwise, you’ll just end up seriously depressed.

It will also help if you begin the list on an ideal day (weather-wise) - so that you aren’t making a list of what you don’t have from the obvious start, and riding a downward spiral of curses instead of blessings.

Best of luck to you, kids and kidettes, keeping “IT” alive and well 24-7!

Tags: advice, Art, creativity, endurance, inspiration, motivation, Teaching

We live in a culture of irony. We’re told to “stay inside the lines”, then grow up to be told “think outside the box” We are told “good things take time” but are obsessed with internet speed and fast food.

The way we’re taught to deal with stress is another example. We’re bombarded with “what to avoid” or “what not to do” or “what’s bad for us” but rarely given any healthy, natural (or cheap) direction.

“Tension headache? Take…..(name your pill)”

“Trouble sleeping? Take….(name your pill)”

“Can’t concentrate? Take……(name your prescription)”

Our bodies were designed to be in motion. The great teachers and philosophers were always observing, exploring, traveling and sharing.

Now what do we promote? “Stay in your desk, and maybe we’ll have time for our weekly ½ hour of art. Let’s get out our practice standardized test now.”

Socrates is rolling in his grave right now.

Of course, this is just one person’s perspective. But I have been that child that was running EVERYWHERE. Always full of energy, mind churning. In fact, I could have been the poster boy for a whole new ADD drug.

And I was an honor student.

What was the “x-factor”? Outlets!

It doesn’t take a genius to know that if you fight your nature to discover, create, explore or just MOVE, that you are going to breed more stress than you can counter with a whole bottle of (you name it).

Until we achieve educational balance, here are some healthy, natural (and cheap) suggestions for nurturing your inner calm:

1) BREATHE! Oxygen has a calming effect. Take a few deep ones. Price: $0

2) Daydream. It’s not just for sleeping anymore. Your brain needs to process more than once a day. Schedule time and take a “space trip” Price: $0

3) Meditate. Combine the top 2 into a killer center. Close your eyes and find your “happy place” Price: $0

4) Positive imaging. Pretend any stress you’re dealing with is a wall of garbage in front of you. Invent a garbage eating bug and “watch” it eat your stress. Take as long as you need. Price: $0

5) Dance! It doesn’t matter what you look like. Take a ballet class or boogie like Tom Cruise. The results are undeniable. It’s an exercise in courage even alone in your living room (and people who tease you are jealous!) Price: $0 to wiggle in your boxer shorts in front of the dog.

6) Keep a journal. Keep it private, and say what you want the way you want. Price: $1 for a notebook and pen.

7) Doodle. On a scratch pad, scrap paper, anywhere, anything. Price: $0 (scrap paper is everywhere!)

Sculpt. Keep re-usable modeling clay handy. Take a moment and make a little something. (Or sculpt a “stress monster” and DESTROY IT!) Just having something to squeeze works wonders. Price: $2 for up to 4 sticks of clay (in pretty colors!)

9) Fabric arts. Knit one, pearl two. Perhaps take up quilting? Even cats enjoy a good ball of yarn! Price: Under $10 for needles and your choice of cat toy.

Achieving peace and tranquility? PRICELESS!

You now have a choice of solutions to combat stress for each day of the week. Use 1 incessantly or all each day. At the very least, “take 2 and call me when you’re chilled.”

By the way, here’s a list of some famous people who would be considered ADD by today’s standards (see if you notice a common theme here!)

Albert Einstein Galileo Mozart Wright Brothers Leonardo da Vinci Walt Disney John Lennon Winston Churchill Henry Ford Stephen Hawkings Jules Verne Alexander Graham Bell Woodrow Wilson Hans Christian Anderson Nelson Rockefeller

Thomas Edison Gen. George Patton John F. Kennedy Whoopi Goldberg Rodin Thomas Thoreau Robin Williams Louis Pasteur Dwight D. Eisenhower Robert KennedyHarry Belafonte F. Scott Fitzgerald George C. Scott George Bernard Shaw Beethoven

Tags: Art, Teaching