I'm back at work in my studio today. I've cleared a few things off my plate, and now can see the glimmering of an end to the (over)commitments I've made.
Now all I have to do is stand firm and say "no" a little more often.
A friend called to talk about her lifelong dream of opening a retail gallery for fine craft. She's a smart woman, with a lifetime of experience working the craft industry at various levels, working at different times in her life with art guilds, gift shows, and writing for magazines. She's warm and thoughtful, connects easily with people and love, love, loves handmade work. She seems a natural to me.
She hesitates, though, full of doubt about her abilities, financing, numbers. How does it all fit together? How can she find the information she needs? What if she fails?
I listen. I offer suggestions. I offer support. I believe in you, I tell her. I quote Susan Jeffers' book to her, "Feel the fear...and do it anyway!"
I hang up and get back to work. I feel better. Why? I wonder. I'm just as scared and unsure of myself as my friend is.
Somehow, though, giving her courage gives ME courage. I listen to the words I'm saying, and remember the people who spoke them to me. I remember my core values in all this--that what we do MATTERS. Figuring out how to live our dream life, making our dream work, is what it's all about--I believe that. Making the world a little bit better than we found it is important.
I'm reminded of yesterday--how NOT KNOWING was an awful feeling. And how finding information made us feel better.
Sometimes there is too much information. That's when it's time to act. Walking around and seeing what the situation really was, made us feel better able to assess, to plan, to cope. Moving Doug's kiln above the basement water was a concrete action helping US as much as it helped his kiln. Jon going out to take movies and creating a screencast with commentary was his way of dealing with the event, connecting with his interest in how blogs can share information and create community.
What could we do better? It might be a good idea to get a little generator, so we could keep our sump pump working if we lose power next time.
And I was glad we had a canoe, though our kids have gotten so much bigger, it would have been a tight fit for all four of us. (When Robin's friends called to ask if SHE were okay, we could say, "We're using her as a flotation device...")
So take small action steps today to put your artistic vision in place. Write down your resources--friends who can help, people who could lend you seed money, however small the amount. Assess your own skill set--retail experience, art classes, a head for numbers or the ability to research. Ask questions. Take a business workshop.
Don't fret about making mistakes. It's gonna happen. But LEARN from them. What could you do better next time?
Then--do something today, even if it's just telling someone your intentions so you have to hold yourself accountable.
Do one thing TODAY.
