Again, building on Lorie Parch's article "Secrets of Thin People" in the 4/2006 issue of REAL SIMPLE Magazine:
Thin secret for success No. 2:
Thin people have thin parents.
Parch discusses the genetic components of good health, but we can work with this.
Okay, it would be difficult to say successful people have successful parents, for many reasons.
Successful parents might mean financial sucess. But it can mean parents who balance work with family life, parents who make decisions to create a stable home for their family, or parents who LOVE their work.
In my case, both my parents made major changes in their careers in mid-life. My mother went back to college in her 40's, with six children at home and a seventh on the way, to get her teaching degree. My father sold the family restaurant in his around the same time and after a lengthy job search, found a new career, too. Those were scary times for our family, but as kids, we hardly knew it. Looking back now, I see how courageous my parents were. And I think that insight is something that gave me courage to do the same.
Despite what success your parents may or may not present, I would revise this. Especially because often, our families do NOT support our decision to make art. It's odd, it's scary, or it seems frivolous.
Let's say instead: "Successful people create networks and support groups of successful people."
Whenever I teach a session for the Arts Business Institute, I finish by saying, "Okay, long after we're gone, you're going to need the support, the inspiration, and the sharing of resources you found with us. Look around the room. These are your peers. They are artists who have SELF-SELECTED to come here this weekend. They came to learn, to get resources to grow their business, to be successful."
"Look around", I continue. "Who did you talk with? Who did you bond with? Call them up when you get home, and meet them for coffee! Meet with a small group once every few weeks or once a month. Research and share ideas and resources. Inspire and support each other!"
"If they don't live close to you, e-mail them! Some of my closest professional friends live across the country from me."
What do you look for in your new professional "family"?
Look for people who support your vision for success.
Remember that success can be different things to different people. Some people need to a little extra make money. Some need to make a lot of money, fast. (When you figure this one out, please let me know!) Others want prestige and recognition. Some are looking for a better balance between home and work. Some are looking to simply better their craft or product, or their business skills, so they are working smarter. Some are looking for their big Oprah break.
Understand that you can support someone else's vision even if it is not your own. This gets hard for me, when people dream small. But it's okay--as long as they respect MY dream, which is NOT small.
Look for POSITIVE-thinking people. We all have enough nay-sayers in our life to last...well, a lifetime. We all carry one in our heads. Look for people that BELIEVE success is possible--because that belief will help MAKE it possible.
Look for people who understand that life may intervene, and our dreams may have to go on a back burner temporarily, or change. But look for people who will always remember that you ARE an artist. They will let you turn down the back burner so your artistic "pot" can simmer, but they will not let you turn it off. (Oh, I KNEW a cooking metaphor would come in handy!)
