Seems to be a recurrent theme as I wobble through my fifties....
I looked at my to-do list today and just about had a heart attack. It's just too big. WAY too big.
I picked the top three to-dos: 1) Work on filling an order for a store. 2) Work on new jewelry, for consignment accounts and my upcoming open studio. 3) Take care of a 2007 show application that's due in two weeks.
Unfortunately, the show application involved looking up some paperwork. Which should be in.....that pile over there....about halfway down. Um. Nope. Hmmm. Maybe it's time to do a little paperwork clearing.
I decided to alot one hour MAXIMUM to clearing out old files to make room for new ones. I would glance at them to determine if it was anything I should keep. If so, it could go back into the file. If not, it got chucked.
It went pretty quickly. And it felt pretty good to clear out a foot or two of file space. Enough that I can squeeze in the more pressing and current projects.
But what finally cleared my heard and made my laugh out loud was my old "leads" folder.
When I looked through it, I found a few dozen stores, museum shops and catalogs I'd been pursuing a few years ago. Letters back and forth, promises to send follow-up information, notes on phone calls.
I was so organized, so diligent. So....so.... professional.
Like I had my act together.
Well, I did back then, or thought I did. Things have changed, a little. But mostly, my attitude has changed.
I know it's a good idea to always have a few irons in the fire. My problem right now, however, is not lack of irons.
I see potential in EVERYTHING. And consequently,
it results in TOO MANY irons.
The idea that I'd had an entire folder full of potential NEW irons struck me as ridiculously optimistic of how much time and energy I have. As if time is something I can control and manage and dole out efficiently in nice little segments.
What I've learned since then:
I'm not working so hard at things that aren't working out. Let go, let go, let go....
I have a slightly better feel for stores that are a good fit for me, and those that aren't. So not every wholesale inquiry sets my heart aflutter nowadays. Let go...
Being wonderfully professional and organized and following up doesn't mean you can win a coveted gallery over. It's not really about whether your work is wonderful (although that helps.) It's about sales. If they don't think they can sell it--and sell it quickly and often--then it ain't gonna happen. (Do the artwork instead.)
I know it's not fair to pursue other catalog companies when I can just handle the ones that order regularly from me now. (Goodbye for now, Sundance Catalog...)
And if I should find myself with a lull in work, I know exactly what I'm going to do. I'm NOT going to solicit more business.
I'm going to make more art.
So how did my day end up?
I'm almost done with the store order. Hooray!
I made four new pieces of jewelry--good, big $$ pieces.
And I still haven't found the paperwork for the show.
Oh well. There's always tomorrow.
