Finding Focus
One of the things I did back in 2001 when I first began my creative endeavors was to act on every idea and whim; I wanted to write, to paint, to draw, to make things, to do books, to do print, to sell images, to do and do and do. I was a kid in a candy store who had gone far too long without chocolate. This is something that a lot of new artists and creative people do - wanting to do it all and wanting to do it all right now.
This eventually left me exhausted, slightly overwhelmed, confused and a bit bitter. I did a whole bunch of things but none of them particularly well and not everything I did was something I actually liked. However, after a couple of years or trial and error, I realised what I was good at, what I liked and didn't. I stopped doing a lot of things and instead focused on travel writing and photography. For a few years I made a really good living at this and enjoyed it until I discovered that I missed being creative in other ways and i really missed working with people.
Rather than jumping into something else I took time off from work and ideas to just spend some time with myself and to see what it is I naturally do when there is no pressure to do anything. I came to the realisation that I adore design and photography and dealing with people and that writing on the side and sharing information is still something I like but not as the main focus. This lead me to redevelop my design site which allows me to work with great clients and focuses simply on design and photography - no print selling, no blogging, no writing. But to fill that writing and sharing need, I've created Girls Guide to City Life which will be launching next week and is a network of women travel writers from around the world writing about their city. This allows me to write about mine (L.A.), connect with people and and share information. A win-win which makes me one happy, creative and focused girl.
With focus, I can concentrate on these projects and do them well but more importantly, enjoy them. If something else comes along (for example, I'm writing a health article for a major women's publication coming out this winter and am doing a conference next spring) I can do them because they are wonderful additions to my foundation. I'm not scattered about doing anything and everything. I'm doing really what I love to do. Another great thing that came out of me focusing on my business was creating a mission statement. Asking myself what is it I really want to do? Who do I really want to work with? And what really are my motivations and values? This exercise was the most amazing thing I think I've done in the four years I've been working on my own because now if I am presented with an idea or opportunity, I can see if it matches my mission statement or not and I don't take on anything that doesn't.
Focus is often hard for artists but to really succeed, one has to have it. I don't have a structured day and no two days are alike but I know what I can do, what I'm good at and what I want to do and that makes all the difference in the world. { For those interested in my mission statement, you can read it here. }